With two wins under the belt, Norwich came into this game with some renewed confidence and the intention of building upon it; Derby on the other hand had lost three of their last four. A team who have regularly topped the table this season, led by the dominant ex-Norwich striker Chris Martin, who was Derby’s highest goal scorer since 1996, with 20+ goals last season. How he would fare against Norwich’s defence was always going to be a big talking point, but the new partnership of Martin and Cuellar has proven to be a more solid one, sustaining two clean sheets against Wigan and Huddersfield.
The game began with a buzz of anticipation, and both sides enjoyed some spells of possession early on. Norwich opted for the diamond formation, with Johnson, Tettey, O’Neil and Howson all occupying places ahead of the much-praised Redmond, and Hoolahan who has now fully recovered from his injury. Adams’ game plan therefore being to keep a solid midfield and try not to concede many chances. It turned out to be the case, and while Norwich didn’t create much for themselves in the first half, they dominated possession. Johnson’s disappointing header just five minutes in saw one of City’s biggest chances go begging. An impressive run and jump meant that he perfectly met the trajectory of Tettey’s cross, but the direction of his header let him down; missing by about 10 yards. Chris Martin similarly saw his header fly over as he rose to meet an out-swinging corner.
The battle may have lacked excitement in the first thirty minutes, but it made up for it in feisty, fully-committed challenges. Cuellar was first to go into the book, with Bryson following suit moments later for a late tackle on Hooper. That certainly livened both sets of crowds up, yet that didn’t really transmit onto the pitch. In fact, we had to wait until the forty-third minute for the first goal, but when it eventually arrived the travelling Norwich fans wished it hadn’t. Russell Martin got caught sleeping as he let his namesake slip away from him. Johnny Russell’s movement created the space and a clever pull back from Chris Martin sufficed. An outstanding touch set up the opportunity to poke past Ruddy, and he did just so. A real sucker punch for the visitors, who in terms of statistics, had dominated the first half.
That late first half goal may well have changed Adams’ team talk, but not the personnel. The congested midfield remained in the second half, and the only real penetration occurred when the respective full-backs provided overlapping runs.
Norwich came out, fired up, eager to reduce the deficit. Olsson’s 25 yard drive sliced marginally wide but was a warning signing for the hosts. Moments later, Norwich found that all-important equaliser. A melee of defensive mistakes and misfortune for Derby, but when the ball fell to Johnny Howson in the box, he showed the composure to square to Jerome to tap into the net.
Euphoric celebrations in the away end were an appreciation of the graft that the Norwich City players had shown to quickly turn things around.
However, the celebrations were very, very short-lived.
Within a minute of the kick off, Derby were given a lifeline. Cuellar attempted to clear the ball, swinging one of his hanging limbs at the spherical object at his feet, but instead made contact with Chris Martin who subsequently hit the ground. Although Cuellar had no intention of touching the player (as he didn’t know he was sneaking behind him) the referee deemed there to be enough contact to award the penalty. Clumsy, if nothing else, yet surely if the referee felt it worthy of a penalty, it must have been worthy of a second yellow for Cuellar. Incompetent refereeing.
Martin converted from the spot, having sent his former teammate the wrong way, and Derby’s lead was restored.
The original awarding of the penalty still had many of the Norwich players (and fans) enraged, and Tettey entered the book for dissent.
Norwich were eager, however, to bounce back. Shots flew in from many an angle and distance, Johnson and Whittaker both having a go. Substitutions saw Hooper and Tettey come off for Hoolahan and Redmond respectively. Grabban also made an appearance later on, after a strong appeal for a Norwich penalty was turned down. Olsson appeared the victim of shirt pulling and late trip, but in his honesty and determination to get a cross in stayed on his feet when falling over may have been more convincing of the foul that was present. The referee then failed to penalise about five hand balls for both sides, and so warranted criticism from each set of fans.
The frustration that he and Derby had caused was finally let out in one emphatic blast from Whittaker, who volleyed home a loose ball in the box. It eluded everyone, and almost the goal itself, but to the pleasure of the visiting fans, the rebound off the post took it in. 2-2.
Grabban struck a half volley which was parried away as Norwich looked for a perhaps deserved winner. Jerome had an even better opportunity but his effort sailed over bar.
The question therefore is: two points dropped or one point gained? Definitely could have won it had we eradicated the mistakes that led to Derby’s only two shots on target, but the resilience showed to come back was impressive and a point well represents that effort.
