Norwich City lost 1-0 to Premier League rivals West Ham United last night in a friendly that saw the beginning of the final push towards the start of the new league season, and Alex Neil’s first as manager of the Premier League canaries.
The home side, celebrating 80 years at their Carrow Road home, fielding what could be described as a ‘cup team’ with mostly experienced senior players who will be keen to drag themselves off of the fringes at the club, a move copied by Neil’s opposite number Slaven Bilic. Key changes for the Yellows included Lewis Grabban and Youssuf Mulumbu dropping out of the squad after scoring exploits in city’s final friendly of the tour to Austria against Augsburg.
Once the game got underway in front a crowd of 20,000, it was the Claret and Blues who started the better, as Morgan Amalfitano dragged his shot wide inside the first minute. Diafra Sakho was then fouled by former Hammer Gary O’Neil on the edge of the Norwich box. The subsequent free-kick came to nothing after extended treatment for the befallen striker. The movement of Ricky van Wolfswinkel in the 1st half can be noted as a positive for Alex Neil ahead of the opening day clash with Crystal Palace, albeit, appearing to be a wasted effort, as he was caught offside after a free-kick routine, coming as a result of a foul by former England winger Matt Jarvis on the Dutch striker. ‘The wolf’ was wasteful once again after he was almost sent through by a defence-splitting pass from O’Neil, as was the case once more on the stroke of half-time. Michael Turner sent the hapless striker one-on-one with ‘keeper Adrian, and van Wolfswinkel let the Hammers defence breathe a sigh of relief as they saw the Hughton-era flop telegraph his shot at the Spaniard’s feet.
Jonny Howson and playoff hero Nathan Redmond replaced Tettey and the impressive Tony Andreu respectively, and it didn’t take long for the Frenchman’s substitute to make an impact, as he humiliated Lewis Page and was in the West Ham area like a flash, although the exciting move passed as soon as it came about when the young winger hit the side netting on 50 minutes. City’s rivals for the night soon took control of the game, as Matt Jarvis was played behind the Norwich back-line by Kevin Nolan before John Ruddy parried the ball back into the winger’s path before a second shot was sent skyward. Another Hammers attack beckoned, as roles reversed between Jarvis and Nolan, the often prolific midfielder putting his shot in the stand after a Jarvis cross.
Slaven Bilic made 9 changes on the hour-mark, including new-signings Dmitri Payet and Angelo Ogbonna, in a move that saw the pendulum swing further in the Londoners’ favour, as well as some top-drawer saves from Ruddy, first a breath-taking double save from Enner Valencia when the striker looked certain to hit the back of the net, and again when he pushed Mauro Zarate’s shot wide from the angle. Alex Neil’s men were later undone by a West Ham corner, headed back out by van Wolfswinkel, but the cross was redelivered and wasn’t defended at all; Ruddy and Odjidja appeared to leave responsibility to each other, and the crowd-pleasing Harry Toffolo was caught napping as the ball deflected off his leg and past John Ruddy. City had little answer for their woes, as Josh Murphy replaced Gary Hooper in the last 10 minutes, and Carrow Road’s 80th anniversary match faded out with a whimper.
Norwich manager, Alex Neil, will undoubtedly be disappointed by the result, after he admitted he’d like to maintain the “winning feeling” going into the new league season, as well as city’s inherent ability to find the net. The Scotsman was eager to take the positives from the pre-season affair, “In terms of fitness and being put under pressure, it was a good game for us” he says “When they changed shape we didn’t respond as well as I’d liked. Fitness and confidence-wise though, we’re in a good place”.
