With no wins for over a month and no goals in more than nine hours of football – and most alarming of all no indication whatsoever that City might be about to prevent either of those two statistics from growing – prior to kick-off yesterday all thoughts and speculation concerning who is eventually going to replace Peter Grant, the AGM, Delia selling up or potential new investment could be put aside for 90 minutes.
Because the only thing of real significance to the Canaries supporters at three o'clock yesterday was to see if anything had changed where it matters – on the pitch?
Was there any visible evidence of Norwich resembling a decent Championship side once again. Did the players at any time appear confident in themselves and each other?
Was there a definite shape to the side and a clear direction in the manner in which they were attempting to play and from which the new manager could possibly build upon?
Well, surprising to say that there was.
For 30 minutes on Saturday City were bright and breezy. They moved the ball between themselves quickly and effectively and had high-flying Bristol City pinned back into their own half of the field for long periods in that opening half hour.
David Strihavka and new signing John Hartson were regularly being brought into play with balls in to their feet, and the new strike partnership was causing the visitors' defence problems.
Chances were being made, but they were also depressingly being missed once again, as this seemingly never-ending miserable goal drought continued to rear its ugly head.
After that initial encouraging opening 30 minutes though, and after Adam Dury had departed the field with a knee injury, City worryingly lost their momentum.
And once Michael McIndoe opened the scoring just four minutes after the restart, Norwich predictably and almost instantaneously transformed into a pale shadow of the inventive and positive attacking outfit they had been at the start of the game.
Suddenly we were now back on familiar ground and witnessing the Canaries devoid of any confidence and creativity whatsoever.
Visitors Bristol City were precisely the opposite, and even when Darren Huckerby threw the Canaries a lifeline with less than ten minutes remaining after cutting inside from the left and squeezing a shot past the 'keeper to draw the sides level, they didn't panic.
Instead – and, in doing so, handing City the perfect a lesson in how to operate with composure and belief when put under pressure ? they simply stepped it up a gear, took the game straight back to their opponents and promptly, and deservedly went won it, and the reaction of the crowd at the final whistle said it all.
Not good enough.
True, there was a modicum of optimism in that at least we had 30 minutes of decent football from the Canaries on Saturday ? a small crumb of comfort and something of a positive nature to cling to I suppose in what has otherwise been a abject season so far- but still second best once again all told, I'm afraid.
It goes without saying that the slate needs wiping clean and it's a case of having to start from scratch?
And 'He' ? whoever it may be – really can't arrive a moment too soon.
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