The long list of casualties reeled out by Daniel Farke at his pre-match news conference was never going to win any prizes for the shock of the week.
Quite how deep he would have to plunge into the depths of City’s young talent was, perhaps, the deciding factor at Carrow Road.
Norwich started in full control. For the first 10 minutes, they enjoyed almost exclusive possession, gradually pushing Coventry deeper and deeper into their own half, culminating in a minute or so of play where City passed and probed, trying to tease a way through the packed ranks of the defence.
Ultimately, they were unable to even fashion a chance and Coventry struck back, in a foretaste of what was to come, the ball flying over McGovern’s crossbar. This seemed to spur City into life.
A through ball from Josh Martin put Marco Stiepermann through on the keeper but he couldn’t get a decisive touch on the ball.
Moments later City created more chances. The ball was cut back to Martin who sidefooted his shot at the keeper. Przemysław Placheta couldn’t quite make the best of the rebound.
Persistence paid off moments later though. A floated through-ball from Alex Tettey of all people, Placheta and the goalkeeper clashed and a penalty was the result. With no Teemu Pukki, it was Mario Vrancic who stepped up to slot home.
The half continued with Norwich in complete control, but Coventry looking dangerous on the break and putting some great crosses into Michael McGovern’s box, albeit creating few clear chances.
The second half began with Coventry looking far brighter and a succession of wicked crosses somehow failed to produce a decent goal effort. As the half progressed, they began to cause more and more problems.
Unlike Farke, Mark Robins felt able to use all five of his substitutions and ultimately this was what swung the match in their favour.
City’s players were visibly tiring while the fresh legs of Coventry injected energy and pace. Christoph Zimmermann replaced Martin in the now-familiar switch to three at the back, but as youngster Reece McAlear was ready to come on, a long cross-field ball found the gap behind the advanced Max Aarons.
Aarons chased back but his scything attempt to win the ball not only won him a yellow card but more worrying, saw him hobble off unable to bear weight on his left knee. Regardless, the cross came in.
Ben Gibson’s interception wrong-footed McGovern and a tap-in resulted in City falling victim to an 89th-minute equalizer for once.
Given the length of the injury list, a point, 10 games unbeaten and top of the league is something of a miracle.
Without the movement of Pukki and the guile and industry of Emi Buendia, City flattered to deceive somewhat and clearly tired as the game passed.
And McGovern? His distribution does not inspire confidence, and there was one heart-stopping juggle with the ball in the first half, but he also made a couple of half decent saves. He’s no Krul, but he’s no mug either.
The loss of Aarons though means that City’s already depleted resources will be tested once again as Farke looks to find 11 fit players for Wednesday night.
I cannot be the only one wondering why the exclusion of Leitner and Drmic in the midst of such a dire shortage of bodies is continuing – whatever they did to get on the naughty step must be heinous indeed. Presumably both are still drawing hefty salaries from the club, and even if not fully match fit after so long apart from the senior squad could have meant an extra two backsides on the empty spots on the bench today, with the possibility of late cameos. Even if they have no future in Norfolk, making use of them while they’re on the payroll must only be a positive if it can lessen the pressure on the first teamers, and by giving them a platform to put themselves in the shop window ahead of January could even mean getting a fee for them?
It was a backs to the wall performance but I felt with a bit more pace up front in the cebtre we could have takeb the gane to Coventry and won that comfortably .We failed to really put their rookie keeper under any real pressure and the pace we had in abundance on each flank with Placheta and Martin failed to produce in terms of incisive attacks with both guilty of over elaboraion and lack of efforts on goal .Why don’t our players shoot more and hit the ball a if they mean it?We know what Martin is capable of (I saw hs hat rick for the U 23’s) yet he seems reluctant to use his main asset.We seem too often to want to pass the ball into the net which rarely works in the Championship/
Stiepermann’s talents are not as a target man and I thought Farke should have given Dickson Peters a decent run second half.Lets hope we see something of him against Luton with Stiepermann playing him in from behind which he does so well..
Is anyone exploring the Seastian Soto work permit situation because if we ever needed him it’s now!
And why do we let good strikers go out on loan wuthout recall clauses (the Luxembourg lad)
Before someone points out we are top of the League I do realise that but faint hearts in the dug out
at this stage can lead to loss of confidence and momentum. all too easily..
As per prior comments I totally on the naughty boys being able to play, I think they are out of the country, or so I heard. Also agree on a loan clause. That said an unprecedented number of crocked players in the camp at the mo.
Drmic is injured and in Switzerland, don’t know about Lietner.
Loans are all now (rules of the game) transfer window to transfer window, so the only possible recall is in January. when I suspect it might be a bit too soon to have expected the changes to work permit that Brexit might or not bring to have had any effect.