Okay, so there were a few hairy moments in the second-half and our Tim at least had to get his gloves dirty as Coventry responded well to going 2-0 just before the interval, but the damage had already been done.
Buendia-Pukki and Pukki-Buendia had already inflicted the blows that rendered the game over, as long as City steered clear of the self-inflicted disasters playbook, which they dip into from time to time.
But not this time.
Despite the Sky Blues responding well to what would have been a Robins rocket, the triumvirate of older, wiser heads – aka Krul, Hanley and Gibson – cajoled, guided, pointed, directed and tripped the team home to what may well turn out to be a pivotal win.
With the Brentford blip coming at a time when many predicted they would be zooming off into the sunset, the timely resurrection of the Buendia-Pukki axis has given us a massive shot in the arm at the perfect time.
When the pair are in perfect sync, opponents are rendered spectators. Even against the best of the best they have proven formidable on their day and so when it clicks in the Championship, with a little help from nine friends games can be won in a couple of blinding flashes.
A tad OTT? Maybe, but that’s how it felt at half-time last night.
Only Marco Stiepermann can lay claim to having a similarly telepathic understanding with Pukki, but it’s Buendia’s technique and swagger that takes it to another level when it clicks.
But that’s enough eulogising. In the second-half it boiled down to guts and bravery and putting bodies on the line; all qualities shown by and which stem from an indomitable lump of Dumfies granite that Daniel Farke has plonked into the heart of his defence.
Poetry in motion he may not be, but Grant Hanley’s natural urge to lead from the front, to organise, and to do the ugly stuff is why we are where we are. In Ben Gibson he’s found a perfect ally.
And so for all the beauty and grace of Buendia and the clinical precision of Pukki, it was a second-half of said ugly stuff that won those three points last night.
Coventry’s response to some verbals from their manager was impressive, and while it didn’t quite reach kitchen sink level, some serious questions were asked of a City rearguard that responded accordingly.
City made light of the St Andrew’s quagmire in the first-half and produced footie that belied the bobbles and bare patches, but in the second it was of an ilk more suited to the surface, including the full gamut of crunching tackles, clipped heels, niggles and remonstrating.
That City emerged with no obvious additions to the injury list and with eleven bodies on the pitch was an added bonus; one that hasn’t always been a given this season.
With Brentford losing – their second defeat in a row – City have again put clear water between themselves and the pack, albeit only thanks to Swansea having played two games less. With the Swans claiming a late win against Forest, if they win those games in hand they will go top but, as Farke alluded to in his post-match chat, with 16 games to go it’s too early to delve too deeply into the ifs and buts.
Brentford’s blip may have caused much mirth across the Canary Nation, just as ours no doubt did in west London, but in the same way our downturn was only temporary, so too the Bees.
They’ll be back and re-entering the fray any time soon, probably starting on Saturday in the St Andrew’s bog. Equally, the flyers from South Wales will have a dip at some point in their next 18 games. It’s inevitable; it’s the Championship.
In Swansea’s favour of course is a defence that churns out clean sheets but I’m not expecting Steve Cooper’s men to squeeze the accelerator and leave the rest of us behind. They’re good but not that good.
So, another win tucked under our belts and the feelgood factor has returned along with the Teemu Pukki we know and love.
A lot can happen in 16 games but we’re still just ahead of the curve if season 2018-19 remains the barometer. So, in line with the not too high, not too low mantra, let’s keep it low-key and just turn our attention to Rotherham (h).
Never Mind the Danger.
Last night was as easy an away win as we’re ever likely to get. Coventry were honest and hard working but didn’t match up, player for player, in any department. Hopefully, Sam McCullam will return to their team and do some harm to our promotion rivals.
Rotherham are no one’s mugs despite their low position and Paul Warne will want to walk away from his personal football Mecca with a point or 3. Another game which I think will be won as much by grind as flowing football before we travel back to the not at all inappropriately named St Andrews Trillion Trophy Stadium. It will be interesting to see what effect the forecast wet Midlands week will have on the pitch.
One thing I learnt from last night is that, given the choice again, I will pay the £10.00 for iFollow rather than suffer the amateur coverage on the Sky red button.
Agree with all of this except maybe about the commentary on I Follow which was about as bad as I have heard so far. from the locals. Every time the Sky Blues crossed the half way line they got very excited also for some reason the commentator kept getting Teemu and Todd confused. Easily done I mean they do look alike! I wonder if they will be the same next week at the mud bath?
I couldn’t put up with the iFollow commentary either…..so watched the game there, and listened to the excellent Chris Goreham on Radio Norfolk…..(and I managed to get it in synch!!)
O T B C
Mark Robbins has done very well at Coventry, a club without a home and generally screwed up off the field. But the difference in skill across every position was quite clear.
