PUKKI BLINDER
Striker’s 50 goals in 100 Canaries games
BLACKBURN 1 Elliott 59 NORWICH 2 Pukki 22, 65 TEEMU PUKKI produced the perfect Finnish to his 100th appearance for table-topping Norwich.
The 30-year-old Finland striker’s two goals put him on 50 for the Canaries and among the club’s top 25 all-time scorers.
Pukki has not set himself a target but said: “I feel I’m playing the best football of my career at the moment. I’m really happy at Norwich and I hope more goals keep coming for me.
“I knew it was my 100th appearance and that I was a couple of goals away from my 50th for the club. I wanted to get them so much - for myself, and to give this team the help a striker needs to give.
“I’ve learned I’m now in the top 25 goal-scorers for Norwich. There are many good names who’ve scored for this club, and I’m very happy to put my name on the history of the club too.” Pukki’s first-half opener came when he drilled home from a tight angle and his ninth goal of the season when he diverted Emiliano Buendia’s effort past Blackburn keeper Thomas Kaminski.
Pukki said: “I meant it. I saw Emi shoot and put my leg in front of the ball to change its direction and beat the keeper. Emi is fine about it. He’s a good colleague and he’s happy for me to get my 50th.”
It was tough on Rovers, who gave as good as they got, with Sam Gallagher being denied by keeper Michael McGovern and then the woodwork.
Liverpool loanee Harvey Elliott levelled when he chipped over McGovern, but the keeper denied the 17-year-old two minutes later.
Then came Pukki’s second goal, which gave the visitors all the points.
Rovers boss Tony Mowbray said: “We were the dominant team and after our goal I thought we would go on and win it, until their second goal that came out of nothing.
“We just have to take it on the chin and move on.”
Norwich’s victory was their fourth in a row in visits to Ewood Park, but it left Blackburn still chasing their first win of the season against a top-half side.
Mowbray added: “You have to remember Norwich were a Premier League side last season, but we still h held our own.
“We’re on a j journey to get b better, and have the a ambition to push on a and get into the top six.”
Pukki admitted: “That was as hard a game as we have had. It was a tough test, but we did well against a really good opponent.
“We now play Reading away on Wednesday and then Cardiff at home on Saturday.
“It takes a lot of energy and it will be nice to relax a bit after that without a midweek game.”
BLACKBURN: Kaminski 7, Nyambe 6, Lenihan 6, Williams 5, Douglas 6, Holtby 7 (Davenport 71, 5), Johnson 6 (Downing 71, 5), Rothwell 7 (Buckley 71, 5), Gallagher 7, Armstrong 6, Elliott 8 NORWICH: McGovern 7, Aarons 6, Hanley 6, Zimmerman 6, Sorensen 7, Tettey 7, Skipp, 6, Buendia, 6 (Stiepermann 90), Vrancic 7 (McLean 70, 5), Martin 7 (Cantwell 70, 6), Pukki 8 (Hugill 89)
MOTM TEEMU PUKKI (NORWICH)