A traumatic afternoon trying in vain to fend off the ghosts of managers past awaited City’s long-suffering supporters this afternoon as four goals in 16, suicidal first-half minutes condemned Norwich to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Paul Lambert’s marauding Villa.
To add to Chris Hughton’s deep discomfort this evening, the Canaries had even managed to steal into a third-minute lead via – of all people – Villa wannabe Wes Hoolahan.
But with a restless Villa Park beginning to play into Norwich’s hands, so City imploded in spectacular style with two strikes from Christian Benteke in as many minutes being followed by an all-too simple third from Leandro Bacuna and a wretched own goal from Sebastien Bassong.
It ensured that Villa would keep that much more breathing space between them and the bottom three – and, equally, will have done nothing to improve David McNally’s mood as he headed into the Villa boardroom afterwards empty-handed.
Defeat for Cardiff City and only a point for Palace will keep one or two wolves from the door. But it was the manner and extent of the Canaries’ defeat that will again have the alarm bells ringing as they seek to make full and desperate use of their remaining home games – kicking off with the vital clash against Stoke City.
If anyone ever wanted to add more spice to this afternoon’s proceedings – given both the bad blood that exists between the two clubs and their respective positions league-wise – then events of the third minute merely ignited the contest that much further.
With the injured Ricky van Wolfswinkel absent, it would have been the easiest thing in the world for Hughton to slam Gary Hooper up front and stick to the same formula midfield-wise that earned such a priceless win over Spurs last weekend.
Instead, he opted to throw Hoolahan into the fray from the start; to test the Dubliner’s commitment to the Canary cause on the back of a New Year spent flirting wildly with a switch to Villa Park and a reunion with both Lambert and his big playing pal, Grant Holt.
It was an audacious selection that will have caught many off guard – not least the Villa defence who found themselves a goal adrift after just three minutes as Hooper and Hoolahan slickly combined to deliver the game’s opening goal. On a one-to-ten scale of ‘You couldn’t make it up…’ Wesley’s moment was up there at eight or nine. Not that he celebrated. Which won’t help his popularity.
The supporters’ rightful glee didn’t last too long, however, as Benteke cut Norfolk’s joy short with a leveller on 24 minutes as the game began to live up to its explosive pre-match billing. It was some finish too; instant chest control and a hooked, peach of a strike in front of a helpless Joseph Yobo that, once again, demonstrated what you get for your money.
That. Power.
Two minutes later and the Belgian World Cup hopeful was slamming further salt into some long-standing wounds as a close-range header gave him his second in almost as many minutes; not for the first time, ex-boss Lambert was enjoying the last laugh as Norwich’s early strike proved of no value – other than to light Villa Park’s fuse.
Hoolahan would be presented with two, fresh chances to level proceedings again as he and Hooper again found the required space between them in front of the Villa goal in what was proving a breathless first-half. In which Norwich proceeded to have the breath truly kicked out of them with two further strikes to hammer Villa’s advantage home before the interval.
Bassong’s own goal four minutes from the interval summed up Norwich’s afternoon as he and his feet found themselves wholly in the wrong place as Fabian Delph broke free on the Villa left and whipped a low cross back through the City six-yard box.
Before that Bacuna had proffered up a cool finish for the third on 37 minutes; no goal in six hours of football before this – Villa had now found four in 16, devastating minutes.
Anthony Pilkington arrived for Robert Snodgrass at the break as Hughton looked to find something, anything, to cling to out of today’s trip to the Midlands.
Whether Villa would push on and add to City’s discomfort was the next question. As was whether ex-hero Holt would play a part. For now the three-time Canary Player of the Season sat and watched from the bench. Given first-half events, you did wonder whether the on-loan Villa striker might add another twist to a miserable tale.
In the meantime, the game meandered on. It looked for all the world that it was ‘Job done!’
Johan Elmander’s arrival for Nathan Redmond would hardly have Lambert overly-concerned. Without a goal in his 21 Premier League outings to date, his season – coupled to that of van Wolfswinkel – explained much about Norwich’s plight.
Russell Martin would find Elmander alone in the inside right channel in the 75th minute. The snatched shot that bobbled way, way wide of the far upright was par for the course.
Christian Benteke he ain’t.
And nor was Hooper as he squandered Norwich’s lone, late chance.
