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A season like no other? My top ten games of a topsy-turvy campaign with a Wembley cherry on top

2nd June 2015 By Russell Saunders 11 Comments

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Phew!

In reviewing the highs and lows of a crazy but triumphant season, which took a few unpleasant detours and had the odd dead-end moment, it’s hard to know where to begin.

Ultimately, even though two teams finished above us in the table, it turned out to be probably the most memorable promotion the club has ever had. The month of May especially brought rare goodies which will live forever in the memory.

I’m getting on a bit, but the first ever promotion to the top division in 1971/72, when Ron Saunders and Duncan Forbes played the key Alex Neil and Russell Martin roles back, is stretching my brain cells too far. I was alive but Lego and Action Man were probably playing a more important part in my life than events at Carrow Road.

That moment in the club’s history can never be surpassed due to its very historic nature because after nigh on 70 years of languishing largely in the Southern League and Third Division South, Norwich City were no longer to be considered a pokey, backwater club.

It was a defining moment. At last the yellow and green would make its mark on the big stage and never look back – except for 2009-10’s detour of some of the league’s darker backwaters.

With all that said, the Wembley-winning finale of last week runs it a bloody close second.

In a season that saw us top in October, on the edge of mid-table oblivion in the dying embers of 2014 and then, slowly but surely, assaulting the play-off positions by April, it’s impossible to list all the key events or personal zeniths (and nadirs).

There were lows of course. The month of November was especially bleak with one point from twelve and the family cat had to be put down the day before that hammering on Teesside. No need to dwell on the dark days though.

God bless you Billy and thank God for Alex Neil.

I have put up a top ten high points for discussion. I’m fairly confident that my choices would appear in most people’s but the order will no doubt differ.

In true Top of the Pops tradition, I’ll countdown backwards to build up the suspense. (For those born more recently, Top of the Pops used to be a popular chart-hit programme on the TV).

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10. March 17th – Huddersfield (a): Possibly the worst away performance under Alex Neil but a precious point was salvaged in the 98th minute by Jamar Loza. Former City player James Vaughan had put the opposition in front in the 95th minute and then comically got himself sent off in the premature celebrations.

Alex Neil was furious at the result but rarely has there been such a bonkers finish to a game of football.

9. May 2nd – Fulham (h): At last, the Cottagers curse – going back to the dark ages – was broken with a Bradley Johnson hat-trick of sorts. We had made the play-offs.

8. February 24th – Blackburn (a): The kind of bleak Tuesday night winter trip up north when the men really are sorted from the boys. Behind at half-time, things were looking poor but great goals from Jerome and Johnson took crucial points.

7. September 13th – Cardiff (a): Two down at half-time, Neil Adams seems to have given the kind of dressing room hair-dryer which suggested he might have the right stuff. The boys stormed back with four second half goals to make Mr Tan squirm in his seat.

6. April 11th – Bolton (a): Crucial game – very average performance. Game drifting to a 1-1 draw – cue Gary ‘hit-man’ Hooper’s luscious lob in the 93rd minute and three big, big points. Neil Lennon was furious – the cherry on top. Alex Tettey’s reaction was priceless.

5. March 21st – Forest (h): A dominant performance and comfortable win highlighted by Cameron Jerome’s sublime back-heel flick which left onlookers with their jaws hanging on the ground. A thing of beauty.

4. March 1st – Ipswich (h): Dominant dismissal of the Tractor Boys with a pile driver from Bradderz sending the home fans delirious. The Barry Butler Trophy was in the bag from that moment.

3. May 16th – Ipswich (h) again:  Nervous first half – play-off in the balance. Exploded into life with sending off and penalty. Just got better and better from then on – Redmond was electric. Wembley here we come.

2. January 10th – Bournemouth (a): Be honest – most of us thought a walloping was coming from a long unbeaten and free-scoring Cherries side. In the stands was a fresh-faced Alex Neil, newly appointed to save our season: 1-0 down and with 10 men, the unknown from over the border makes his way to the touchline. The rest is history.

1. May 25th – Middlesbrough at Wembley. Triumph and redemption – no further explanation necessary.

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The ball starts rolling again on August 8th. Premier League – Let’s be ‘aving you!


