Three points. Three more matches. Here’s what we learnt from Tuesday night’s 2-0 result at Leeds.
1. Missed penalty, no problem
Maybe missing the penalty was a good thing after all? Nope. At the time, the Graham Dorrans blast off the crossbar sent social media into a dumpster fire, claiming the world was falling apart. City and Leeds were level at the break, and restarted the second half and it was a completely different match. Whatever manager Alex Neil’s halftime chat discussed, it paid off—yet again. Johnny Howson’s lovely finish, followed up by Dorran’s stoppage-time strike kept the winning form rolling.
2. Holy Howson
The old Leeds boy was Norwich’s big man Tuesday. With Bradley Johnson missing his second match on yellow card accumulation, Howson stepped up and got the opening goal against the club he used to lead as a captain. After the game he said it was, ‘one of those things that just seemed to happen.’
3. Promotion fracas
‘To be honest, I work on the basis that they’ve already won,” Neil said. “If they don’t it’s a bonus.’
On a night when everyone else won, City kept the status quo. They keep their second-place status, one point off league-leading Bournemouth, while Middlesbrough hop into third (although Watford have yet to play). Not only do the Canaries have that three-point gap on Watford (of course, depending on the Hornet’s match), but Dorrans’ late goal creates a three-goal buffer. If this Championship race has shown anything recently, it’s indicated any sort of separation is good separation, especially with three matches remaining.
4. Friday I’m in love
It’d be lying to say the big match hasn’t always been Friday’s meeting with Boro. Even with Easter weekend approaching, the focus was on the 17th. Now it’s the side’s only focus. Middlesbrough come to Carrow Road on a 4-0 thrashing over already relegated Blackpool, and that 4-0 thumping over the Canaries earlier in the season. It’ll be a test between two of the second-tier’s heavyweights. What to expect from the away club: recently they win or lose, no draws. If City win, they’ll be in the perfect position to close out the campaign with Rotherham and Fulham. Neil was right about expecting others to win matches. At this point, the Canaries just need to focus on themselves.
5. Never mind the danger
From this point onward, it’s about staying calm and avoiding any sense of panic. Things weren’t going well vs. Leeds in the first half, but they were sorted and it was business as usual for the Yellow Army. They’re winning football matches at a time when they’re needed most. Sure, it’s stressful. But it’s setting up for one incredible climax come 2 May. Assuming Lewis Grabban will be fit, whole squad is available. It’s time to sit back and let it all be…