A truly depressing day to be a City supporter. Just when it seemed like we have turned a corner (after the Spurs game) we implode; against Lambert’s Vllla of all teams!
I think this defeat may the the straw that breaks the camel’s back for the Board. I think Mr Hughton may be gone this week.
I’m a little confused regarding your point about Wes’ selection. Far from ‘audacious’ and catching people ‘off guard’, in Fer’s absence, Howson not fully fit and Elmander not convincing I would have thought it almost inevitable Wes would play.
An awful result from an awful 20 mins in which our defence crumbled quicker than a Ukranian border patrol.
I’ve always backed Hughton to take us through the season and I’m not going to hide now. He gets no praise when we win and all the blame when we lose but has never shied away from taking pressure off what invariably are costly individual mistakes and poor individual performances.
Benteke’s first was world class and Villa’s 100% conversion rate(4 efforts – 4 goals) was a little freaky but credit to them for putting the power on when they needed it. We have to do likewise (again) next home game.
Concerned that Wes chose not to celebrate a goal – shows where his allegiances lie. Hopefully Howson will be fit enough to replace him next week.
Kevin (1) -changing manager now is not the solution and I don’t believe the board think it is either
Dave (2) – the general feeling seemed to be that Howson would start because he had such a good spell in the team before his injury. Plenty were calling for Wes to start though.
I thought Wes played ok and I can’t fault his effort, but too much of what he attempts to do doesn’t come off.
Elmander’s performance made me question again what we bought him for
Once again we were all duped into thinking we’d turned a corner with the Spurs game. Twenty minutes into the Villa match and I was actually believing we could get three or four.
More fool me.
I’ll admit, I’m quite a fan of Star Trek and Trekkie’s have a theory that all odd numbered films are garbage. A pattern difficult to argue with. For Norwich the pattern would be if Chris Hughton isn’t threatened with the sack, our performance will be garbage. So you’re best off watching McNally to see if it’s worth a trip to Carrow Road next week.
Hughton outers have been called blinkered and unreasonable. We now precariously require games in hand to be lost for us to stay outside of the relegation zone. To stay up our home form for the next three games must be impeccable.
The trouble is, unless you are so blinkered on believing Hughton will turn it around (based on what?), you’d see we haven’t strung three home wins together since, well, I can’t be bothered to look it up I’d have to go back so far. It could happen, but realistically, what are the odds?
I’ve refrained from saying the words ‘sack the manager’ for some weeks now, but it’s time. We ‘stuck’, it didn’t work, it’s time to twist. If for no other reason than to have someone hit the ground running next season (wherever we may be). Because surely Hughton won’t be here next season
A frustrating and disappointing afternoon, when a fine plan fell apart after Benteke’s brilliant equaliser. Simply not enough belief/leadership/resilience (delete as appropriate).
Just two quick points. 1 To judge Wes, look at his performance rather than his goal celebration. Pretty impressive and committed, I thought. 2 Hughton doesn’t have to ‘turn it around’. He just has to keep us where are and have been for months (ie outside the bottom three). Just as Dave B said last week.
Dave B. – I think you need to change your di-lithium crystals. Is it Captain Kirk’s fault if Scotty drops a spanner?
After a collapse like that, you don’t point the finger at players responsible for the mistakes but launch into the usual Hughton diatribe. Playing well and confidently in the first 25 mins, at what point do you flick a switch and blame Hughton for the next 20 mins.?!
We don’t have bad defenders and they are not badly organised – 4 clean sheets (3 against top 8 sides) at home testifies to that. The mistakes in the last 3 away games are inexplicable individual errors – any half-reasonable fan should see beyond the ‘trail by twitter’ nonsense and put it down to what it is.
@7 Russell
If Scotty drops a spanner, oops. If Checkov accidentally flies into a Nebula, oh dear. If Uhura mistranslates Klingon says they have an invite to dinner instead of death threats, uh oh.
All individual errors, but you think Star Fleet Command cares who makes the mistakes or do they haul in Kirk for a demotion?
Yesterday was not a single mistake, it was a collapse of epic proportions to a team that couldn’t score at home, yet put four past us faster than Meat Loaf can get through two songs.
We have an awfully large amount of game losing individual mistakes, and they’re all part of a larger pattern. We play well for 25 mins, then we hope the rest of the game no one makes an error. If they do we have no answer.
