“That was a tough ol’ go, Boy!”
The words of Mr Derek Gowers (aka Dad) on the phone to Gower Junior at around 5pm yesterday.
As ever, he nailed in one small sentence what I struggle to do in 800 words. It was indeed a tough ol’ go, in every sense, but that City came through it as those around them floundered made the ugliest of wins something quite significant.
In Norwich City terms, it was almost the perfect weekend, although any references to a famous Danish brand of lager are banned.
Credit to Rotherham. Their intended aim of turning this into a physical battle was achieved and in doing so, City’s additional quality on the ball was rendered ineffective for long spells. In the battle of muscle and endeavour, the Millers edged it, hence the second-half taking what seemed like hours rather than 52 minutes.
With Brentford having already lost and Swansea’s doing the unexpected at the John Smith’s Stadium, the value of the three points increased as the afternoon wore on and it was with relief rather than ecstasy that referee Tony Harrington’s final whistle was greeted in NR1.
It was of course one of those afternoon’s in which City have specialised this season: a single-goal win that could have been made so much more comfortable if a second had been forthcoming.
It didn’t and it wasn’t.
Thankfully though we have an Argentinian and a Finn in our ranks who in my pantheon of double acts are up there with Vic and Bob. Believe me, that is praise indeed.
For the umpteenth time this season, it was a perfectly-weighted Emi through-ball that sent Pukki racing clear into acres of space, and now that we have our old Teemu back the ending was never in doubt.
As he approached Viktor Johansson, the head was clear and the connection was true. Vintage Pukki.
The key to a tension-free afternoon was obviously the second goal, but every missed chance – and I’m especially looking at you Mr Vrancic – the belief and resolve in the Rotherham ranks grew. On Wednesday night against Coventry, that key moment came on the stroke of half-time when Emi-Teemu made it 2-0.
Yesterday, faced with only a one-goal deficit and with raw meat replacing energy drinks in the Rotherham dressing room at half-time, the second period was St Andrew’s revisited with added incentive and oomph.
It became the type of battle that Warne wanted and which Daniel Farke had tried to avoid; one where the tackles were flying in thick and fast and where muscle trumped technique. In other words, standard Championship fare.
Fortunately for us, this iteration of Norwich City is bettered equipped than most of the recent versions to cope with opponents who want to put it up ’em. While it may not be City’s own modus operandi, the Championship is full of teams who specialise in it, Rotherham being one of the finest exponents of said art.
In terms of artistic impression, yesterday was more Terry Hurlock than Maradona but putting bodies on the line and doing the ugly stuff is an art form all of its own and City did it well. Max Aarons lunge to block Matt Crooks’ goalbound effort was the best example but there were loads of others.
Christoph Zimmermann deserves a mention too given his late inclusion, and despite a few understandable wobbles given his lack of game time, he now has another clean to his name as part of a City back-four.
While he may lack the grace of Ben Gibson and is less comfortable in starting the Farkeball rolling from deep, in that most basic footballing requirement of defending he provides solid and reliable back-up.
Both full-backs, in addition to Max’s heroics, also did their fair share of the ugly stuff too and, of course, Grant Hanley did Grant Hanley things when the flak was flying and leadership was needed. And in an attacking sense, Dimitris Giannoulis’ Aarons impression is coming along very nicely down that left flank.
And Tim Krul. Nothing to add.
So, a seven-point lead that will now still remain a lead even if Swansea win their much-fabled games in hand and, out of the blue, Watford emerge from the pack as potentially our most dangerous challengers.
Three wins out of three for the Hornets – matched by ourselves, a Carlton Morris-inspired Barnsley, QPR, and Big Mick’s Cardiff – has propelled them into the heart of the promotion hunt and player-for-player they do look the best equipped of the bunch to take it all the way.
But let’s not get carried away. Swansea and Brentford are going nowhere either, although the 15-point gap we have opened up between ourselves and Bournemouth pleases me immensely.
If the Cherries can close that gap with 15 games to go then fair play – they will have more than earned automatic promotion!
Back in the real world, the one-game-at-a-time adage, however tedious, is the only way to proceed. Talk of squad-strengthening ahead of a return to the Premier League is well and truly premature, even though Canary Callers are suggesting otherwise.
Believe it or not, Stuart Webber will have already thought about this.
Final word to my dad, as has been the case for the past 86 years.
‘Well, I’m happy. I don’t care if they did make hard work of it – it was a win. Seven points clear with 15 to go and Ipswich only drew at home. I’ll enjoy the rest of my weekend now!”
He’s a good ol’ boy.
