Well, as is our way, Norwich City made a little bit of a meal out of it but they did enough to win the game and return to the top of the Championship table, going three points clear of Bournemouth.
The news before kick off that Nottingham Forest hadn’t scored a goal in nigh on eight hours of football caused me some concern. A classic “along come Norwich” moment if I ever saw one but my nerves were calmed a bit when I saw the team sheet and in particular, the bench.
🚨 TEAM NEWS 🚨
◼ Zimmermann replaces Gibson
◼ Martin comes in for Placheta
◼ McLean, Cantwell, Dowell, Hugill on the bench— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) December 9, 2020
The return to the squad of Todd Cantwell, Kenny McLean, Kieran Dowell and Jordan Hugill was not only a huge surprise but a very welcome one too. I know these lads aren’t fully match fit but even so, it shows the strength in depth that the club do have. That, I think, is something that some of us might have forgotten in recent weeks as each press conference serves up more bad news on the injury front.
Right from the off, City were up for it and pressed Forest, pinning them in their own half for long periods. The familiar sight of an opposition with nine or ten men behind the ball meant that the space was always compressed in the visitors’ final third, making it very tough to get through. This is a weekly occurrence now as most teams look to keep tight and try to counter us.
At the other end Joe Lolley hit the foot of Michael McGovern’s post in a rare first half forward foray but the nerves were settled on the stroke of half-time with a first goal for Jacob Sorensen with a sweet volley after a poor clearance, to send City in at the break with the lead.
In the second half, the visitors’ had a decent go at it. Fighting more and pressing a lot higher than they previously had in the first period, when, to be fair, they looked nervous and were second to most things.
The second goal of the game would be key and it went to Forest sub, Anthony Knockaert on 73 minutes. It was a ball in from along way out that eluded everyone and sneaked into the corner past a diving McGovern who probably expected someone to get something on it. It was a very poor goal to concede, I must say.
Four minutes later though and Emi Buendia restored the Canaries’ lead with a deflected effort from just inside the box. It was, perhaps, a little tough on Forest but it was more than arguably a deserved winner too, sending City back to the top of the league.
Norwich look to have managed to get through one of the toughest periods in terms of injuries that I can ever remember in my forty odd years of watching them, while still managing to top the table. The return to fitness of those lads on the bench will be a huge shot in the arm for all of a yellow and green persuasion and it will lift the squad too, allowing more scope for rest and tactical changes.
OTBC