• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

My Football Writer

My Football Writer Norwich City news… comment… analysis

Norwich City – news, comment and analysis

Find the best betting sites
  • Home
  • About us
  • The Team
  • Archives Index
  • Patreon
  • ADVERTISE
  • Contact us

Neil delighted at City’s ability to win ugly on their promotion travels as the flying Johnson delivers the killer moment again.

3rd April 2015 By Rick Waghorn Leave a Comment

Please share

Bradley Johnson placed one hand on this year’s Player of the Season award as his 11th goal of the season gave the Canaries a vital 1-0 away win at Brighton this afternoon.

City boss Alex Neil had set out a very simple stall this week – win every game between now and the end of the season and the Norfolk side would be back gracing the top flight again next August.

In the 62nd minute a typically assured finish from the City midfielder put the manager’s words into deeds as the Canaries piled on the pressure at the top of the table.

With Middlesbrough still to come to Carrow Road before a tumultuous race draws to a close with that home game against Fulham, everything remains set fair.

Today – and every other match day from now on – was always going to be about the result. Nothing else will matter. And all that matters was Johnson’s goal. That and the fact that at the other end, Norwich held firm against Chris Hughton’s Seagulls.

Middlesbrough’s 1-0 win kept them two points ahead of City with Bournemouth squeezed in between. It’s a whisker; no more.

“Brighton don’t concede many goals and this is a difficult place to come and win,” said Neil afterwards.

The irony won’t be lost on ex boss Hughton that the one person that made the difference today was Redmond; his ex teenage protege at Birmingham City. Just as much as Sebastien Bassong was at Newcastle.

None of which is of any concern to Neil. He had his result; he had his three points.

“I’ve been quoted before as saying that we played well and didn’t win – and that’s no use. That’s how it is at the moment.

“So although we didn’t manage to play at our best today, we still managed to win the game which is pleasing,” he told BBC Radio Norfolk.

“Sometimes you have to mix it up and win ugly. Do whatever it takes really to get the three points. And in terms of the effort and the determination of the players, I thought we deserved to win the game. I thought we were the better side.”

Once again, Neil would win plaudits for the manner and timing of his substitutions – in particular the early arrival of Nathan Redmond after the interval.

The England Under-21 replaced Wes Hoolahan after 56 minutes; six minutes later and it was his pull-back that Johnson gleefully converted and send the travelling support in raptures. The manager had found the one moment that mattered.

“Nathan Redmond coming on was a real catalyst for the game,” Neil revealed.

“He had a real impact on the game; he came on and created an opportunity for us and up until that stage there hadn’t been too many clear-cut opportunities. All credit to him (Redmond) – I thought his attitude was fantastic.”

The spark had been found. In what was always going to be a cagey game against a typically organised Hughton side, Norwich had the advantage. And with that rebuilt back four delivering again, so the Canaries continued to quietly closing in on the promotion kill.

It wasn’t without its moments as Rohan Ince, Chris O’Grady and Teixeira all gained a glimpse of John Ruddy’s goal.

But there was that air of defensive assurance to City that has come with the return of Bassong to the heart of that back line. Equally, few now question Russell Martin’s ability to command a central berth. At least at this level.

Throw in Johnson’s unerring ability to be in the right place at the right time with the right finish on days when the frontline fails to deliver, then Norwich are looking promotion part.

And in Neil they appear to have a young manager on a mission – a mission that now continues at home to Sheffield Wednesday on Easter Monday when Carrow Road will rock.


Please share

Filed Under: Latest news

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

FIND MY FOOTBALL WRITER ON

As featured on NewsNow: Norwich City news” style=

Norwich City News 24/7

#NCFC LATEST

jamesshreeve James Shreeve @jamesshreeve ·
23m

South East? Fuck, I’ve had it wrong all this time. Happy travels from Yorkshire #ncfc

Reply on Twitter 1621532636437946369 Retweet on Twitter 1621532636437946369 Like on Twitter 1621532636437946369 Twitter 1621532636437946369
realrhysfoulkes (R)hys Foulkes @realrhysfoulkes ·
27m

#ncfc

Reply on Twitter 1621531738995363841 Retweet on Twitter 1621531738995363841 Like on Twitter 1621531738995363841 2 Twitter 1621531738995363841
lotaylor23 Lorraine Taylor 😷🦊🐝🐾 @lotaylor23 ·
32m

We're lagging behind Burnley. Get pledging #ncfc fans
#greenfootballweekend

Reply on Twitter 1621530283202977792 Retweet on Twitter 1621530283202977792 Like on Twitter 1621530283202977792 Twitter 1621530283202977792
pinkun The Pink Un @pinkun ·
51m

🟢🟡 Direct appeal from Mr Wagner to #NCFC fans

💬 I can promise we will try everything, we will fight for every inch on the grass. But we need that atmosphere and if we have that energy in the stadium then maybe something special can happen 🔥

https://www.pinkun.com/news/23297857.norwich-city-david-wagner-appeals-fans-ahead-burnley-test/

Reply on Twitter 1621525609397760009 Retweet on Twitter 1621525609397760009 2 Like on Twitter 1621525609397760009 8 Twitter 1621525609397760009
darrellallen94 Darrell Allen @darrellallen94 ·
51m

Can we get some #NCFC retweets on this. After you have finished tomorrow at Carrow Road come over to @DerehamTown vs @themikesfc at Aldiss Park.

Bar and Food available🍔🍺

@CGoreham @BobRutler @AlongComeNodge @canariestrust @cjsouthwell1902 @EDPchrislakey @TalkNorwichCity

Reply on Twitter 1621525515365650435 Retweet on Twitter 1621525515365650435 Like on Twitter 1621525515365650435 2 Twitter 1621525515365650435
Load More...

Copyright © 2023 21VC Ltd | All rights reserved | Not to be reproduced without prior permission.

Disclaimer: The information on this website consists of personal opinions. Whilst we have taken all reasonable steps to ensure that the information contained on these Web pages is accurate and correct at the time of writing we do not accept any liability whatsover for any loss or damage caused by reliance on this information.

We do not accept any responsibility for information contained in other websites to which this site links. We strongly advise users to check any information before acting or relying on it.

Developed and Hosted by