I don’t know if many expected City to cruise through the second half banging in another couple or not, it is very rare a team that is bad in the first half are the same in the second. They all get their time to be on top. Coventry had their spell and City reacted to it with professionalism, managed the game very well. even had time to get some time into legs that are on the way back. For me, close as dam to a perfect night.
We have to face Brentford at home, that will be an important game if we can take points away from them, but they will be thinking exactly the same. Swansea has a couple of games in hand, that could see them jump above us, unless things change again. Which I have no doubts it will
I’d like to thank Coventry’s commentator for an hour and a half of endless amusement last night. For example “Teeny” Pukki’s versatility in saving shots at one end and scoring at the other was awesome, and I loved the way he spent most of the first half finding ways to avoid saying Giannoulis….
Most of the “away” commentators we’ve had, at least that I’ve heard, have taken the trouble to make sure they are well-informed about our players. This clown clearly hadn’t bothered. At least “Oggie” seemed to know his stuff.
As for the pitch, it reminded me of Harleston Rec (aka “wreck”) in the 1960s. I believe it’s improved since then (Harleston that is, not St Andrews). Kudos to both sides for some of the slick passing they managed on that. At least we know what we’ll be up against next Tuesday when I suspect Krankie will be looking to play a somewhat less expansive game.
Hi Keith
That’s a great spoiler for my piece tomorrow [take a look]. My only excuse is that I wrote it before I read your comment on Gary’s article!
Big Oggy was great but the other guy should get a P45 and that right quick. He didn’t refer to them as Coventry once – it was always *the Sky Blues* and it really started to grind my gears – and that was just during the first half.
I didn’t hear Tiny Pukki but he was Timmy Pukki on several occasions!
Great minds……?
Hi Gary and everyone, hope we are all safe & well on this Thursday morning.
A good read as always Gary and summed up my thoughts entirely. However I’d just like to add one name to the list of players you mentioned above….and that’s Dimitris Giannoulis. I thought the Greek left back had his best game for us so far. He looked composed & comfortable when on the ball with some neat short and long passing. He defended well enough when needed but the penetrating runs he made and willingness to get forward was most encouraging. The attributes of DG last night finally proved to me what the scouts had seen in him and I’m sure there is more to come as he continues to find his feet in the Championship. And he nearly capped a decent shift with a goal to boot when a rasping left foot drive unfortunately just rose inches over the bar during the first half.
If promotion is achieved, then I think £14m for both him AND Ben Gibson will be money well invested.
Stay safe everyone. OTBC
Cheers Mark, and a very good point about the contribution of Giannoulis – one that I really should have mentioned. As you say, the forward impetus (and natural left foot) is there for all to see, but his tackling and defensive responsibility is growing game-on-game. Very good shout.
The Aussie Ref last night had quite a good game but like most seems to be slow in showing a Yellow card to the home side,it just might have called Coventry down and stopped a few late tackles but the condition of the pitch was helping either team.
Swansea has 2 games in hand so the pressure is on them to win at least one of the to get into the top 2 positions, the points in the bag mantra is better than games in hand.
These games have to be fitted in at a time when all clubs are complaining about a congested programme and tiredness will not help with injuries, so all this has to be taken into planning when they will get them scheduled maybe during g the next international break would be the best solution.
Looking at last nights 🌙 pitch reminded me of games at Carrow Rd in the 60’s, but Birmingham like many other clubs that haven’t had the benefit of EPL for a season or 2 for a long period haven’t upgraded the pitch Leeds have just gad to do emergency work on theirs buy Spurs Spare pitch £500k.
Saturday will be another tough game will it be the same starting 11 or will we see a couple of fresh legs 🦵 come into the fight only time will tell.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay Safe and Keep Healthy 🙏
Buendia is this season better than ever, he has been developing. Its very pleasant to watch those 2 playing together and Norwich should do everything possible to keep it like that next season in premier league too. With Emi, Teemu can play football he was surely planned and dreamed when moved to Sevilla at 17 year old. There is huge need of get more high quality players to support them in Norwich. When you listen Farke speaking about Pukki, admiration is obvious. We are still speaking about player who should have been played yesterday champions league, I do hope that still its not too late for him, but its good example that no matter how big talent you are you will not get to ultimate top level without hard work.
Tomorrow Jari Litmanen has his 50th birthday, attacking midfielder scored for Ajax incredible 9 goals in champions league 1995-96 season and won golden boot. He told that 1994-95 champions league winning celebrations were completely mess, all kinds of people were on field and mostly he hugged with people he didnt know at all and had difficulties to find his team mates. Next day in Amsterdam celebrations there were hundreds of thousands people.
I feel sorry for Coventry having to play 24 games on that pitch.
Its bad enough that we get it twice in a week.
Satisfying performance , more so because of the unhelpful surface.