Match Review 2011 - 2012

Following the Canaries’ midweek defeat at the hands of Martin O’ Neill’s rampant Sunderland side, it was vital that the Norfolk team bounce back against today’s opponents, Bolton Wanderers. Wanderers themselves have enjoyed a rich vein of form at the start of 2012, including wins against both the Merseyside clubs and a goalless draw with Arsenal. The home fans could sense that this would be a close match and accordingly they provided an encouraging atmosphere for the team in yellow. Conditions were fine but very cold and hats and scarves were the order of the day in the stands.

The Norwich line-up saw three changes with Martin, Johnson and Morison all dropping to the bench. Their places were filled by long-term club servant Adam Drury, with Kyle Naughton shifting to his preferred right side, David Fox filling the deep-lying midfield role and Simeon Jackson starting up front. Owen Coyle brought in Tyrone Mears in place of Gretar Steinsson, but otherwise named an unchanged side from the one that drew with Arsenal at the Reebok Stadium. 

Norwich started well and looked assured in possession. An early chance fell to City skipper Grant Holt, after Simeon Jackson had found space near the by-line of the Bolton 18 yard box, he delicately hung a cross up, which Holt athletically volleyed, only for the ball to go straight to the hands of Wanderers’ keeper, Adam Bogdan. Jackson himself had two chances from narrow angles either side of the Bolton goal. Although the Canadian international shot wide both times, Jackson was signalling his intent to get in behind the Bolton backline early on in the game. City’s best chance of the first half fell to Andrew Surman, who could only hit the bar from four yards out following Holt’s deft touch into the midfield man’s path from a Wes Hoolahan cross. 

The away team’s opportunities proved few and far between in the first half. Former Liverpool striker David N’gog managed to get in behind the Norwich backline but a superb sliding tackle from Daniel Ayala prevented the French man from getting a strike away. However Ayala, who has been in good form since his inclusion in the side that beat QPR, failed to get up from the challenge and was consequently substituted with an apparent hamstring injury. The ever reliable Russell Martin, who made his 100^th appearance for the Canaries today, undertook a rapid and unexpected warm-up to join Whitbread at the heart of the City defence. Luck did not seem to be with the Norfolk side though, as Whitbread, who has been equally impressive alongside Ayala, pulled up with a hamstring injury and soon disappeared down the tunnel after some words with Paul Lambert. Elliot Bennett came on to replace the injured Whitbread, with Tottenham loanee Kyle Naughton moving to centre-half alongside Martin and Bennett moving to the unfamiliar position of right back. The Lancashire side failed to capitalise on the changes forced upon Paul Lambert’s side before the end of the first half, with Martin Petrov creating the best chances with a couple of long-range shots that failed to test the City keeper, Ruddy. On the balance of play City were unfortunate not to be ahead at the interval, but, with the reshuffle that was required at the back, they were also fortunate that Bolton failed to test them more.

There were no changes made by either side at half-time and both the teams lined up the same as they did at the end of the first half. The early chances of the second half fell to Bolton. Ruddy tipped a close-range turn and shot from N’gog over the bar and from the resulting corner the Cambridgeshire born keeper made a brilliant stop.  Direct from the corner, Martin Petrov swung the ball in dangerously under the bar with his left foot, but Ruddy muscled Bolton winger Chris Eagles away, to push the ball from goal. The Bolton manager sent on Sunderland transfer target Kevin Davies in place of midfielder Fabrice Muamba, in the hope that he might trouble a slightly diminutive Norwich back four. Unfortunately for the one time England international, he received little to no service. At the other end, Simeon Jackson continued his prodigious work rate from the first-half and came close to beating Bogdan after having turned Zat Knight outside the box and shaping to find the far corner. Unfortunately for the striker he was unable to get the required curl to bend it round the Bolton shot stopper and it was an easy save for the Hungarian.

As the half wore on, both sets of fans were beginning to get frustrated with the lack of goals. It was City who found the breakthrough in the 70^th minute, much to the delight of the home fans. Elliot Bennett, who looked comfortable in his temporary role as a fullback, made a run from the back. The ball reached Simeon Jackson on the right hand side of the box who teed up Andrew Surman, his first shot was blocked by Tyrone Mears, but Surman emphatically finished the rebound, striking the ball on the volley with his right foot into the roof of the net. Further chances fell to Holt and Morison, who came on for Jackson in the 74^th minute, had a close range header well blocked by Knight. Owen Coyle threw on Tuncay in place of Chris Eagles, and later brought on January transfer-window signing Marvin Sordell. Both failed to make an impact for the visiting side, although Sordell looked like he had a sharp turn of a pace that may give some premier league defences a headache. The spark from Bolton looked most likely to come from winger Martin Petrov, who tested Ruddy on occasion and also hit the outside of the post with a volley from the edge of the box. For Norwich, Holt failed to convert a close range volley, unable to adjust his body to finish the cross from Anthony Pilkington. 

Norwich sealed up the tie on the 85^th minute. Following a Norwich corner, the ball fell loose to Russell Martin in the box, who stabbed goalwards, only for Adam Bogdan to spill the shot into the path of Pilkington, who showed good anticipation to beat any Bolton player to the ball. The game drew to a close with little incident following Norwich’s second, and the Canaries looked like a side comfortable to close out a win in the Premiership.

Second clean sheet of the season. 

Consecutive clean sheets at home.

Elliot Bennett showed great versatility and workrate whilst filling in as right back.

Simeon Jackson worked tirelessly, held up the ball when required and ran the channels well.

Surman made good and incisive runs throughout the match and was able to make good for his earlier miss by emphatically scoring City’s opener.

Both Ayala and Whitbread were forced to come off with seemingly similar injuries.

David Fox had a quiet game by his standards.

A little profligate with the ball in good positions.

Simeon Jackson

Simeon Jackson

 A fantastic effort by the striker: he worked tirelessly and linked well with the midfield. Furthermore, he posed a different problem to the Bolton defence in the form of his pace; a problem that Holt and Morison don’t necessarily offer. He managed to get behind the Bolton backline on occasion and could have grabbed himself a goal if he had been a little bit sharper in front of goal.

Match Report by  Chris Jones