Canaries 5 swans 1 – Key moments, ratings & stats
Canaries 5 swans 1 – Key moments, ratings & stats
Norwich City got back to form with a 5-1 win over Swansea at Carrow Road, inspired by the returning Josh Sargent’s double.
Sargent was back in the starting line-up for the first time since October, combining with Lewis Dobbin’s, Ante Crnac’s and Emiliano Marcondes’ goals to earn a victory that by full-time looked comfortable.
Swansea created the best of the early chances in a low-quality start to the game, Florian Bianchini volleying straight at Angus Gunn before Ronald cut inside and flashed just wide of the far post.
The hosts threatened more when Sargent got involved, the American back in the starting line-up and close to being back on the scoresheet when he twice fired narrowly past the post.
Before long he was, providing the spark the game desperately needed on the brink of half-time. Much of the credit went to Marcondes for his superb assist, picking Sargent out to smash home emphatically.
He almost had a brace in the second half when he met Marcondes’ corner with a header, only to be denied by a fine block in the six-yard box.
The 24-year-old would regret it soon after when Luke Williams’ side levelled things against the run of play. Josh Cullen had a simple task once Josh Key found him with a perfectly-placed cross, running to celebrate with the hardcore Swansea contingent.
They weren’t celebrating for long, however, Sargent having a say once more just a minute later. Substitute Crnac won the ball well in midfield, setting up his attacking colleague to finish superbly from 15 yards out.
The Swans constructed a brief rebuttal, but from there it was all Norwich. Dobbin’s excellent solo goal put the game to bed, slaloming through the visiting defence and sliding beyond Vigoroux for 3-1.
And if that wasn’t enough, Crnac’s late salvo made the scoreline look even more handsome. First he rounded the goalkeeper to tap in six minutes from time, then he lofted a delicate lob onto the bar that Marcondes couldn’t miss from a yard.
Next up the Canaries are back on the road, travelling to Vicarage Road to take on Watford in another lunchtime kick-off.
Substitutes:
33. McLaughlin (GK)
4. Fulton (on for Frnaco, 85)
9. Vipotnik (on for Bianchini, 69)
10. Ji-Sung (on for Cullen, 75)
11. Ginnelly (on for Ronald, 85)
21. Joe-A-On
23. Christie
26. Naughton
41. Parker (on for Peart-Harris, 68)
Head Coach: Luke Williams
Booking: Fulton (90+4)
Goal: Cullen (62)
KEY MOMENTS
6 – Marcondes’ corner finds Duffy, whose header is deflected back to Vigouroux to collect.
8 – Tymon’s cross finds Bianchini and he should score, but volleys straight at Gunn.
15 – Norwich win the ball high up and Hernandez finds Sargent, who drags wide from a tight angle.
21 – Ronald whips a dangerous ball in, but a free Cullen can’t get a proper contact on the header.
23 – Ronald jinks inside and drives just wide from the edge of the box.
36 – Marcondes finds Sargent and drives into the box before firing deflected shot just wide with his left foot.
44 – GOAL NORWICH (Sargent): Schwartau drives forward 40 yards and finds Marcondes, who spots a clever disguise pass for Sargent to volley home.
45+1 – Dobbin twists and turns in the box before unleashing a strike that Vigouroux saves well.
Half-time: Norwich City 1-0 Swansea City
58 – Sargent heads Marcondes’ corner goalward, but it’s blocked.
62 – GOAL SWANSEA (Cullen): Key whips a ball in for Cullen, who dives to head home from close range.
63 – GOAL NORWICH (Sargent): Crnac wins the ball in midfield and rolls into Sargent, who drives into the bottom corner with a fine finish.
71 – Things open up for Parker to shoot, but he’s denied by a fine Chrisene block.
75 – Chrisene drives just wide from the corner of the box.
76 – GOAL NORWICH (Dobbin): Dobbin steals the ball 35 yards out and drives forward, slaloming through the defence and firing into the corner.
84 – GOAL NORWICH (Crnac): Crnac steals the ball from Delcroix and rounds Vigoroux for a simple finish.
86 – GOAL NORWICH (Marcondes): Marcondes can’t miss when Crnac’s lob bounces off the bar to him a yard out.
Full-time: Norwich City 5-1 Swansea City
PLAYER RATINGS
Gunn 7, Fisher 7, Duffy 6, Doyle 7, Mohovo 6, McLean 7, Schwartau 7, Marcondes 8, Hernandez 5, Dobbin 8, Sargent 9. Subs: Stacey 7, Crnac 8, Sorensen 6, Chrisene 7, Cordoba 6.
MATCH STATISTICS
Possession: 46pc-54pc
Shots: 18-11
On target: 8-3
Corners: 7-7
Fouls: 10-9
Added time: 1 min/6 mins
Attendance: 25,713 (277 Swansea)
Referee: Thomas Bramall
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