If the Canaries have spent the whole of this season holding out for a hero one finally arrived in the 90th minute of tonight's compelling 2-0 win over Cardiff City.
Six short weeks ago he was a scaffolder in Essex. Tonight he is the talk of Norfolk after Cody McDonald marked his Canary debut with the coolest of solo finishes to give Norwich hope of a remarkable escape from the clutches of relegation.
A goal to the good courtesy of David Mooney's 49th minute poach, City were all set for some very nervous 90s as the former Ryman League hot-shot sprang free of the Bluebirds static defence.
All on his own with just the advancing keeper to beat, the young man from Witham calmly pushed the ball to Dimitrios Konstantopoulos' left before sliding the ball home into an empty net.
The kid had no fear in the finish. Bryan Gunn's faith in the young man from Dagenham had been rewarded in huge style as the Canaries moved to within just a point of Barnsley. And two off Nottingham Forest. A win at home to Plymouth on Saturday and Norwich could be out of the bottom three.
“It was exactly what I asked for,” said a “proud” manager afterwards.
“It was a really great team performance; we really deserved that result. Now we need to get our feet back on the ground and make sure that we take advantage of a home game that we've got against Plymouth on Saturday now.”
And as for Master McDonald, dream stuff?
“Yes – a dream for Cody,” agreed the Canary chief, as both of his recent signings came up trumps on a famous night at Carrow Road.
“He's been a breath of fresh air at the training ground since he's arrived. Six weeks ago he was putting scaffolding up in the London Underground so it is a dream come true for him.
“He's a lad that's come in; he wants to learn; he wants to be better; he never gives up on anything – as we saw tonight. And he gives our defenders headaches in training because he's new to it and his appetite and the way that he goes about his job is refreshing.
“He's come on tonight and what a great entrance to professional football for him – and he'll be another one that we'll have to take down from the clouds and make sure that we have a sensible build up to the game on Saturday against Plymouth.”
The victory was all the home side deserved after a bright and inventive 90 minutes spearheaded by the new-look front pairing of Mooney and man of the match Alan Gow.
The latter was particularly impressive on his first home start and, indeed, produced a rare moment of Premiership-style quality in the first period with a smart turn on the edge of the Bluebirds box before producing a wonderful, curling effort that flew just high and wide of the target.
The fear, as ever, was that after dominating the opening 45 minutes, they would let the wind slip from their sails in the second.
No chance.
Lee Croft had already delivered the perfect hanging, far post cross for Wes Hoolahan to head wide before the latter turned provider – dropping an awkward little ball into the space between centre-half and keeper.
Caught in at least three minds Konstantopoulos – the big Greek to radio commentators the world over – dallied too long on the edge of his area; Moonet nicked the ball off his toes and drove a confident finish into the roof of the net from some 16-yards out.
It sent a shudder of sudden hope through the Carrow Road faithful; David Marshall keeping said mood alive with a fine, diving save to push an Eddie Johnson header around a post.
Before the end and Marshall would go one, if not two better with a fantastic, one-handed scoop up and away to deny a nigh-on point blank header.
It was that kind of night; one where almost everything went right for City.
Now they just need eight more of them between now and the end of the season.
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