- City bounce back with a win after Good Friday draw with Portsmouth.
- Pelle Mattsson scores for the third game running for the Canaries
- A look at how every player performed in the win over the Lions at The Den
Norwich City bounced back from the disappointment of their draw with Portsmouth by beating promotion chasers Millwall on Easter Monday.
Alex Neil’s team were second in the league table heading into play on Monday, which made it a tough test for Philippe Clement’s men, but the away side came away with all three points.
It looked like it was going to be the classic case of missing chances before losing to a sucker punch when Mihailo Ivanovic headed the ball in from close range in the 56th minute.
Goals from Pelle Mattsson and Oscar Schwartau, though, claimed the win for the Canaries, who moved up to ninth in the table.
After some harsh ratings in the 1-1 draw with Portsmouth, it is now time to rate the players on their performances against the Lions at The Den.
Norwich defence
Vladan Kovacevic: 6
In truth, Vladan Kovacevic did not have a great deal to do in the game. Millwall only had two shots on target, one from a tight angle that was well saved, and Ivanovic’s point-blank range header.
Jack Stacey: 6
Jack Stacey offers great energy and a willingness to stretch the opposition’s defence with his forward runs, but his efficiency on the ball needs to improve.
The defender gave possession away 26 times in total, the most of any player on the pitch and the most by any full-back for the Canaries this season in the Championship.
Harry Darling: 7
Aside from possibly being caught out for the goal that was conceded, Harry Darling put in an excellent shift in Ruairi McConville’s place.
The former Swansea centre-back won eight of his nine duels and made a game-high 12 clearances for the Canaries.
Jose Cordoba: 6
It was an average performance from the Panama international, Jose Cordoba, who struggled against the physicality of Josh Coburn at times, losing four of his five aerial duels, but he did not make any major errors.
Kellen Fisher: 6.5
Before coming off with a slight injury concern, Kellen Fisher impressed with an energetic showing at left-back. His link-up with Ali Ahmed down the left caused Millwall so many problems in the first 45 minutes.
Norwich midfield
Sam Field: 8
Sam Field was drafted into the midfield in place of Jacob Wright to provide physicality against a tough Millwall team, and that is exactly what he provided.
The QPR loanee won 100% of his ground duels, made eight ball recoveries, and was not dribbled past a single time, as he quietly put in a top-quality midfield display.
Pelle Mattsson: 9
The Player of the Match for Norwich just had to be Pelle Mattsson in the middle of the park. He is making a late run for the Player of the Season award, which currently looks nailed-on to be Kenny McLean.
His third goal in three games levelled the score, but he also won seven duels, made eight recoveries, and was not dribbled past a single time.
It was yet another brilliant performance from a player who is quickly establishing himself as one of the top midfielders in the division.
Norwich attack
Kenny McLean: 6.5
McLean filled in on the right flank in an interesting tactical call by Clement, allowing Stacey to occupy the right wing in possession.
Because he was taken away from the heart of the team, the captain was not as influential as he usually is, whilst he also missed a huge opportunity to score in the first half.
Anis Ben Slimane: 7
Anis Ben Slimane was incredibly unfortunate to leave the field without a single assist to his name after he played two sublime passes for Mathias Kvistgaarden and Jack Stacey, who both failed to find the target.
Ali Ahmed: 7
Ahmed, like Slimane, could easily have registered an assist on another day. It was his perfect cross to the back post that created the chance that McLean missed before half-time.
Mathias Kvistgaarden: 6
Mathias Kvistgaarden, unfortunately, made it eight games without a goal, despite having a huge chance to score, although he did put in plenty of hard work off the ball before being taken off at the break.
The Dane is lacking confidence at the moment, for reasons that are not all his own fault, and the extra second he took to get his shot away after going through on goal allowed Jake Cooper to put him off.
Substitutes
Mohamed Toure: 8.5
Toure, making just his second appearance after returning from injury, turned the game around with his contributions.
His constant runs off the last line to get in behind the Millwall defence paid off twice, assisting Mattsson and Schwartau with clever passes from each side of the box.
Hopefully, the Australia international will be ready to play from the start for the big game coming up at Carrow Road on Saturday.
Oscar Schwartau: 8
Like Toure, Schwartau made a huge impact off the bench. It was his surging run through the middle that opened the space for the striker to then return the ball back to him to score the winner.
The Danish midfielder is up to four goals in the Championship this season, and it is exciting to think about what he could achieve next season.
Ben Chrisene: 6
Chrisene came on for the injured Fisher for the final 33 minutes of the match and put in a solid shift at left-back, winning two of his three ground duels.
