Norwich City finally reached something like their best as they comfortably beat one of the early pace setters in the league, Bristol City 3-1 at Ashton Gate on Saturday lunchtime.
Despite three wins and a draw in their previous four matches, I’ve always had the feeling as I’m sure you have too, that there has been a lot more to come from Norwich. The previous performances have been good sporadically but there have also been some stutters as well. The bottom line is that points have been gained and games won, so you can’t really argue too much, can you?
Daniel Farke made two changes from the draw at Brentford in mid-week with Cantwell and Vrancic making way for Placheta and Stiepermann.
Within 14 minutes, Norwich had surged into a 2-0 lead with a brace from Teemu Pukki. The first came about from a familiar source after a through ball from Marco Stiepermann into Pukki’s feet. A great first touch and early shot reminded me of goals from the same route two seasons ago. The second came via a great long ball pass from Jacob Sorensen to Pukki and then another quick shot and it was two nil with the aid of a slight deflection.
Just a minute later though and Bristol City had an unlikely looking lifeline, when Jack Hunt scored after Tim Krul had saved from Paterson. With the home side growing in confidence, City took the sting out of the game with some prolonged spells of possession and they had Krul to thank for an excellent save from Chris Martin’s header, before a third goal in first half stoppage time sealed the win.
Another long ball over the top, which was clearly a tactic, this time from Ben Gibson found Emi Buendia sprinting into the Robins’ box. He brought the ball down like Lionel Messi or Wes Hoolahan, take your pick, set himself and then fired past Bentley in the Bristol City goal. It was a sublime takedown and worthy of winning the game, however it wasn’t all plain sailing in the second half.
Emi is back. #ncfc 🇦🇷🔰 pic.twitter.com/qyr9hJJO7J
— Rewind Norwich City (@RewindNorwich) October 31, 2020
Norwich started the second period well but had Krul to thank a couple of times with more excellent saves, the best of which was a fingertips on the ball touch that helped Chris Martin’s shot hit the post from 26 yards. That tiny touch was probably the difference between the ball going in off the post or bouncing back to safety. Take a bow, Tim.
Sorensen was later adjudged to have fouled Kalas in the penalty area and a spot kick was given. Nahki Wells put the ball on the spot as Krul shouted at him “COME ON THEN” only for the Robins’ striker to put the ball over the bar, looking like he was attempting a Panenka.
😅 pic.twitter.com/hDlew49mpE
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) October 31, 2020
That was how it finished with Norwich ending the day in fourth place. This was as close as we’ve seen to “Farke Ball” for a long time.
OTBC
Ashton Gate
Sky Bet Championship
31/10/2020 1:30 pm
Attendance: 0
Referee: J. Gillet
| Bristol City | Norwich City | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunt 15' | Pukki 6', 14' Buendia 45+2' | ||||||
| Bentley | Krul | ||||||
| Vyner | Aarons | ||||||
| Kalas (c) | Hanley (c) | ||||||
| Moore | 57' | Gibson | |||||
| Hunt | Sorensen | ||||||
| O'Dowda | Skipp | ||||||
| Brunt | 75' | Rupp | |||||
| Paterson | Placheta | 90+1' | |||||
| Dasilva | Pukki | 84' | |||||
| Wells | 78' | Stiepermann | 72' | ||||
| Martin | Buendia | ||||||
Substitutes |
|||||||
| Nagy | McGovern | ||||||
| Diedhiou | 78' | Vrancic | |||||
| O'Leary | Hugill | 84' | |||||
| Semenyo | 75' | Cantwell | |||||
| Rowe | McLean | 72' | |||||
| Bakinson | 57' | Mumba | 90+1' | ||||
| Massengo | Tettey | ||||||
Game Statistics |
||
| 15 | Goal attempts | 19 |
| 6 | On Target | 8 |
| 5 | Corners | 4 |
| 8 | Fouls | 16 |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 4 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 45 | % | 55 |