Throwing away the lead twice in the game is not an ideal result for a team sitting at the top of the table and aiming to gain a promotion. Norwich did that, and in the process shared a crucial point with Sheffield United. Leeds united secured full three points with a win against Rotherham, and are at the top with 57 points. Norwich is second with 54 and Sheffield is third with 51 points. West Brom United and Middlesborough are at number 4 and 5 with an extra game in hand.
Going into this game, I would have been fine with sharing a point with Sheffield United . But, then we played really good in scoring early and threw away our chance to grab full three points.
Norwich are prolific lately, and the team showed the same by scoring the first goal of the game early on. Onel Hernandez has been amazing so far and scored a goal at 11' into the game, after receiving a cross from Pukki.
Sheffield United were played well in the first half with a series of attack on Norwich goal post. They were not able to score a goal until the end of the first half. Mishap in the back, Buendia fowled and was penalized resulting in a penalty. Billy Sharp scored a goal with a neatly taken penalty kick. Norwich squandered their chance to remain 1-0 right before the half time.
Norwich did not start bright in the second half. Sheffield United pressed hard and missed a couple of chances. Pukki (yeah) the prolific goal scorer scored a beauty for Norwich at 56' making it 2-1.
I was almost bouncing thinking that Norwich secured full three points. We have lapses in our defence and that showed today as well. Billy Sharp was able to head home another goal making it 2 for him and his side. It was 2-2 in the end.
I was not happy with the defence today. Yes, it was a difficult game but Norwich have had the momentum and they were ahead. Needless foul and needless penalty gave Sheffield a chance to crawl back. Another defence mishap and that allowed a near-post head goal making it 2-2. On the positive note, we secured a point against an in-form team, and are still hunting for the top spot.
Coach Daniel Farke should not be a happy man with this performance and result. On the post match interview, he said
“It’s not a bad point but we were pretty close to winning the game. We dominated periods of the game.”
“We were much closer to scoring the third goal. We can live with the point but we probably should had have even more.”
And, he is right in saying that.
Next up - The Big Match against Leeds
The biggest test awaits Norwich next Saturday when they are against the league leaders, Leeds United. It will be a match to look for given the timing, and the league table positions at the moment. It will either make sure that Leeds United are the undisputed league leaders or will open up the table for teams currently at the play off positions.
Round up
Elsewhere, Preston scored two past Stoke city and Blackburn beat Hull City 3-0.Ipswich town are almost sure to relegate as they lost to Aston Villa 2-1 and are at the bottom of the league table with Bolton and Reading right ahead of them with a game to play.Wigan Athletic lost to Nottingham Forest 3-1.
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