Wow.
What an away win that is!
Prior to today, Forest had only lost once all season and after surviving a hairy first fifteen minutes, I think it’s fair to say that this was a thoroughly deserved win for the Canaries.
Having gone behind after just five minutes to a Lewis Grabban goal (he was always going to score), Norwich rode their luck a little and gradually got back into the game.
Joe Lolley then hit the woodwork with a rising drive which bounced away off the underside of the bar and that was about as good as it got for the home side. Other than the goal, the first half was a fairly even contest with City also having hit the woodwork through the returning Onel Hernandez and also seeing Marco Stiepermann poke the ball narrowly wide, after good work by Cantwell and Lewis.
After the break, City gradually took control of the game and the shots on target started to increase in the visitors’ favour. The equaliser eventually came via a Mo Leitner free kick that was headed home by Timm Klose, who is starting to become a regular scorer.
Having brought themselves level, the Canaries started to build up a head of steam and as the clock ran down they won a succession of corners. One of these was flicked towards goal by Jordan Rhodes with Costel Pantillimon only able to parry and with the big keeper on the floor, it was Klose who reacted the quickest to sweep the ball home.
On Canary Call afterwards, he said that he was smiling before he hit it as he knew he was going to score.
That was how it finished and City shrugged off that rather unlucky reverse at the hands of Stoke, the last time out, to return to winning ways.
Sheffield United, Leeds and West Brom all lost, so the Championship table has closed up again. Norwich are now in 6th place, just four points off the top spot. However, our visitors on Tuesday night, Aston Villa are in 13th place with eighteen points, so you can see how tight it is.
This result though is a terrific away win and it makes me wonder. I’m saying nothing more than that but to have played thirteen games and be on 21 points isn’t too shabby at all.
OTBC