Two, second-half strikes from Gabby Agbonlahor gave Aston Villa a crucial 2-1 win at Carrow Road and sent Norwich’s season spinning ever more downwards with dispute and division rife in the air.
Inevitably, it will add yet further gloss to ex-boss Paul Lambert, who has now twice returned to his former haunts and inflicted painful defeats on his former employers – and added further problems to the repute of his successor.
Of more immediate concern than the future of Chris Hughton is where the next couple of weeks may still lead on the basis of the fact that after today’s result it was Villa skipping across the 40-point finishing line and Norwich anxiously awaiting on events and results elsewhere.
Though their fate is still in their own hands. Victory at home to West Bromwich Albion will see them safe. Just.
Tellingly, Villa’s own survival has been based on a 6-1 win over Sunderland at the start of this week and a 2-1 win again today – eight goals in two matches. And whilst the 18-goal Christian Benteke was relatively quiet, Agbonlahor’s second-half performance – and the two goals to take him up to nine for the season – emphasises the difference goals make.
And the prized individuals that score them at this level.
Skipper Grant Holt did, at least, take his tally to six for the season with a coolly-taken 74th minute penalty that looked to have done enough to have at least earned Norwich a point and Hughton a share of the spoils against his Scottish nemesis.
But with 70 seconds of normal time remaining, so one simple ball into the inside right channel found Agbonlahor wrong-siding Sebastien Bassong and his finish back across Mark Bunn and into the far corner was sure and certain.
Before the end, Holt would have a near-free header that would drop a yard wide of the Villa goal after Bradley Guzan got nowhere near a deep cross from second-half substitute Kei Kamara.
Therein again lay a difference; one chance taken; another spurned. Such is the difference at key moments in any Premier League season.
News from elsewhere will do little to calm the restive mood.
Wigan’s 3-2 away win at West Bromwich Albion throws a big cat amongst those relegation pigeons and with a game in hand over the Canaries, the Latics could yet pull off another one of their miracle escape acts.
Sunderland, too, have a game in hand still; the only slight spot of relief came in events at Upton Park where Newcastle managed no more than a draw away at West Ham United.
The Magpies have an away trip to a care-free QPR to come before entertaining a Champions League chasing Arsenal on the final day of the season – the day that the Canaries head to Manchester City.
All of which points to that final home game of the season being a huge date in the diary.
In fairness, City didn’t play too badly in the opening period; possession was better; movement was OK. But, again, clear-cut chances were few and far between. Robert Snodgrass probably had the best from a 20-yard free kick only for his shot to lamely fall back off the wall.
After the break and it became the Agbonlahor show from the moment that he drifted into a central position and pinged in a smart, low effort off Bunn’s right upright from some 28-yards distant.
Hindsight will be a wonderful thing, but just how much John Ruddy’s thigh injury undid Hughton’s best-laid plans in terms of his side’s defensive resolution will be one to ponder over the summer. It was a soft strike to concede to – and in such a big contest, too.
Hughton’s decision to whip Wes Hoolahan off and replace him with the departing Kamara didn’t meet with universal approval – increasingly there will be a section of support for whom Lambert’s successor can do no right; just as the Scot did no wrong.
He did, at least, get some reward as a more direct City approach found the ever-wriggling Snodgrass earning a spot-kick down in the far corner – one in which the young Joe Bennett was lucky not to see his second yellow of the afternoon.
Holt’s conversion to level was both cool and convincing given what hung on that one strike of the ball, but Norwich’s relief proved short-lived as Lambert’s magic and Agbonlahor’s finish set the alarm bells ringing across Norfolk and beyond.
Cue some very pointed and poisonous post-mortems this evening. The messageboards won’t be pretty.
It was pleasing to see better possession and attacking play in the first half but again concluded with a lack of serious threats on goal. I saw this as a must win game and for Hughton to start with a lone striker frustrated me from the start. We were lucky not be 0-3 down before the penalty and again Hughton was too late with the substitutions in my opinion. Yet again another frustrating performance with only ourselves to blame, 2 games to go and we will be lucky to scrape through. The anti-Hughton army will be building, OTBC.
Sack him now. Why do we expect a result against wba? If nothing changes why expect a different result. Hughton’s tactics have put us in trouble so get rid now is our only chance
‘Victory at home to West Bromwich Albion will see them safe. Just.’
Err, no it won’t. 41 points possible unless we can get something at man city.
Wigan can get 44…
I want to believe we’ll stay up, but form is shocking, we’re not fighting to stay up like those around us. Our only hope is Newcastle screwing up
As an experienced journalist Rick, I expect you to stay quite balanced in your report of yesterday’s result. However let’s be realistic, watching Norwich in 2013 has been tantamount to witnessing the slowest car crash in history. To many of us, Hughton’s approach in trying to nick only a point off the likes of Fulham, Stoke and Wigan was always a high risk strategy. It has not worked and we are in a mess of our own making, a situation that Hughton will have to take responsibility for.
I really hope we can get the points to stay up, but I expect that even if this happens, Hughton will not be managing the club next season.
Another day for Hughton to forget I’m afraid. Not starting Jackson alongside Holt was ridiculous given Villa’s shaky defense and lack of pace at the back. Wingers not getting into the box to cover the back post when the cross comes in from the other side, full backs not overlapping, Johnson and Howson completely anonymous as an attacking threat as usual and a lack of ambition all round. After the match his comment of “we should have ensured we didn’t lose the game” was very telling about the mindset of our manager – we should be going for the WIN!! A positive and courageous approach was and is Lambert’s greatest strength – and the reason why the terrible defeat yesterday really hurt!