Buend it like Emi as Frank hits treble flop
NEAL MAUPAY may be the Championship’s top scorer but his astonishing miss condemned his new Brentford boss Thomas Frank to a third defeat out of three.
The French striker has netted 11 times this term and should have had a 12th when he somehow hit the bar from four yards with the goal gaping after a double Tim Krul save.
That 73rd-minute howler, along with Emi Buendia’s first goal in English football, instead made it three straight wins for Norwich who are riding high.
Luckless Frank, the replacement for Dean Smith who joined Aston Villa earlier this month, said: “I think it sums up our week.
“If I could have put anyone in that situation I would have put him. He’s scored so many from that position.
“It’s harsh on my side, this was definitely a 1-1 game. You feel incensed that Norwich had that extra margin going for them.
“I think we dealt well with Norwich’s possession in the first 35 minutes and created six good counter opportunities but we were sh*t in the decision making.”
Norwich took the lead after 34 minutes as the outstanding Timm Klose’s long ball fell perfectly to Buendia who volleyed home.
It should have been two in first-half stoppage-time as Ollie Watkins was adjudged to have fouled Max Aarons.
However Jordan Rhodes was denied from the spot by Dan Bentley with the last kick of the half.
Brentford were frustrated by a superb defensive performance from the Canaries and are now nine matches without a victory – with Smith’s switch to Villa not helping matters.
Norwich are riding high sitting just two points off top spot and boss Daniel Farke is delighted with the progress.
He said: “It’s been a brilliant week. We have started so strong after the international break. I’m pretty pleased, it could have been easier if we had used our chance from the spot in the first half.
“Timm’s a big leader for us, unbelievable consistency, it was a good performance.”