Norwich v Wigan: The Vital Statistics

Norwich City made it five wins in a row and extended their current run to seven games unbeaten as they beat Wigan Athletic 1-0 courtesy of a late Mario Vrancic penalty.

Four of those wins have come in the league as the Canaries continue their rapid rise up the Championship league table which now sees them sit in fifth place on 17 points, just 3 points off West Brom who occupy top spot.

However, any of the ten teams below them in the fledgling table could overtake them if City were to lose their next game – it’s that tight.

Norwich overcame a determined, organised Wigan side in a game that looked as though it was petering out into a 0-0 draw prior to Josh Windass pulling Teemu Pukki back in the area. It was a foul that referee, Gavin Ward, couldn’t miss although I thought he might as he had missed a blatant foul on Pukki in the first half when the Finnish striker went clean through on goal in the Wigan area, after Chey Dunkley’s under hit back pass.

Mr Ward waved protests away in that first half incident, sparking fury from the home crowd. He then embarked on one of the worst refereeing performances I’ve seen in a very long time. The fact he finally gave the deciding spot kick was little short of miraculous.

Anyway, this was a tight game that was settled by one goal to Norwich, who I would say were worth the win as Wigan failed to register a single shot on target all afternoon.

OTBC

Norwich City				Wigan Athletic
Vrancic 86' pen
Krul				Walton
Aarons			65'	James
Zimmermann				Dunkley
Klose				Kipre
Lewis				Robinson
Tettey (c)				Evans			76'
Leitner				Morsy (c)			88'
Cantwell			64'	Windass
Buendia			75'	Powell
Stiepermann				Jacobs
Pukki				Garner			33'
Substitutes
McGovern				Byrne
Godfrey				Gibson			68'
Vrancic			64'	Grigg			88'
Rhodes			75'	McManaman
Trybull				Naismith
Srbeny				Jones
Thompson			65'	Connolly			76'

Game Statistics
14	Goal attempts	11
4	On Target	0
9	Corners	4
12	Fouls	19
1	Yellow Cards	3
0	Red Cards	0
57	%	43