Sure, it was a 4-1 over the lowly Millwall, but snatching three points from The Den keeps the Canaries a single point off the top of the league.
Queue five things we learnt from Millwall
Morale booster
It’s hard to justify a team needing a morale booster when they had managed 26 of a possible 30 points heading into the midweek fixture. But then Wigan happened, and it seemed as though Norwich’s rapid succession in the Championship hit a minor pothole. The sluggish play was eerily similar Saturday prior to the rout kicking in before halftime. The pummeling not only gives the club their seventh win in eight matches, but means City can swoop into the two automatic promotion places with a good result this upcoming Saturday and some help from around the league.
4-Hs
(Not to be confused with the 4-H non-profit organization in the U.S.!) Howson, Hooper, Howson, Hoolahan. They’re not the first three names to jump onto the score sheet typically, which makes the result somewhat special. Howson now has six goals this season, five of which have come in away matches. As for Hooper, the forward now has 10 goals this season. He’s the fourth player to do so for City (Cameron Jerome, 17; Lewis Grabban 12; Bradley Johnson 10). Even if Grabban was out with an injury, the sheer goal power reiterates how ruthless the team can be, regardless if it’s a forward making the score sheet or not.
Backline bliss
Remember when the Canaries couldn’t field a reliable backline? Barring a late penalty, which may or may not have been a piece of consolation, the back four kept opposing forwards quiet. This has been a consistent theme throughout this impressive winning form, but it’s reiterated only because Jos Hooiveld suited up for Millwall. Even with Sebastian Bassong out with an injury, City remained firm in back with Carlos Cuellar as a replacement. Of course Hooiveld’s loan was terminated in January (thanks to the player or the board?), but the match reaffirmed the panic to piece together four players in defense have withered away. Sorry, Jos.
Substitutions
Having the best squad in the Championship is one thing; having one of, if not the best academy is another. It’s nice seeing manger Alex Neil offering first-team appearances for players in the youth teams. Midfielder Josh Murphy has pogoed around the first 18 all season. Recently it’s been the forward Carlton Morris, who was featured in the Wigan loss. Morris didn’t play against Millwall, but it’s apparent Neil has a firm commitment to developing the youth. (Off topic, but Jamar Loza seemed more threatening up front in a 20-minute spell vs. Arsenal last year than Ricky van Wolfswinkel or Johan Elmander ever did! Perhaps this is the direction the club should go!) Hopefully Neil will put that kind of faith back in midfielder Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe, who’s been out for months with an injury. In the mean time, any chance Neil plays with the U-21s at some point this season?
Derby, Pt. 2
In the last episode, it was the fan-favourite Steven Whittaker who pulled City level at Derby in stoppage time. At the time, a point away was a massive result. When Saturday comes, it’s the perfect moment for Norwich to rise up and keep the other promotion rivals chasing the rest of the campaign. If nothing else, the Millwall game certainly provided a strong foundation.
BONUS!
What a world we live in now! My local MLS team (still 100 miles away), Columbus Crew SC, played their first match of the season Saturday night. They lost 1-0 to Houston, but not without a start from former Canary Kei Kamara. Surprisingly, his career began with the Crew, so I guess this is a homecoming? Regardless, he had multiple chances to reciprocate that header vs. Everton, but failed. Oh well, at least there’s a whole season ahead for the Yellow Army in the States.
Did you not catch the Millwall game? It’s fine, we have a comprehensive review you can find here!
