Vrancic 14', Hanley 26', Kelly 32', Smith 51'
Maddison 37' pen
Sky Bet Championship | Saturday 17th March 2018
As football league fixtures go, Norwich vs Reading has produced a remarkable volume of theatrical moments. The goal which leaves arguably the most indelible mark on the memory is Grant Holt's stoppage-time clincher in February 2011. With the Canaries chasing a Premier League dream and heading towards a one all draw, the visitors cleared into the Geoffrey Watling stand. Former Norwich CEO David McNally threw the ball from the director's box down to manager Paul Lambert on the touchline. Within seconds, Holt had bundled the ball over the line to defeat their fellow promotion challengers.
How both teams must crave such momentum in 2018. The Yellows operate consistently in the middle reaches of the Sky Bet Championship while the Royals linger ominously above the drop-zone, having won only once in seventeen matches. A play-off final defeat last season in which the R's lost to Huddersfield Town on penalties has only accentuated their decline this season; the future of manager Jaap Stam hangs in the balance.
The visitors showed some fight from the outset when trainee striker Sam Smith clattered into Timm Klose on the touchline. Despite the protests of those in yellow, the linesman puzzlingly left his flag by his side. After some treatment the imperious defender returned to the fray. It would be the first of many battle scars.
After the direct running of Josh Murphy earned Norwich a corner James Maddison's outswinger was met by the airborne Grant Hanley. The former Blackburn defender's header flashed towards the back post where Bosnia international Mario Vrancic was waiting. With Royals keeper Anssi Jaakkola left stranded, Vrancic completed the most elementary task; nodding in from two yards to give the hosts a one nil lead.
As the Beast from the East returned snowflakes swirled in the Norfolk air. Reading cultivated a chance to restore parity shortly after Vrancic's opener. Modou Barrow glided down the right flank and stood up a cross to the back post. Smith evinced naivety whilst fluffing his header from five yards. Angus Gunn gleefully snatched the ball out of the blistering wind.
More potent dribbling by Murphy caused Chris Gunter problems and earned another corner. Maddison whipped in another enticing set-piece. Yet again Hanley was first to it. The Scotland international used brute force to shake off Tiago Ilori and head past Jaakkola into the bottom right corner. With hands on hips and eyes fixed on the turf the visiting players looked resigned to defeat after only twenty-six minutes. One year on from a 7-1 defeat in the same fixture, those in the away section of the Jarrolds Stand feared another mauling.
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| Copyright Norwich City FC |
Norwich retorted, bisecting the Reading defence with the pace of Murphy and Onel Hernandez. Vrancic chipped towards Murphy and the academy graduate galloped down the left. Once more the Royals defence was found in complete disarray. Murphy centred for Maddison in acres of space. With his first touch the England Under-21 international lifted over the erratic Jaakkola who lunged into the Coventry-born midfielder. Referee Oliver Langford had no choice but to point to the spot and caution the Finnish keeper. From twelve yards Maddison stuttered, observing the pink outline of Jaakkola stepping to his left, and rolled the ball into the opposite corner.
Pelle Clement's poorly timed tackle on Harrison Reed earned the Dutchman a yellow card and compounded a miserable half for the R's. Jaap Stam ambled towards the tunnel in deep contemplation; it would require something special to salvage the match and something biblical to save his job.
The talismanic Kelly had not given up. Five minutes into the second half two academy graduates pulled Reading back into contention. The Irishman produced an expert in-swinging cross from the left which Sam Smith calmly volleyed to the right of Gunn and into the net to mark his first football league goal. The visitors went full stream ahead and almost drew level five minutes later. Dave Edwards' raking cross-field pass allowed Barrow a clear sight of goal. The former Swansea winger shot tamely straight towards Gunn. A collective sigh of relief emanated from the stands.
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| Copyright Norwich City FC |
Just as Reading were growing into the game Jaap Stam displayed the tactical ineptitude which has sullied their season. To the bemusement of the travelling contingent, the bright and industrious Liam Kelly was hauled off and replaced with Joey Van Den Berg.
Fifteen minutes from time Hanley's long punt forward was knocked down by Murphy and Srbeny - with ample time - side-footed past the base of Jaakkola's left post from a mere ten yards. It is this toothlessness rather than any defensive deficiency which has prevented Norwich from reaching their promotion targets this season.
Klose was in the wars again in the closing moments when Clement's long range attempt struck the Swiss defender on the temple, but he wearily played on; determined to finish what he had started. The Canaries showed resilience to claim victory. Substitute Yann Kermogant flicked Barrow's corner stylishly towards goal from six yards. Gunn revealed razor sharp reactions to paw the ball away with a huge right glove.
With an astute backline and young attacking players full of promise such as Maddison and Murphy, Norwich already have many of the raw materials necessary to mount a promotion push next season. For Reading on the other hand, they may have to deconstruct further before they can build something sustainable.
Teams (Player Ratings in Bold)
Norwich City
Gunn - 7, Pinto - 7, Hanley - 8, Klose - 7, Lewis - 6.5, Reed - 7, Vrancic - 7, Hernández - 8 (Zimmermann 90+5'), Maddison - 7.5, Murphy - 8 (Hoolahan 90+2'), Srbeny - 6 (Watkins 90')
Reading
Jaakkola 5.5, Gunter - 6.5, Ilori - 6, Moore - 6,