Alex Neil described it as, “the perfect away performance” and, as ever, it was impossible to argue.
That City had gone to one of the division’s form sides and emerged with an emphatic three goal victory was, to most of us at least, a glorious surprise. But not to the City boss.
Such is Neil’s confidence in his squad and faith in his own ability to manage, he knew if his players carried out his Colney-honed game-plan to the letter they could win the game. And sure enough…
He demonstrated again that, particularly away from home, he’s willing to pick ‘horses for courses’ and veer away from his preferred 4-1-4-1, and surprised a few (including me) by recalling Wes Hoolahan in a formation that also included two out-and-out strikers.
Not since the days of that other Scottish manager who we’re not allowed to talk about has Wes been successfully accommodated in a formation with two up top but yesterday, in the unlikeliest of circumstances, it worked like a dream.
On this occasion it was a bit different of course in that the narrow midfield four was designed to crowd those central areas where Watford, with their preferred 3-5-2, have tended to dominate their opposition but still, pre-match, I was struggling to visualise how it would work.
As ever, my concerns were nothing more than further confirmation that I don’t know what I’m talking about!
The protection afforded John Ruddy against opposition who have been full of goals was not only a testament to the game-plan but also to those who implemented it. Against opposition with whom he was also too familiar Seb Bassong again stepped up to the plate and, it seems, joyfully bucked the non-celebration against previous clubs’ trend.
Steven Whittaker too again reaffirmed the faith shown in him by the manager – and found time for an exquisite pass for Lewis Grabban’s second goal – but it would be wrong to single out individuals. Instead it was one of those days when the defending started at the other end of the pitch.
From one to eleven the Canaries defended like heroes and to have restricted the ‘free-scoring’ Hornets to one attempt on goal was staggering.
The key in such tight games, as confirmed afterwards by both managers, is to get your noses ahead and thanks to Wes and his dancing feet City did just that.
The Irishman’s inclusion in the side continues to divide opinion, some citing his lack of consistent end product, but the jinking run that led to a rash challenge from Miguel Layún was a glimpse of the Wes of old.
Having endured a torturous morning on Tuesday listening to talkSPORT’s finest dissect in microscopic detail Wayne Rooney’s dive at Preston, I refuse to enter the was it/wasn’t it debate other than to say the following:
* Did he dive? Probably
* Would I have been miffed if it has occurred at the other end? Definitely
* Will I be fuming the next time it occurs in City’s penalty area? Without a doubt
* Do I care that Wes ‘won’ us a penalty? Not one iota
The key thing was taking the opportunity when it came along and luckily, despite Gomes guessing the right way, Grabban made it third time lucky from the spot.
With the same player making the game safe with five minutes remaining it now takes him on the eleven league goals for the season; a decent return with fourteen games still to go and having spent a large chunk of it either on the bench or tripping over his bottom lip – or both. But now, crucially, he’s playing with a smile on his face.
Cameron Jerome’s fifteenth of the season, again courtesy of those dancing Irish feet, was another thing of beauty and continued his ‘hot’ run. With Gary Hooper, a bench-warmer for 89 minutes yesterday, also on the cusp of double-figures and in good form the goalscoring-scene is set up perfectly for a thrilling run-in.
Results, with the exception of a Darren Bent-inspired comeback at Derby, went City’s way yesterday and it was close to being one of those Carlsberg days. But, as difficult as it is in the circumstances, feet should be kept on terra firma.
A run that has yielded 19 points from 24 is impressive in anyone’s book and has now given City a platform from which to launch an assault on the top two but the real hard work starts now.
Momentum is everything at this stage of the season and right now City have it by the shed load but, as our friends down the road have demonstrated, the Championship is a notoriously unforgiving beast and can take you from the heights to the depths and back again in the space of a fortnight.
For this run to continue Neil will be ensuring those heads in the dressing room stay focussed and those boots stay in touch with the ground. That’s the only way.
If we have learnt one thing this season it’s that the Class of 2015 have a tendency to occasionally believe the hype but, luckily for us all, Alex Neil identified that within eight days of his arrival. Since then the demeanour has changed and so too the fortunes.
If the current mindset can remain unaltered by the events of Vicarage Road – and it would be a brave man who would dare challenge the Neil/McAvoy ethos – then we should brace ourselves, starting at Blackburn on Tuesday night. They promise to be dangerous opponents.
If that hurdle can be safely negotiated – and I’d take a point now – then, and only then, can the gaze be diverted to the small matter of a Sunday lunchtime kick-off. Until then I’m loathe to mention it.
But we’re in safe hands folks. This Alex Neil bloke knows his onions.
