• 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

Three to go and, despite the best efforts of Howson, Dorrans et al, City's fate hangs in the balance

15th April 2015 By Gary Gowers 6 Comments

Please share

“Football… Bloody hell!”

It’s not often I feel the need to quote Sir Alex but I can’t better that sentiment right now.

First of all, hats off to the 2,125 who made the trip to Leeds last night. Their noise – helped by the proximity to Chris Goreham’s commentary box – was truly uplifting to those of us listening 150 miles away, so one can only imagine the impact it had on the players. And it was a fitting reward that both City goals were scored within celebration distance.

As for the game itself, well, we’ve long established that we’re now in the realms of points rather than performances so it’s only fair we forgive the players a first-half that sounded more Middlesbrough (a) than Forest (h).

Luckily Alex Neil and his men were able to retain their sense of calm rather better than most of us watching and listening, and – galvanised no doubt by some unequivocal Scottish tones at half-time – they ensured that class finally came to the fore with those two second-half goals.

Graham Dorrans in particular will have been relieved to see that late chance hit the net after having endured what sounded a fairly miserable first forty-five. In addition to the missed penalty and a glaring miss shortly after, his habit of finding yellow shirts with his normally exquisite passing also deserted him. And he wasn’t alone.

The fare sounded fairly dire but beneath it all the faith remained. Even minus the usual zip there was still an inner belief that there was enough in the tank to see it through. And so it proved.

That Neil ‘got into them’ at the interval is not in doubt, but still the words had to be put into action and backed up by the aforementioned belief they, from somewhere, found the edge that had been missing from 7:45 to 8:30.

For those of us at the mercy of BBC Radio Norfolk, the Goreham tones told the story perfectly. Before the break it sounded as if it was to be one of those nights: stray passes, spurned gift horses, needless fouls and furrowed brows.

But almost within a minute of the restart it became clear that everything was going to be OK. The tempo was upped, there was a purpose and, finally, a goal threat.

Naturally the second-half was accompanied by sweaty palms, chewed nails and palpitations (would you believe me if I said I had a Fellaini-type afro back in August?) but from the word go it appeared City had rediscovered the groove that has served them so well on the road since January.

They even managed to stay true to the script. Jonny Howson’s superb finish and classy (and understandable) non-celebration was a fitting way to mark his return to Elland Road, and to have earned applause from the Leeds faithful upon scoring spoke volumes of the regard in which he’s held up there.

As ever, there was to be no easy ride for City and it still took a fine save by John Ruddy – who had enjoyed a relatively comfortable night up until the 84th minute – to see the job through; his save from Alex Mowatt’s defelected effort right up there with Gary Hooper’s last gasp winner at Bolton in terms of its importance.

Dorrans’ late strike was the coup de grâce on a spirited Leeds performance and the clincher for City but, with goal difference so crucial at this late stage, it could just end up being decisive. Either way, it permitted a joyful Yellow Army three minutes of undiluted and stress-free celebration, something of a rarity of late.

Neil was typically bullish post-match – just how we like him – and commented, quite rightly, that he and the players will work on the assumption that those around us will win every game. But, in truth, I didn’t expect them to!

Right now those in the top four appear to be matching one another blow for blow and, given how things appear to be panning out, we should expect few favours from Nottingham Forest tonight. The Championship form table makes compelling – not to mention telling – reading and does little to ease already fraying nerves.

But, in little over 48 hours we must all prepare ourselves to go again. Middlesbrough appear to have overcome their blip (at least at the Riverside) and will be just itching to replicate their form of November, when they gave City a footballing lesson.

This time round however they’ll come face to face with a different Norwich – not one that is going to take a backward step or be bullied and intimidated by the swagger of Banford, Tomlin and Vossen.

Alex has requested we get the place ‘rocking’. I’d say that’s the least we can do.

“Never mind the danger…”


Please share

Filed Under: Column, Gary Gowers

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. David Nobbs says

    15th April 2015 at 1:13 pm

    Clearly we need to beat Boro. If we do that we wil be 4 points clear of them and that should be enough to leave the auto race between 3. I don’t think Bournmouth will drop another point looking at their run in so that leaves us and Watford. I’m not sure Watford will drop another point either (though tonight may be a test) so it may come down to goal difference and a question of if we can out score Watford.
    No time for faint hearts.

