---
title: "Norwich vs Sunderland: 5 Memorable Matches"
canonical: "https://readnorwich.com/2015/08/14/norwich-vs-sunderland-5-memorable-matches/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Murray"
section: "Articles"
published: "2015-08-14T12:54:56Z"
modified: "2015-08-14T12:54:56Z"
---

# Norwich vs Sunderland: 5 Memorable Matches

This Saturday’s match between Norwich and Sunderland will be the 58th meeting between the two clubs, with 26 of those being Norwich victories, 15 being drawn and 17 going to Sunderland. So, in anticipation of the occasion, let’s look at five memorable matches between the Canaries and the Black Cats.

**24 March 1985, Norwich 1-0 Sunderland, Wembley**

![Norwich City 1985 League Cup Winners](https://media.readnorwich.com/readnorwich/2015/08/4614778003.jpg)

Before the playoff final, this was the last time Norwich had visited Wembley. In a match they dominated, Norwich won 1-0 thanks to an Asa Hartford deflected finish. Sunderland had a penalty almost immediately thanks to a handball from Dennis van Wijk that was missed by Clive Walker. The Canaries went on to lift their second Football League Trophy, which at that time was called the Milk Cup thanks to a sponsorship deal by British Milk. Norwich missed out on a UEFA Cup spot thanks to the Heysel disaster leading to the banning of English clubs from European competitions and both clubs also got relegated to the second division. This game saw the creation of the Friendship Trophy thanks to camaraderie forged between fans of the two clubs.

**4th May 2004, Sunderland 1-0 Norwich, Stadium of Light**

![Sunderland v Norwich City](https://media.readnorwich.com/readnorwich/2015/08/50799900.jpg)

A game more memorable for the celebrations on 90 minutes than the actual match. The only goal of the game was scored by future-canary Carl Robinson. The Canadian headed in from Sean Thornton’s free kick. Norwich had their chances, but it didn’t matter. News filtered in that West Brom were 4-1 down to Stoke City, meaning that the Division 1 title and promotion to the Premier League went to Norwich.

**26th September 2011, Norwich 2-1 Sunderland, Carrow Road**

![Norwich City v Sunderland - Premier League](https://media.readnorwich.com/readnorwich/2015/08/126694978.jpg)

Two goals from Leon Barnett and Steve Morison gave Norwich their first win back in the Premier League at Carrow Road. Lambert’s Canaries played magnificently and two headed goals sealed the win. A late conciliation goal from Kieran Richardson wasn’t enough for Sunderland who fell to an unexpected defeat.

**17th March 2013, Norwich 1-1 Sunderland, Stadium of Light**

![Sunderland v Norwich City - Premier League](https://media.readnorwich.com/readnorwich/2015/08/163880237.jpg)

A very controversial fixture. With John Ruddy still injured Mark Bunn remained between the sticks in the Norwich goal. The game started brightly for Norwich with Wes Hoolahan netting on St Patrick’s day, being the first Irishman in Premier League history to do so. Then, Referee Chris Foy found that Mark Bunn had “handled” the ball outside his box and gave him a straight red card; third choice ‘keeper Lee Camp made his Premier League debut as a result. Foy then furtherly added to Norwich’s woes by giving Sunderland a penalty for a Sebastian Bassong handball, even with the Sunderland player sitting in an offside position. Craig Gardner levelled from the spot and the game was 1-1. Norwich held on with 10-men until full time, gaining a valuable point in their relegation scrap despite multiple refereeing decisions going against them.

**22nd March 2014, Norwich 2-0 Sunderland, Carrow Road**

![Norwich City v Sunderland - Premier League](https://media.readnorwich.com/readnorwich/2015/08/480039075.jpg)

The last meeting between the Canaries and the Black Cats was a very important game. It saw two clubs fighting against relegation go head-to-head in a cliched relegation six-pointer. Snodgrass opened the scoring on 19 minutes with a cooly finished left foot shot, before Alex Tettey’s wonder-goal. Sunderland cleared a Wes Hoolahan cross right into the path of Tettey, who cannoned the ball into the top right-hand corner. The fact that goal didn’t win goal of the season was a crime against football, especially as the actual goal of the season was against us…

The relegation ‘6-pointer’ turned out to be meaningless in the end, with this result being Norwich’s final win of the season, and as of writing, our last Premier League win.