Talk about making things difficult.
Norwich were 3-0 up and absolutely cruising before Emi Buendia’s crazy high boot earned him a second yellow card and suddenly it all went Pete Tong from there.
The only real bonus was coming away with all three points from a very difficult place to go. I imagine there won’t be too many teams go to Stoke and win the game.
The starting XI had three changes to it, after another bleak injury bulletin from Daniel Farke on Monday lunchtime. Josh Martin made his first start, Alex Tettey replaced Lukas Rupp, who at least made the bench and Teemu Pukki was the lone striker, he’s actually our only fit senior striker at the moment.
The Canaries dominated the ball in the first half and found themselves 2-0 up courtesy of some excellent movement and two great finishes from Emi Buendia and then Teemu Pukki. Pukki looks back to his goal scoring best and Buendia has been steadily getting back to his own best over the last few weeks. He tackles, he creates and he’s now scoring goals again, he is crucial to our game.
The game’s first hammer blow came a short time after the second goal though, when Tim Krul hobbled off holding his left thigh. It seemed to happen after he made a long kick down field and Mark Rivers, commentating for Radio Norfolk, speculated that if it was a pulled muscle that it could be up to six weeks out.
Losing Krul for that long would be a disaster because he has been excellent this season, and last to be fair, and although Michael McGovern is vastly experienced he is not anywhere near Krul’s current level of performance.
The third goal of the game went Norwich’s way on 57 minutes when Pukki was put clean through by a brilliant Buendia pass and he rounded the keeper before firing home to make the game safe. At least that’s what I thought as I eased back into my sofa with a nice cup of tea.
With 20 minutes to go, Buendia, who had already been booked, inexplicably raised his foot high, catching a Stoke player in the head and in that situation the Referee has no choice but to show a yellow card. If there is anything fortunate about this sending off, it is that Emi will at least only miss one game. It was so avoidable though and another example that for all his skill and brilliance, Emi is only ever one moment away from something crazy.
Stoke pulled one back immediately via a Tyrese Campbell header and then Nathan Collins made it 3-2 on 79 minutes from a corner. McGovern had no chance with either goal, so no blame goes his way but the home side then proceeded to pin Norwich into their own final third for the rest of the game.
Pukki had been wisely rested on 73 minutes and replaced by Christoph Zimmermann. Placheta, who had already come on for Martin, went up front to try to create a counter-attacking threat with his pace. If Pukki had stayed on, he would’ve needlessly expended energy chasing down lost causes. As he is our only fit striker, it was good to rest him especially after he played those two full games for Finland and was a late sub in the other in last week’s international matches.
UPDATE: After the game, Farke announced that he had concerns over Pukki and a hamstring strain – D’oh!
The final ten minutes plus five added on was tense in the Tuckster household. I felt like I was constantly holding my breath and then releasing it in huge sighs of relief as balls were seen out for goal kicks or the odd foul etc. My Son and Mrs T were exactly the same as me and I bet it was a similar scene in your house too.
When the final whistle went, I felt a huge wave of relief flood over me. Three more points gained and when you consider the opponent, the fact it was an away game and the way that it played out, it feels big.
Keep everything crossed that Tim Krul isn’t out for too long…
OTBC