    Reply
  2. Ben K says

    15th April 2015 at 1:46 pm

    Great piece, as always, Gary.

    Leeds fans applauded Howson? Goodness me.

    Talk about tight. We haven’t had a dull end of season for a long time now. Hope that Forest can do us a favour.

    Reply
  3. Cosmo P. says

    15th April 2015 at 3:19 pm

    Never been a fan of the understated goal celebration at a former club but Howson’s was in its own category – he was born in Leeds and so clearly has a close link still to the city and its football fans – whatever we may think of them!
    Supporting Forest tonight – they did beat Bournemouth at home not so long ago. If they can take points off Watford and Middlesbrough’s poor away run cotinues on Friday, then bob’s your uncle!

    Reply
  4. Colin Mason says

    15th April 2015 at 3:39 pm

    ‘Never mind the danger’, immense effort from all top 4 sides, still can’t contemplate a play off final against you know who, couldn’t handle the stress, could any of us? Oh yes I forgot, thank God for the canny Scot! Reckon on a draw at City Ground tonight, win on Friday then we can clinch promotion at New York if we’re not to jet lagged.

    Reply
  5. Mark says

    15th April 2015 at 5:14 pm

    It seems from interviews that silence and gesticulation is the best way of Johnny expressing himself. When he tries to use words it tends to end up in a bit of a car crash!

    Reply
  6. Neil N. Pray says

    15th April 2015 at 11:08 pm

    You never really know with football. When Forest found themselves 2-0 and a man down it looked like Watford would score a hatful to to take them second, especially with such a potent attack. Who would have thought, with just minutes to go, Forest would have an open goal to make it 2-2 ?!

    It’s been an incredible season. At least one of the top four is going to miss out. With the fixture on Friday we know they can’t all keep winning, but I think there’s at least one unexpected slip-up on the cards somewhere…

    Reply

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

nickk28 nick @nickk28 ·
53m

I was today years old when I realised Alexa can play OTBC! Amazing!! #ncfc

Reply on Twitter 1619058710525145089 Retweet on Twitter 1619058710525145089 Like on Twitter 1619058710525145089 Twitter 1619058710525145089
totallytettey Jack 🔰 @totallytettey ·
1h

Alright hear me out. Slap a Nodge badge on this and I’m paying over the odds for this #ncfc

Reply on Twitter 1619056835667058690 Retweet on Twitter 1619056835667058690 Like on Twitter 1619056835667058690 4 Twitter 1619056835667058690
cjsouthwell1902 Connor Southwell @cjsouthwell1902 ·
1h

Nice to get down to Colney this afternoon to watch #NCFC’s U21s (plus friends) beat Leeds 5-2.

Always impressed with Abu Kamara. Thought Adam Idah was impressive as well.

Good to see some first team options get a run out.

Reply on Twitter 1619055613530746880 Retweet on Twitter 1619055613530746880 Like on Twitter 1619055613530746880 16 Twitter 1619055613530746880
fan_banter Fan Banter @fan_banter ·
1h

Video footage emerges of Southampton and Newcastle fans fighting with each other - https://fanbanter.co.uk/video-footage-emerges-of-southampton-and-newcastle-fans-fighting-with-each-other-mid-game/

#watfordfc #ncfc #twitterclarets #safc #rufc #wafc #bcfc #rovers #utmp #bristolcity #ccfc #pusb #htafc #hcafc #coyh #boro #millwall #qpr #readingfc #twitterblades #scfc

Reply on Twitter 1619053880142139398 Retweet on Twitter 1619053880142139398 Like on Twitter 1619053880142139398 Twitter 1619053880142139398
samjermy Sam Victor Jermy 🇺🇦 🇹🇼 @samjermy ·
1h

Heard that Mario Vrancic is going to sign for FK Sarajevo. One for fellow #ncfc Bosnian Pirlo lovers.

Reply on Twitter 1619052569229418496 Retweet on Twitter 1619052569229418496 Like on Twitter 1619052569229418496 Twitter 1619052569229418496
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