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Relief all round the fine city as Hughton's men find some second half joy in the original 'game of two halves'

10th November 2013 By Gary Gowers 6 Comments

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I learnt a few things yesterday…

Firstly that when the chips are down the Carrow Road faithful will still stick with those in yellow and – a few individuals aside – will always rise above any short-term views on who should or shouldn’t be in charge to roar the team on to a win.

Secondly, the current crop do have some ‘bottle’. Those of us who doubted their desire after last weekend were left with egg on our faces and, true to Russell Martin ‘s word, they showed solidarity with each other and their manager when it really counted.

Thirdly, Chris Hughton does indeed have the tactical wherewithal to change a game at half-time in the way that other bloke did so successfully.

Fourthly, some people are not happy unless they’re miserable

Fifthly, Sam Allardyce is a poor loser.

And finally, I’m way out of touch with ‘the kids’.

OK… so the last three I already knew, but the others served to reaffirm my belief in Hughton and the class of 2013/14 – a belief that was given the severest of tests after events at the Etihad.

Of course – as one ‘Canary Caller’ so delighted in reminding us – we shouldn’t get carried away with one win, and there’s clearly still a lot of hard work ahead, but if we’re not allowed to rejoice in a stirring win like yesterday’s there seems little point in going to football in the first place.

But how many of us saw it coming at half-time?

Despite Anthony Pilkington’s best efforts to pick up the gauntlet thrown down by Hughton, the first half developed rather too quickly into a backs to the wall affair, with West Ham’s midfield sextet dominating possession; the drain on confidence of the 7-0 thumping soon coming to the fore.

Where once there was an Alex Tettey to break things up and set City on the move again, yesterday’s opening forty-five saw Leroy Fer and Jonny Howson horribly swamped and having to survive on scraps of possession.

Typically when they did get hold of the ball, passing options were few and far between and with the ball not ‘sticking’ to either Johan Elmander or Gary Hooper it made for hard going. In fairness to our friends from the East End they did knock the ball around nicely and made far greater use of the green stuff than we’ve witnessed thus far in the Allardyce years.

I guess when you have a youngster of Ravel Morrison’s ilk even Big Sam can see the benefits of keeping the ball on terra firma but it was telling that the England Under-21 starlet, after a sparkling first-half, found himself only a peripheral figure in the second.

Of course, during that torrid opening forty-five the youngster made his mark on the game with the Hammers’ goal but not before Guy Demel had rattled Ruddy’s crossbar as City wobbled.

But, to their credit – and as hard as it was to watch – not one of Hughton’s men hid and, despite being on the receiving end throughout, being just one down at the interval when it could have been so much worse provided Hughton and co with something to build on.

And whatever “tweaks” the manager made at half-time worked like a dream. While not giving away too much of what was said, Hughton did admit he’d demanded more urgency from the players and that was borne out by the ever-decreasing influence of Morrison, Downing and Noble.

Instead of being stretched to the limit, Howson and Fer all of a sudden found themselves on the front foot and with Hooper and Elmander at last having an impact on the game the pendulum slowly started to swing.

With Carrow Road sensing the shift in momentum it was telling that that, on this occasion, it was the players who lifted the crowd rather than vice-versa.

The lucky break that has been so conspicuous by its absence in recent weeks arrived in the form of Jaaskelainen’s double error and with Hooper smashing the penalty home in such unequivocal fashion it set the tone perfectly for the rousing second half.

And from there on in the players didn’t disappoint.

Howson and Fer’s stranglehold of the midfield continued and when the former’s thumping drive cannoned back off Jaaskelainen’s crossbar, James Collins’ impersonation of a clumsy centre-back was Robert Snodgrass’ cue for *that* free-kick. And it was no more than City deserved.

Fer charging into the box and opening his City account in injury-time was no more than the icing on the cake, but the scenes that followed – with players, coaches, kit men, physios, tea ladies et al celebrating wildly in front of the home dugout – was more heart warming than a Disney film at Christmas.

The ovation afforded the players at the final whistle again made the hairs on the back of the neck stand and was a nice little reminder that when we’re all pulling in the same direction we still have a little something about us.

Of course there are still those who choose to poor cold water on the win by questioning the quality of the opposition – probably the same group who yesterday wished for a City defeat – but a win is a win and never was it more needed and ultimately more deserved than yesterday.

