Yesterday’s draw with Derby has created a few mixed reactions from supporters. With some going into full panic stations that Norwich failed to win, others staying calm. And here’s why we should all be remaining calm.
Derby are a very strong team, arguably one of the strongest in the whole division. With quality in the side such as Tom Ince and Will Hughes a point against them is a massive result. Even if Derby have been on a very mixed run of form recently, with the late goals last week condemning them to a 2-2 draw with Birmingham and the defeats to Brighton and Fulham, they’re still a side to be reckoned with. Derby had a number of injury problems going into the game, with several key players including Chris Martin and Darren Bent among the casualties. However even without these players Derby are a threat, with striker Johnny Russell still fit and wonder-kid Will Hughes available to play.
The fact that Norwich where able to cope and dominate Derby over 90 minutes is a very promising statistic. With over 60% of the possession and limiting Derby to only 3 shots all game, it could be considered a great result. Some would say that we could’ve taken more of our chances and won the game, but the Derby ‘keeper Lee Grant had a great game between the sticks and made fantastic saves to deny Bassong and Hooper in the second half. Jerome’s chance at the death could’ve recreated scenes from 2011’s CHANCE! moment but it wasn’t to be. But Norwich’s poor finishing shouldn’t take away from enormity of the result.
As fans, the only thing we can do is back the lads till the end. This predominantly goes to John Ruddy after that mistake. The last thing you do to a player after a mistake is to start criticising and get on their back. Yes, John’s mistake cost us the game and yes, it wasn’t the first time he’s done it this season but that gives no excuse to anyone to start criticising. And anyway, on closer inspection the Derby defender was holding on to Ruddy’s right arm, meaning the goal shouldn’t have stood.
So is this the time to panic? No. The draw only leaves us three points behind the top 3 and we have equal goal difference with two of them. More importantly it leaves us 4 points clear of Brentford and 5 points clear of Ipswich. With higher ambitions of automatic promotion, we still must concentrate on consolidating a play-off spot. A 5 point cushion to 7th place will be very important as it helps us to focus more on getting into the top two, instead of looking over our shoulders to the chasing pack.
Now we have 9 games to go, and hopefully by the end of those 9 games we can be talking about Norwich’s first season back in the top flight, instead of their second in the Championship. The result against Derby although not ideal was still great, and can be the catalyst to kick start our winning streak in the next six games, all against mid table and bottom half opposition. If we play like we did on Saturday, perhaps with some more clinical finishing, then I think that we will be fine come May, and hey, maybe we will get another Simeon Jackson moment this season…
Comments.
Loading comments…