Match Review 2011 - 2012

Paul Lambert made 4 changes to the team that lost to Spurs, with Holt, Drury, De Laet and Crofts making way for Naughton,Pilkington, Johnson and a Premier start for Ayala, and reverting to a 4-4-1-1 formation. Todays visitors Fulham kept an unchanged team after a draw with Chelsea,with their 2 most dangerous players, Zamora and Johnson, not even making the journey to Norfolk but still had the dangerous Dempsey in the team. 

Fulham took the lead with the first real shot on goal, Sa managed to get away from Whitbread and smashed a powerful 25 yard strike leaving Ruddy no chance, Norwich were nearly 2-0 down a minute later Sa again beating the off side trap, he took his left footed shot early and it looked like it was heading in but Naughton did well to clear off the line. On 12 minutes Johnson had Norwich's first chance but his strike was just wide after great play from Surman. Norwich forced a couple of corners, Whitbread attacked one of them and the Fulham keeper and defender did well to keep it out. Morison had 2 good chances to level, first from a header then from the rebound. On 32 minutes Fulham were unlucky not to get their second, with Dempsey hading against the bar at close range, Fulham were controlling the pace of the game with the midfield 5 looking comfortable in possession and the left winger Frei looking to run at the Norwich back 4 whenever he had the chance and he nearly scored on 37 minutes when his great run and shot was well kept out by Ruddy.

Overall, a difficult first half for the Canaries, Fulham were in control for large spells and were unlucky not to be more than one goal up, Norwich looked a little bit off the pace.

Lambert made a change at half time bringing off Fox and putting Norwich's talisman Holt upfront. Dempsey had the first real chance of the second half but his shot went wide  causing Ruddy no problems. Norwich's first chance of the half fell to Pilkington after good work from Surman and Morison down the left but Riise did well to block. Norwich were the team that were trying to make things happen with first Pilkington striking over then Naughton bombing on from his left position and having a powerful strike that was just wide of the bottom left hand corner. With 25 minutes to go former Canary Etuhu replaced Murphy. 5 minutes later Jackson replaced Morison after a quiet game. On 70 minutes Surman thought he'd equalised but his left footed shot went inches wide of the right hand post. It was all Norwich now as Fulham looked like they were happy to sit in for the 3 points. Jackson was unlucky not to hit the back of the net when he cut inside to hit a great shot  which the keeper did well to get away. Dempsey had a snap shot that just went wide on 84 minutes, on 85 minutes Whitbread rose well at the far post but his header went straight at the keeper, either side he'd have scored. Substitute Bennett added a bit of pace down the right since he came on and his ball into the box was just a bit high and a stretching Holt headed over. With Fulham looking like they had hung on a god turn by Bennett and a superb left footed cross was met by Jackson and flew into the goal giving the Canaries a deserved draw.

Overall, a much better second half with only one real team trying to win it, Fulham tried the old smash and grab and nearly got away with it, a decent point in the end.

Result: Norwich City 1, Fulham 1.

Norwich City: Ruddy; Russell Martin, Ayala, Whitbread, Naughton; Pilkington (Bennett, 80), Fox (Holt, 45 in), Bradley Johnson, Surman; Hoolahan; Morison (Jackson, 69). 

 (not used): Rudd, Barnett, Crofts, Wilbraham.

Fulham: Stockdale; Kelly, Senderos, Hangeland, Riise; Murphy (Etuhu, 65); Ruiz, Dembele, Dempsey, Frei (Duff, 80); Sa (Sidwell, 79).

Subs (not used): Etheridge, Baird, Hughes, Kasami.

Referee: Howard Webb (South Yorkshire)

Attendance: 26,406

Goals: City: Jackson (90). Fulham: Sa (7)

Better second half performance trying to go for the win.

Bennett came on and put a couple of great balls into the box, the one with his left foot to set up the goal was inch perfect.

Naughton, had a good game at left back,a position unnatural to him, was unlucky with a couple of efforts at goal.

Fulham controlled large parts of the first half and if they'd had their first choice front 2 we'd have been in trouble.

Left winger Frei caused us problems whenever he was on the ball especially first half.

Fulham's big 2 centre half's dealt with Morison with no trouble.

Bradley Johnson

Frei

Match report by Darren Huckerby