The ACN Match Review – Burnley (h)

The atmosphere

Stilted – and there are myriad reasons for this but chiefly because we gifted a goal to the opposition after eight minutes, all while not being able to particularly get a grip on a match most Norwich fans had been looking forward to for weeks. Bubbles were burst quicker than Grant Hanley goes to ground after a tickle on the back and the crowd never really recovered. Muscle memory kicked in both on and off the pitch, and there was an air of inevitability all afternoon. 

Then there was the lack of recent game time. For the fitness levels Wagner needs to get into these players, it was probably a welcome relief for the management team to have two weeks away from matches to work with the squad. However, the momentum gathered from two goal-laden away victories came to a crashing halt with a harsh reality check. Had we entertained Birmingham last weekend and maybe put four past them too, the place would have been jumping. Burnley were a totally different proposition. 

Then there was the lack of drum, and while the club correctly chose not to employ their own drummer after City Elite were unfortunately unable to be there, its absence was sorely felt. 

The line up

Unchanged, and while you can’t criticise that when you’re coming off the back of two wonderful wins, it did feel like the inclusion of Giannoulis might have been a mistake. Burnley have retained their physical edge while also adding a technical proficiency to their play and Norwich struggled with it all too often in the first half, especially when trying to play through the press. 

The formation often appeared to flex towards an orthodox 4-4-2 in and out of possession and that didn’t seem to lend itself towards what Norwich were trying to do. 

That said, the bench now looks to offer some serious attacking options and this is undoubtedly a good thing given it is unreasonable to expect Hernandez and Dowell to continually and consistently hit the heights they’d achieved of late. 

Boooooo moment

Mistakes are punished way less frequently at Championship level, which Tim Krul has benefitted from recently when he oh-so-nearly gifted goals to both Preston and Coventry upon his return to the line-up. That luck ran out – and was perhaps the defining moment of the match – typified Norwich’s carelessness with the ball in the opening exchanges, and they were nearly punished further via McLean and Hanley mishaps. 

Oh, and Keith Stroud was crap. Ugh. 

Hero(es) of the match

Burnley to the South East is what is commonly known as a long old poke. The fact Sky television see fit to rearrange matches to lunchtime kick-offs when geographically it makes zero sense for supporters is a blight on our game and one we should not stand for. 

This bullshit is soon to be repeated when Sunderland visit Carrow Road next month, this time on a Sunday. 

It is a credit to each and every Burnley fan that they travelled and were in relatively fine voice. Sure, it’s easier when you’re all aboard HMS PTL, but praise where it’s due. 

Our post-match takeaway

It was all too easy, Wagner was at the wheel, Norwich were on their way to Wembley and it was joyous. Well, of course that couldn’t continue unchecked because we are Norwich and very often we just can’t have nice things. 

This was chastening, although maybe it’s nothing to get particularly panicked about, it’s just telling us what we already know, that the top teams in this division are well over the horizon.

Much of the pre-match murmuring around the ground was full of ‘I think we can beat em y’know Neyul’ style talk and it felt like Norwich had been brought back to earth with a resounding thump. 10th in the table and chasing the pack again.

Maybe that suits us; maybe it dampens expectation to a point where City can go about their business without the pressure a fully expectant crowd brings. However, this was as poor defensively as most matches under he-who-shall-not-be-named (but is probably occupying a golf course somewhere, or Jack Grealish’s corporate box). 

Burnley were everything Norwich aspire to be right now, expertly playing out from the back while also engaging their own excellent high press with a degree of organisation rarely seen at Carrow Road. As well a coached side as you will see, and it won’t be a surprise if they reach 100 points. 

Now, this might just be one of those days. Norwich could be just fine against the rest of the division, but at the time of writing, it’s difficult to foresee what comes next.

There is much work to do and the games now come thick and fast. We’re entering a period of matches which will do much to decide whether the play-offs are a realistic proposition or if it’s Operation Total Reset come the summer.