Norwich Slump Reading

After a long run of games since a victory Norwich City scored 2 goals in very quick succession to all but condemn Reading to relegation.

Walking to a sun drenched Carrow Road I knew it was going to be a good day when 4 of my Norwich supporting friends wanted to meet up for a drink before the game. Norwich City have driven me to drink and yesterday, it was a celebration drink. I was nervous before the game as I saw it as a massive opportunity for Norwich to put the lingering relegation fears to bed.

The first half was a very even affair with Kei Kamara having arguably Norwich’s best chance with a shot into the near post but goalkeeper Alex McCarthy saved well to deny the Sierra Leonean a second Carrow Road goal. In truth there wasn’t much quality on show in the first half. Passing often went wayward as opposed to other team mates and the shooting was off.

The second half was a lot better- both in terms of quality and in terms of tempo- certainly from Norwich. The pivotal goals came within a 2 minute period 5 minutes after the restart. Kei Kamara went on a galloping run and forced a corner out of the goalkeeper who parried the powerful shot wide. After a great corner in from Robert Snodgrass, substitute Ryan Bennett who came on for Michael Turner slammed the ball into the back of the net with an unstoppable drive.

The crowd went bananas and I personally felt that the tension all around Carrow Road lifted. The tension which had been there because of a lack of goals had gone and it had been dispelled even further when the ball found its way to Elliott Bennett (no relation to the first scorer!) who curled the ball beyond the onrushing McCarthy into the top corner. Norwich didn’t really deserve to be 2-0 up but the goals were really well worked.

In the few minutes after the goal Norwich could and probably should have scored again. Grant Holt managed to head over from corners when it was easier to score and it was a bit of a blow when McCleary scored for the visitors just after the 70 minute mark.

The winger ran past Norwich’s midfield which had been on the attack and fired smartly into Mark Bunn’s near post. Bunn got a hand to it but couldn’t quite keep it out.

Apart from an overhead kick which went just over in the final minutes of the game Norwich held on for an important win. A win that took the hosts to 7 points above with drop with just 4 games to go.

Samir Osman