Naturally, one win doesn’t make a season – the bloke from Canary Call will be quick to remind us of that – and another defeat in Newcastle in two weeks time will quickly render it a one-off, but if the belief can be seized upon who’s to say they can’t embark on a mini-run similar to that of last November.

After several rotten ones, yesterday was a good day. Let’s make the most of it.

Or to put it another way, as tweeted by Josh Murphy after the game: ‘BOOOM! That’s what were about’ …. whatever that means.

OTBC


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Filed Under: Column, Gary Gowers

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Comments

  1. David Bowen says

    10th November 2013 at 11:38 am

    Thanks once more Gary for your entertaining summary, wasn’t it lovely that Lady Luck finally smiled in our direction Better late than never!

    Let us hope that this regaining of confidence is the springboard to better results that have been deserved but not always forthcoming.

    OTBC

    Reply
  2. Paul says

    10th November 2013 at 11:41 am

    I have swung back and forth in my views of Chris Hughton, at the start of play I was firmly in the Hughton out camp, by half time I thought he was gone, by full time not only do I think he’s got the Newcastle and Palace games to prove himself but for my part I’m right back on the fence. Stick or twist? Really tough call, but I think after yesterday’s second half we need to see the next two games. Big, big, important games coming up, let’s really hope we get more of the same with good wins.
    Whatever else happens
    OTBC

    Reply
  3. Rick Lime says

    10th November 2013 at 12:48 pm

    The 1st half was rotten. The locals were confused and unhappy,
    Our boys off colour, tense, passing poor, possession was scrappy,
    From nowhere – a goalie’s clanger, a spark,
    Three goals, passion and belief on the park,
    Leaving ‘Little Chris’ relieved and ‘Big Sam’ a moaning chappie.

    Reply
  4. Michael D says

    10th November 2013 at 1:54 pm

    Great article Gary, and a lovely set of points. To them I would add one more – that Chris Hughton can make brave selection decisions too. He made three which I all applauded. He brought Bennett deservedly back – and dropped his captain leaving Turner in; he dropped Johnson, and he played two strikers. As Sky showed, Turner’s never say die attitude actually played a significant role in the penalty City ‘won’ – he put his foot in for the ball and knocked Jaaskelainen’s hand as he was trying to recatch the ball.

    It was time for Lady Luck. I hope she has decided Hughton and City deserve a bit of a break now. What a different way to enter a break. We are only 3 points into the 6 many of us said City needed from this and the next 2 games, but let’s hope the win breeds a little more self-confidence for the manager and team by the time we resume.

    Reply
  5. Douglas Millar says

    10th November 2013 at 9:39 pm

    I agree with many of the points made. The changes – Bennett for Bassong, no Johnson but Elmander up with Hooper, and Snoddy back too were brave and decisive.
    All is suddenly not well but we can approach the next few games with greater comfort and confidence.

    We have some great players – Ruddy, Olsson, Fer Howson Snodgrass; some honest pros – Martin and Turner and some promising young players – Redmond and Bennett. If the others step up, like Hooper RvW and Pilkington City can expect to get results. OTBC

    Reply
  6. Keith B says

    11th November 2013 at 12:24 pm

    The phrase from here that stuck with me was “Fer charging into the box ….” This young man is clearly a talented player, he can split a defence or make a tackle, when he chooses. But that’s the trouble. I’m not sure he always chooses.

    Have a look at West Ham’s goal. Nolan has got past Fer and Howson and reached the byline. Fer simply remains on the edge of our penalty area, strolling, and admires Morrison’s finish from 10 yards away. He should have been busting a gut to get back – there was only one place Nolan could put the ball, and Fer should have been there contesting it.

    I can’t get at it now but I think something similar happened at Spurs, for their second goal if I remember correctly. Again he was a bystander, not back in the thick of the action.

    It’s odd in a way because nobody could say he won’t go in for a tackle. He seems very happy to win the ball in the certain circle, and then use it. Maybe he just doesn’t lke running (remember Dickson Etuhu?) Or perhaps he isn’t decisive enough to take responsibility when he needs to.

    It’s all very well charging into their box when things are going well, when you are a goal up and into injury time. He needs to do it into ours when backs are to the wall as well – because that’s where hey are going to be for certain matches throughout the season.

    Reply

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