I believe we have only come from behind to salvage anything twice all season. Once Villa scored their second our chances of anything were astronomically low. Hughton said it himself, “we went into containment for the second half.” Even if you’re thinking that, even if that’s what you set out for do, don’t have such lack of respect for the traveling fans to say you gave up getting anything at half time. “The game was over”. Good god man, lie, say you were going to give it your best shot. Try to be inspirational. “The second half period was only going to be about pride”. What a rousing half time talk that must have been.
So rousing our fans sang for Lambert and Holt.
@7 Stewart Lews
“He just has to keep us where are and have been for months (ie outside the bottom three). Just as Dave B said last week.”
That is correct, but as things stand, our position outside of the relegation zone is dependent on others losing games-in-hand. Which, luckily, they probably will do.
Dave: fair point, but not quite accurately put. If others draw their games in hand, we’re still outside the bottom three. Somewhat splitting hairs, I concede.
PS It’s still true that in 9 of the past 10 seasons, all relegated teams finished with fewer than 38 points.
You know things are bad when Dave B can’t be bothered to research facts and statistics. With regards to the inexplicable individual errors, this is something which has affected us since our promotion back to the Premier – I clearly remember my fear each time Leon Barnett attempted a pass back to the keeper. It’s much like the fear I have every time we have a corner as the opposition look more likely to score than we do.
@10 Stewart Lewis
“If others draw their games in hand, we’re still outside the bottom three.”
I stand corrected, fair point.
“PS It’s still true that in 9 of the past 10 seasons, all relegated teams finished with fewer than 38 points.”
This is also 100% true, but it’s also not what you said. You said
“in 9 of the last 10 seasons, 38 points has guaranteed survival.”
In 2010 – 2011 18th had 39 points and were relegated. Last season 18th had 36 pts, but even if they could have obtained 38th points they would have been relegated. Wigan would not be guaranteed survival with 38 points.
My long explanation is here: https://norwichcity.myfootballwriter.com/2014/02/27/with-villa-up-next-now-is-the-time-to-focus-on-the-positives-and-put-this-thing-to-bed-before-the-final-four-games/
The short explanation is this: Don’t look at a ‘theoretical’ low number 17th could have achieved, look at the real number 18th would have required to avoid relegation.
Also, I found this odd within the article:
“Benteke cut Norfolk’s joy short with a leveller on 24 minutes as the game began to live up to its explosive pre-match billing. It was some finish too; instant chest control and a hooked, peach of a strike in front of a helpless Joseph Yobo that, once again, demonstrated what you get for your money.”
If this is in relation to Benteke’s fee, well, it was around (or less than) RVW. Perhaps it shows what we got for our money?
Alternatively, you could have been talking about Yobo being on loan?
Dave: I believed were talking about points totals in the context of Norwich. For clarification to readers – if Norwich had finished with 38 points last season (say, losing the last two games instead of winning them) we would have survived. Among the hundreds of ways you could change City’s results last season to end up with 38 points, only one permutation(involving us losing at home to Wigan) could have seen us in danger. Something similar could be said about 9 of the last 10 seasons, where no-one with 38 points went down.
Hope that clarifies the situation of 38 points, in case anyone might have been confused by your statements that ‘going down with 38 points is not a rarity’ and ‘in 2012-13 38 wouldn’t have been enough’. Both are misleading and may have caused unnecessary anxiety to our fellow fans. OTBC
@14 Stewart Lewis
“Dave: I believed were talking about points totals in the context of Norwich.”
I don’t believe we were, the example YOU gave was Sunderland and Wigan, and the last 10 seasons, and started with an opinion positioned as a fact “We know that 38-39 points will be enough for survival; the quicker we get there, the better.”
Anyway, I won’t clog up this chain any more. If anyone cares (I doubt they do) about the complexities why 38 pts isn’t a rare amount of pts for relegation, the conversation is here: https://norwichcity.myfootballwriter.com/2014/02/27/with-villa-up-next-now-is-the-time-to-focus-on-the-positives-and-put-this-thing-to-bed-before-the-final-four-games/
If you want the short answer, well, 38pts can be both safe and not enough at exactly the same time, depending on your position.
Dave: as you say, let’s leave it there. Bet you £10 that if Norwich reach 38 points, they’ll survive. If you believe your statement that ‘going down with 38 points is not a rarity’, you should take it.