Norwich City were unable to make it nine wins in a row against a stubborn Reading at Carrow Road on Wednesday night.
The Royals came to Norfolk fully intent on not committing past the halfway line and just sitting back and looking for the odd counter.
Birmingham (and others) have tried the same thing but the difference this time was that Reading pulled it off, scoring two goals and being a generally well drilled outfit.
The two goals were arguably gifts from Norwich via either a wayward pass or, in the case of the second goal, some less than tight marking.
So close to being nine points clear of third place, only to have it snatched away at the death. A scenario we’ve played to our own advantage several times throughout the season.
“Sometimes you kick, sometimes you get kicked”, as Michael Hutchence once sang.
Hopefully this will spur our boys into beating Wigan on Sunday in front of a 5,000 strong travelling yellow army.
Anyway, on to the point of this article and a round-up of reaction from Twitter…
https://twitter.com/iwritethings23/status/1116218923341553664?s=21
https://twitter.com/coopduck/status/1116095875628113922?s=21
https://twitter.com/coopduck/status/1116120247004692480?s=21
I seem to be in the minority but I thought #ncfc played quite well tonight. They had a few more sluggish moments than usual but in all honesty, had the game ended 4-0 nobody would have batted an eyelid. Keeper had a stormer; we missed at least 3 sitters. Not much to worry me.
— van der Finz 🐥going 🆙 going ⬇️ (@JamesFinbow) April 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/iwritethings23/status/1116084584863629312?s=21
Another immense performance from Zimbo tonight. Great header. Couple of fantastic challenges, particularly the one where he won the ball and avoided conceding throw in a single slide. #ncfc
— Klobo (@Klobo15) April 10, 2019
FWIW, I reckon we're two wins from having enough to win the league. Would be surprised to see both Leeds and Sheffield United gaining much more than 2 PPG.
— Jon P (@puntino) April 10, 2019
Woke up still feeling gutted. A disappointment hangover. Not for the result but for the players who gave everything to drag us back in front. They deserved that win. Those boys are magic. #NCFC
— Andy Head (@AndyHead02) April 11, 2019
My ears are ringing, like they usually after a loud music gig. Think it’s from the second #NCFC goal celebrations tonight. Was nuts!
— Terri Westgate 🇵🇸 (@TerriWestgate) April 10, 2019
Funny old game that. Can’t have it all our own way though and a point stops us going into panic mode 😂
Cheers #bcfc for taking points off both Leeds and Sheff Utd this week 😅— Melissa Rudd (@melissajrudd) April 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/percyvarco/status/1116079003004284929?s=21
Moan, moan, moan. What is wrong with some people? Yes it was a disappointing result in the end but my goodness, what drama? It’s been a lot of years since I heard Carrow Rd explode like it did when those two goals went in at the end.
— Reephambird 🌪 (@reephambird) April 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/benbray99/status/1116076369862111233?s=21
Let’s be honest Hucks. Norwich have been fantastic all season. And will get promoted as Champions!!! https://t.co/3pz3q0NPDU
— Ian Harte (@ianharte23) April 10, 2019
The midfield duo tonight…
1) Kenny McLean; made more key passes (7) than any Norwich City player in a game this season
2) Tom Trybull; played 93 successful passes out of 94, the best completion rate (98.9%) of any #ncfc player to attempt more than 20 passes this season
🔰
— NCFC Numbers (@ncfcnumbers) April 10, 2019
Probably in the minority, but last night’s match just makes me love this season even more. For drama, exhilaration and entertainment, I can’t remember a season like it. The Prem will be a very different experience so I’m just going to savour every moment #ncfc 💛💚
— Steve (@StevoCook) April 11, 2019
Some hit this was…🚀 @BenG0dfrey
_#ncfc pic.twitter.com/YHemfIujCt— NorwichHub (@thenorwichhub) April 10, 2019
Blues can complete a hat-trick of favours this weekend in that they can finally relegate Ipswich 😁
— Richard (@richmurr94) April 11, 2019
4pts good return from last 2 away games but not happy with some individual performance tonight! Fleck missing & Norwood poor to name but a few. All it comes to is that Birmingham just have our number, that is all. #TwitterBlades
— Christopher Ward (@wardychris72) April 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/tssalufc/status/1115329554908897280?s=21
Preston proving that the ONLY Cup Final in this frikking league for EVERY club is Norwich city.. Leeds have it so much easier as teams simply don’t raise their games against tinpot clubs, even if they are 2nd for less than 24 hours #LUFC #ncfc https://t.co/7bYMqPFzT9
— Chris (@CTSNcfc) April 9, 2019
What a joke! Preston play like Real Madrid on speed against #ncfc but when a giant behemoth of a club like #lufc and their astounding fanbase rolls into town they just crumble!
— Ed Normann (@IanEdNorman) April 9, 2019
Well, it's now a 5 game mini season. And we have a 1 point head start. #lufc pic.twitter.com/W5j7CXFfin
— Mr Geldard (@MrJGeldard) April 10, 2019
So near and yet…
Still. Only 1️⃣ team since 1992-93 has reached 9️⃣0️⃣pts and not gone up automatically.
Norwich City now have 8️⃣5️⃣pts – meaning 5️⃣ more gets them there.
Leeds need 1️⃣1️⃣
Sheffield Utd need 1️⃣2️⃣There are 5️⃣ games to go. #ncfc #OneCityStrong pic.twitter.com/7nqcZim4Gy
— Michael Bailey (@michaeljbailey) April 11, 2019
Most points gained in any 35 game spell in a single Championship season over the last 10 years:
Norwich City (2018/19) – 80
Leicester (2013/14); Brighton (2016/17); Wolves (2017/18) – 79
Newcastle (2009/10) – 78#ncfc 🔰
— NCFC Numbers (@ncfcnumbers) April 10, 2019
That dark green line is a nice bit of context for the aftermath from tonight. #ncfc pic.twitter.com/S3qT7X05jz
— Michael Bailey (@michaeljbailey) April 10, 2019
💬 "It was a brilliant workload and really good performance but one of those days where you have to say it was not the fair result.” #ncfc
The Boss on last night's draw 👉 https://t.co/rQTFy3u35x pic.twitter.com/GB2UK7rSxh
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) April 11, 2019
Who's ready for another game? 🕹 #ncfc pic.twitter.com/mMOlpDb6kf
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) April 10, 2019
Before the weekend #ncfc were 7 pts clear of SU & 5 clear of LU. 2 games later: 7 clear of SU, 6 clear of LU with 5 to play. Let’s not feel sorry for ourselves. On to Wigan with 5000 fans in yellow wall. Come on! #otbc
— Mick Dennis (@MickDennisReal) April 10, 2019
DF: “This result is a bit of a joke. Just one team was playing. We missed so many chances. They had two strikes on our goal all game.” #ncfc
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) April 10, 2019
Tough to take but its another point towards the prize – bring on Sunday @NorwichCityFC #ncfc #otbc pic.twitter.com/BZKwdzJmnm
— Matt (@ratthew_mobert) April 10, 2019
A few season highs for #NCFC tonight…
– 74pc possession, 70pc was prev high (Birm a & Bolton h)
– 89pc pass success, matching 4-0 win at Bolton
– 13 corners, most this season, only second time in Farke era( Pic @FocusImagesLtd https://t.co/CVIYQFRUWm) pic.twitter.com/41nhqZZsfi
— David Freezer (@davefreezer) April 10, 2019
Perspective, We march on #ncfc pic.twitter.com/AoG8kskSQr
— Neal Black (@MrBlack1902) April 10, 2019
OTBC