Match Review 2011 - 2012

Last weeks first Premier League win of the season away at Bolton set up a home game live on Sky. Norwich kept the same team that fought so well for the 3 points last week,Morison was again preferred to Holt up front and Wes Hoolahan having a free role in behind the front man. Russell Martin,who had a superb game last week,continued at centre half. Tonights visitors,who also had a great away win last week, would have been looking to build on that performance on manager Steve Bruces old stomping ground.

Sunderland started the game very well looking very comfortable in possession and put Norwich on the back for in the first couple of minutes,but it was Norwich who had the first meaningful effort on goal,when Morisons long range shot was saved by Mignolet. After 5 minutes Norwich really should have taken the lead,Wes gambled on a long ball from Barnett leaving him clean through,the ball seemed to sit up nicely with the keeper in no mans land but his attempted lob went well over the bar. Norwich continued to take the game to Sunderland with Pilkington putting a couple of dangerous crosses in that the edgy Mignolet managed to deal with. On 21 minutes Sunderland created their best chance of the first half, Bendtner  did well down the right and laid the ball across the 18 yard box that Gardner should have done better with,his shot went high and wide. Norwich took a deserved lead on 31 minutes when Bennett played a 1- 2 with Fox down the right, Bennett got his head up well and picked out the unmarked Barnett 5 yards out who had the simplest of tap in's. On 36 minutes Sessegnon had a chance of a shot but not for the first time in the game the ball ended up in the top tier. The final chance of the half fell to Wes after a mistake by Brown let him in,but Bramble got round and covered and blocked the shot.

Overall an excellent first half performance containing Sunderland quite easily,moving the ball well and scoring from the best move of the game so far.

3 minutes after the break Norwich got the perfect start to the second half, a marauding Russell Martin started the move,he slipped through an inch perfect ball to the over lapping Tierney on the left who's superb delivery was headed home by Morison,his first goal for the club. There was not much coming back from Sunderland with only a ridiculous poor shot from Sessegnon which was high and wide again. On 53 minutes Bennett was unlucky with a long range shot that just went past the goal keepers post. 3 minutes later a misplaced pass from Larsson put Morison clean through on goal but Bramble just did enough in getting back and sending Morison away from goal. On 62 minutes Norwich nearly handed Sunderland a life line, Johnson gave the ball away in his own box,Bendtner got on the end of the loose ball but his rushed shot was well saved by Ruddy. Former Ipswich man Connor Wickham nearly made an immediate impact after coming on as sub but his header was straight at Ruddy. Lambert made a double substitution bringing on Holt and Vaughan for Pilkington and Morison. With 4 minutes left Richardson pulled a goal back when he hit a lovely strike that seemed to fly past everybody in to the bottom corner leaving Ruddy stranded on the spot. A major concern for Norwich fans and Paul Lambert was the sight of Vaughan hobbling and holding his knee before going off and leaving City to hold with 5 minutes injury time.

Overall a much deserved first home win of the season,on balance of play and chances created there was only one team that deserved to win.

Norwich City: Ruddy; Naughton, Barnett, Russell Martin, Tierney; Bennett (Crofts, 84), Fox, Bradley Johnson, Pilkington (Vaughan,78); Hoolahan; Morison (Holt, 78).

Subs (not used): Rudd, DeLaet, Surman, Chris Martin.

Sunderland: Mignolet; O’Shea, Brown, Bramble, Richardson; Elmohamady,Gardner, Vaughan, Larsson (Ji, 68); Sessegnon (Wickham, 68);Bendtner. 

Subs (not used) Westwood, Turner, Cattermole, Colback, McClean.

Back 4 looked solid and assured all evening with Russell Martin and Tierney both looking good going forward.

Both wingers,Pilkington and Bennett, caused the full backs problems and put some decent balls in the box.

Morison led the line well and getting off the mark in the Premier League will do his confidence no harm at all.

Formation was perfect giving licence to Wes and Fox to dictate play.

Wes Hoolahan was exceptional finding little pockets of space everywhere and working tremendously hard when he didn't have the ball.

Wasn't nice seeing Vaughan in real distress on the pitch,he has had his injury problems lets hope this is nothing too serious.

Wes Hoolahan

Wes Hoolahan