Note your comment about Watford and Barnsley Gary but haven’t Cardiff now won five games in a row this month? Their new manager, who I seem to recall previously managed an ex-Championship club now labouring mid-table in League One, seems to be doing a fine job there and I for one am somewhat pleased Norwich don’t have to face them again this season.
Yes, they have mate, as have QPR. I was reminded of this on Twitter and have amended it. Good spot.
Your Dad certainly nailed it.
Fantastic home form this season without fans too.
Best defense I can recall for many a season. Great team effort.
Isn’t it amazing, sold two defenders to PL clubs for around £40m.
Has anyone missed them?
Now our new Greek full back is finding his feet, he’s looking really good. Far better than Lewis, he isn’t always looking for a sideway, or backward pass, which Lewis .
Ben Gibson really good with his passing out of defence.
Agree with all of that but the failure to convert chances is a worry. We have got a good few points this season because the opposition have failed to convert a late guilt edged chance. It is by virtue of a mean defense that we are top rather than the sometimes sumptuous attacking flair.
Good piece Gary – I would add if or when we go up and end up in a relegation scrap, we take the spirit and effort and never say die attitude. Won’t want any of their players but all of the before mentioned would leave us in good stead 😊
Hi Gary
A good read this balmy 8c morning in Blackpool who also had a good away win at Portsmouth yesterday.
There was much moaning and groaning about the lack of a second goal but a win is a win especially with those around us losing their way, a very unexpected set of results this weekend.
One of our own that many say wasn’t given a chance to prove himself is trying on the style at Barnsley 3 in 3 and we let him go for a reported £250k I hope their was a sell on clause or some add ons.
So now it is a trip back to England’s second city, yesterday the pitch looked a lot better than the rain soaked mud pit on Wednesday and we will all expect Kranka to setup agame of attrition and if no rain to wet water the pitch so please wear long studs this time round.
Whatever plans SW and DF have for the rest of the season their are a few tough games to come Derby away, Watford, Bournemouth and Brentford all at home not to mention Wycombe, QPR, Huddesfield so a very interesting run in so no rest for the chosen few.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay safe and Stay Healthy
I said couple of rounds ago that Pukki is in good form even he had not scored, basically he is healthy. He played injured last seasons second half and you can see difference. He could have scored 2, but not more, other Norwich players should have scored 1 too. Pukki did brilliant individual effort and pass was perfect but Vrancic was not able to score. Little bit similarly as in last game, when Pukki passed empty net goal chance for Cantwell but Cantwell runned too fast and could not technically handle situation. 3-1 would have been fair result, Rotherham had best scoring chance of the game. Problem is that besides Pukki, only Buendia is able to score goals. Its not really problem now, because Norwich looking easily getting promotion. Nexr season is very different thing, because Premier league is different class and all teams of course are targeting Pukki and Buendia. So there is huge need of better players and also Norwich must find covering players for those 2 also. 8 new players at least, about 100 million investment for new players. If there is no investments to new players I have impossible to understand why Norwich even tries to get promoted? Financial reasons is unfair answer to fans, who by the way are only reason why professional football exist.
Hi 1×2
Norwich will not be investing £100million in new players if we get to the PL.
Fans once were the hub of the professional game but are not any more I can assure you. We haven’t been for some time I’m afraid!
It all changed with Rupert Murdoch and then every other chancer around piled in to make a fast buck and the song remains the same.
So spend £100m on players, plus the wages and still get relegated . No thanks , I’ll take a promotion every other year or so. If we can hang on in there for one season , we could get three or more seasons.
Totally agree. I love a thrilling Championship promotion race. I tolerate a boring Prem relegation scrap. But as long as the occasional season in the Prem provides the funds for exciting Championship seasons, the balance is fine by me. Being a mid-table Prem side competing for absolutely nothing year in, year out doesn’t sound like much fun.
Never saw those results coming, especially Swansea.
So far our defence is working well so we don’t need to convert too many chances. Shame Vrancic is not scoring as a lot of chances are falling to him. All the team are in good form. Need to keep them fit and out of the referee’s book – red page anyway.
If you were picking the best Championship team for this season so far I reckon we would supply: Krul, Aarons, Gibson, Skipp, Buendia, Cantwell and maybe Pukki for his all round game.
Let’s get to 70 points before the Brentford game. Brentford will need to come to try to win that game, which will open it up and I think that will suit us counter-attacking.
Stay safe one and all. Let’s hope Boris gives us some hope of restricted crowds getting back to games when he announces his road map tomorrow. Mind you I would rather have a sat nav!!!!