Of course the Manager is right to downplay the expectations and to keep his players feet on the ground. But this win reminds me of our win away to Leicester in 2011- remember Wes’s header. After that City believed they could do it and went on to deliver. A double over Ipswich would be a great way to confirm these parallels.
What a huge win that was and, for all the bleating from Watford fans about the penalty, that deflects from their own failings, just one shot on target over 96 minutes.
And I don’t buy this, “we didn’t play well” mantra either. There are usually 22 players on the pitch at any one time and the Canaries should be given huge credit for how they restricted Watford.
OTBC
Hi Gary,
I would only disagree with you on one point, you most certainly do know what you’re talking about, after a couple of false dawns it’s starting to be fun being a Canary once again, I do strongly agree with your view of Wes’s “penalty,” I was disappointed to find he has not been nominated for an Oscar.
One game at a time has to be the mantra, but my goodness I’m starting to feel very positive again!
OTBC
Wes dived but in a less spectacular way than the Watford defender in the first half! Clearly that taught Wes the ref was dire, which he was.
Grabban needs a song – too much praise directed to Jerome when Grabban deserves just as much.
If we can successfully navigate the next two games then , without being complacent, we have a run against bottom half clubs. I know this league throws up many surprises but with Neil at the helm the games should be less difficult. It so happens that from mid March onwards both Derby and Middlesborough have a run of fixtures against teams currently in and around the play offs as well as against each other. We probably need 35 points from the remaining 42 for the automatics which doesn’t give too much room for error or poor performance. That said, I’m optmistic this is not beyond us given current form and momentum.
Barring that mad start to the second half at Charlton we’ve done an almost perfect job of nullifying the opposition in the last five games. That balance between defence and attack is such a hard thing to get right, as our two previous managers found, but we seem to have found the winning formula just in time for a tilt at the title.
But as the cliché goes, let’s just take each game as it comes (as if!).
AN is right to keep his players feet on the ground an therefore keep his players focused on the road ahead. If we keep this good run of form up we will be serious contenders. Alex Neil hasn’t done a bad job ( so far) OTBC.
There is a lot to credit Alex Neil for, but in producing the current results what is most impressive of all is his man management. He has resurrected Bassong and Grabban, and even got those not regularly playing understanding their roles and really motivated when they do get a chance, as with Wes yesterday. I will be interested to see how he manages Dorrans, but also through the remainder of the season and into the summer, all the academy youngsters. At the moment Josh Murphy is further from playing than he was at the start of the season, Declan Rudd gets a few U-21 games, and the rest loan moves. We have two farmed out to Swindon, McGrandles marking time, Miquel out of sight. A lot of personnel challenges for Neil, which I’m sure he did not have at Hamilton, and will be interesting to see how he continues to manage the squad both for the remainder of this season, and into the next, which league we finish in. If he continues to manage people this well, we will be promoted.
Wes dived. He conned the ref and we got away with that one. Given that we have been on the other end of such things so many times I struggle to be too embarrassed by it.
For some light amusement reading the Watford forums would make you believe they are only ever defeated by shocking referees. They really believe refs actively go out to ruin them! Fair enough they got a bad one at Vicarage Road (ref and decision) but certainly the one at Carrow Road was a red card all day long- poor old Redmond nearly had his nose turned inside out!
Anyhow possibly the lesson is after the first goal they capitulated. The mental strength wasn’t there. For Norwich, and I give Alex Neil credit here, we seem to have a toughness lacking from before. Lets hope when big tests come, as they will, our boys can stand up and be counted.
OTBC
Never mind Watford, Mourinho reckons there’s a vendetta against then too!
Claire (no8) says Grabban needs a song.How about:
(To the tune of Bobby Shafto
Lewis Grabban is his name
Goals he’ll score to win the game
He’ll shoot,he’ll score
And then some more
We love Lewis Grabban.
With regards ‘diving’ in general ,and ‘Wes at Watford’ in particular ,I think the whole thing is too difficult to judge. Even with endless replays and analysis by so called ‘pundits’ opinion is often decide. What is much more obvious but seems to go on often unpunished or debated by said pundits is shirt tugging this is blatant premeditated cheating The offender often gets away with this cheating , or at the worst a free kick is awarded ,rarely a card. Given all the debate , whinging and injustices we have every week it must be time for sin bins.
I saw the Penalty incident a few times on Sunday and the Watford defender clearly kicks Hoolahans foot/toe full on. That said, he certainly goes down easily, but the fact is he’s kicked in the penalty area and there’s contact, so that for me discounts it as being an outright dive. At the end of the day, if you can’t beat em, join em