So, where to start? A 3-2 victory – more importantly the three points – is something any Norwich City fan would have taken before the match. However, the manner in which Norwich secured the win was far from satisfying – in particular their second half performance. Having raced into a 3-0 lead at half time, the home fans relaxed, secure in the knowledge that the far from dangerous Cardiff were not going to pull this back. The following 45 minutes, though, was nerve-wracking.
An early goal from Gary Hooper – his sixth of the season – put Norwich well on their way to three points, following good work and a nice cross from Nathan Redmond on the right, which was headed across goal by Cameron Jerome. Hooper couldn’t miss from six yards, gliding through the Cardiff defence to head home. The home side’s lead was soon doubled, as ten minutes later Kyle Lafferty scored a curling shot to net his first ever goal for the club. The striker-come-winger had been criticised for his lack of goals for Norwich, but his work rate is always faultless and he deserved his goal.
An absolute travesty of a refereeing decision occurred when Adam Le Fondre took a theatrical tumble in the box, with Carlos Cuellar clearly winning the ball from the Reading frontman, yet referee James Adcock had obviously seen something that 26,000 fans failed to recognise as he awarded a penalty to the visitors. Cardiff couldn’t believe their luck. The entirety of Carrow Road jumped to the feet, horrified, stunned and astonished. The general question that passed through people’s lips – censoring the numerous profanities, of course – was “How?!” It was honestly was one of the worst decisions I have ever seen. Luckily, instant karma was there to save the day, with John Ruddy diving full stretch to his left to produce an unlikely penalty save. Ruddy doesn’t stop many penalties, yet massive credit to the England international for denying Peter Whittingham.
With that, Norwich regained their composure and went about their duty as they had done before Adcock’s abysmal decision. City’s top scorer Jerome got his mandatory goal shortly before half time, with the ball eventually falling to him – unmarked – six yards out, scooping the ball in with an acrobatic finish. Surely the game was done and dusted? Football is a cruel mistress and Norwich fans seem to have forgotten that anything can happen.
None of the poise and dynamism that Norwich had shown in the first half was present in the second, but perhaps more critically Cardiff had managed to find their feet after a defensive horror show that left them with a mountain to climb. They began to make an effort, and it showed. Two goals in four minutes reduced the arrears for the Welsh side, and they should have equalised as Alex Revell headed very narrowly wide. Hearts were in mouths for Norwich fans everywhere. Nathan Redmond was the only player who looked like he had continued his performance from the first half, as Gary O’Neil delivered stray pass after stray pass, and Martin Olsson was at fault for both of Cardiff’s goals. John Ruddy was stuttering and looked shaky despite that penalty save, whilst Norwich looked most promising on the counter attack. The direct and pacey Redmond managed to relieve the pressure on the Norwich back five as he hit the bar, whilst also trying to supply Jerome and Hooper. Young Josh Murphy came on as an attempt to turn the tide, but his touch was abysmal and he wasted numerous chances to put the game beyond doubt.
Ultimately, two wins from two in Alex Neil’s managerial tenure is nothing to be sniffed at, with points on the board being the main aim. Granted, it wasn’t a perfect performance, but the excitement and entertainment was certainly there, even if it did lead to frayed nerves and hoarse voices.
