If anyone ever doubted that this season would be one of the highest drama, then events at Vicarage Road merely hammered that point home.
It wasn’t so much the final 2-2 score-line that would dominate the headlines as Cardiff – 2-0 winners at a hapless Sheffield United stole into that prized second spot – rather the sight of skipper Grant Holt struggling to all-but walk come the end with what appeared to be a significant hamstring strain.
In many, it summed up just what a fickle mistress football remains.
Last week and Holt was on Cloud Nine courtesy of his second hat-trick of the season against Scunthorpe United and that new, three-year Canary deal.
This week and whilst most would have taken a draw away at Vicarage Road after that defeat at Swansea at the weekend, few would have paid such a heavy price for that prized point in the possible loss of Holt.
It would be a truly wretched way to ‘celebrate’ your 30th birthday with a potentially season-ending injury.
Speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk straight afterwards, City boss Paul Lambert was hoping that it was no more than a bout of cramp as the games catch up on Norwich’s 21-goal hero.
With all three substitutes on the pitch as the manager sought to turnaround that 2-1 deficit at the break, Holt has little option but to soldier on.
Tonight Lambert – along with the rest of the Norfolk Nation – was keeping his fingers firmly crossed.
“I’m hoping it’s a bit of cramp,” said Lambert, answering the question on everyone’s lips this evening. But that wasn’t a definite.
“I’m hoping – I’m not sure. We’ll have to wait and see; we’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”
Once again the Canaries were without the services of playmaker Wes Hoolahan who has now missed the last two games with his own hamstring troubles.
To be without both Hoolahan and Holt for Friday night’s crucial home clash with Nottingham Forest will really test both the strength and the character of Lambert’s squad.
He knows all-too well just what a big player Holt is for his promotion-chasing side.
“He’s been huge for us,” said Lambert, with the Canaries handed a dream start in the shape of Sam Vokes’ 78-second opener.
Two, soft strikes from the home side would leave Norwich trailing at the break before substitute Simeon Jackson clawed Norwich level in a contest not designed for the faint of heart.
Holt could claim an assist in both goals – further evidence of the man’s influence on this side.
“I thought his performance was great again tonight,” said the Canary boss.
“He set up the goal for Simeon as well and he’s been a major, major plus for this football club. So I am just hoping that he’s going to be OK.”
With Swansea held at home to Hull City, Cardiff and Reading were the night’s big winners. The Royals are the form team right now.
They could yet be timing their run to the finishing line to perfection – tonight’s 2-0 away win at Scunthorpe took them to fifth, two points behind Norwich; three behind the Bluebirds.
It is going to be nip and tuck right to the very death. Hence Lambert’s delight at coming away from Vicarage Road with something to show for Norwich’s huge efforts.
Once again, they have bounced back from a rare defeat with at least a draw; they have still to lose back-to-back games on Lambert’s watch – an extraordinary record.
That said, the travelling Canary faithful might have been forgiven for fearing the worst at the interval after Danny Graham’s 27th goal of the season squeezed through John Ruddy for the leveller and left Watford firmly in the driving seat at the break.
Once again, however, Lambert sprinkled his magic dust and was rewarded with a reaction – helped by the early introductions of goal-scorer Jackson, Henri Lansbury and the winger, Anthony McNamee.
“First-half I was really disappointed in the way that we conceded the two goals, but I’ve got to remember that we had a really hard game at the weekend,” said Lambert, with Don Howie adding the second off a Graham assist.
“That I was the first time in a long time where I thought we were off the pace of the game,” added the manager.
“But I thought the second-half was all us – I thought we were relentless. It was a big, big effort and like I’ve said before, it could be a big, big point.”
And another big, big game now looms on Friday night when Forest head for Carrow Road – with or without Grant Holt in attendance.
Leave a Reply