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Filed Under: Column, Russell Saunders

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Comments

  1. Stewart Lewis says

    2nd June 2015 at 7:42 am

    Just to prove there’s an MFW following in the wilds of New South Wales…

    Great piece, Russ. November really WAS grim for you. Not a bad Top 10 selection, though I’d have put Blackburn (a) a bit higher for its significance, and perhaps found room for Watford (a).

    Hope this will still be under discussion when I get back in a week or so…

    Reply
  2. colin mason says

    2nd June 2015 at 7:52 am

    Great choices I would add Preston away in FA Cup for same reason as Colchester away defeat in 2009 both defeats resulted in change for the good.
    How good it is to support City. Talking to life long gooner fan who is bored of the top 4 tedium and FA Cup success, they could never experience what we’ve all been through and we’ve 38 massive games next season they’ve got about 10! Great memories.

    Reply
  3. el dingo says

    2nd June 2015 at 8:03 am

    Somehow I would squeeze the Preston defeat in. As vital a trigger as the Col U fiasco. Great list though!

    Reply
  4. Gary Field says

    2nd June 2015 at 8:18 am

    Great list Russell and it highlights the difficult choice in picking just ten games for your list!

    Personally, I have two othet favourites that would have made my list.

    First, Watford away, not least because of the 3-0 scoreline. It may have annoyed the locals because of the (soft) penalty, but they ignore the fact that their own team failed to muster a single meaningful shot on target in 90 minutes.

    Second, Charlton away. City were so dominant in the first half that the 2-0 scoreline flattered the home team. However, we then conspired to give away two soft goals and were looking at a draw. But, up popped Cameron Jerome, assisted by some Wes trickery, to secure another valuable away win.

    I could add Brighton away to the list too, but, that just highlights what a great season it’s been and how many personal favourite games there have been.

    OTBC

    Reply
  5. Ed says

    2nd June 2015 at 8:37 am

    Top list from one hell of a season which arguably saw Middlesbrough provide the obvious high and the probable low (4-0 at their place).

    Wolves on the opening day seems a very dim and distant memory now.

    Can feel an All Time Top Ten NCFC Matches list coming on…

    Reply
  6. Russell S. says

    2nd June 2015 at 12:20 pm

    Cheers all and g’day Stewart (hope it’s been a good trip).
    Glad to see I got it just about ‘right’. Preston was certainly a watershed moment. Last minute loss at Forest hurt the most. All part of the rich tapestry that was the Championship 14/15-style.

    If you haven’t seen this, do – it’s brilliant;
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYT0_8tpoKw&feature=youtu.be

    Best games ever? My nomination is Liverpool (H), 1980 – goals galore/Fash’s GOTS/Keelan’s last game/Dalglish in his pomp.

    Reply
  7. Colin Mason says

    2nd June 2015 at 12:22 pm

    Interesting idea Ed. 3-2 v Derby obviously, Bayern Munich, huckerby’s demolition of Cardiff whilst on loan, a number of Ipswich demolitions, Wolves home play off semi in 2003, I really enjoyed a 4-0 demolition away at Derby years ago around Xmas time, 8-0 v Sutton in Cup. Gonna be hard to agree on top 10 depends on age and memory but so much sweeter when the win means something e.g. Derby, play off’s and Wembley of course.

    Reply
  8. Cosmo P. says

    3rd June 2015 at 12:27 pm

    Re: Ed – presumably, that top 10 will come from this comprehensive publication?
    http://www.jarrold.co.uk/departments/books/local-books/norwich-city-greatest-games-by-edward-couzens$9lake

    Reply
  9. Ed says

    3rd June 2015 at 5:40 pm

    Cosmo P, LOL, might use it for reference-mind you, a few more have come about since that came out!

    Reply
  10. Dave Atkins says

    3rd June 2015 at 8:23 pm

    That 4-0 demolition of Leeds at Elland Road in 1993, culminating in Jeremy Goss’s shot in off the bar has to be one of the best I’ve been to.

    Reply
  11. Sharon B says

    7th June 2015 at 6:22 pm

    Good choice, though shame there’s no room for Millwall away somewhere. Such an easy win, sometimes it’s just great to sit back with no nerves knowing you are going to demolish the opposition…!

    Reply

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