Only one Teem at top
CANARIES FLYING HIGH AFTER PUKKI POUNCES LATE ON
TEEMU PUKKI struck late to make it the perfect 10 for the high-flying Canaries.
It might have been with a stutter rather than a swagger but it didn’t stop delighted Norwich director and TV chef Delia Smith hugging manager Daniel Farke minutes after the end of a frantic game.
There was relief all round as Norwich made it 10 unbeaten away league games on the spin – six of them victories.
For 85 minutes, leading scorer Pukki couldn’t find the finish needed to leapfrog Leeds United into pole position in the Championship.
He squandered three solid chances and it appeared the game would end goalless.
But when Norwich went on the charge late on against a resolute Rovers – who until yesterday had only lost one league game in 34 games at Ewood Park – they struck gold.
And the promised land of the Premier League drew nearer.
Norwich broke up a promising Blackburn attack and went for the jugular. Some swift interplay saw Onel Hernandez dart into the box and set up Pukki for his 13th league goal of the season.
It was just about deserved. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t fluid and at times it was grim but promotion to the super riches of the Premier League doesn’t always come with fancy ribbons attached. This triumph propelled them two points clear of Leeds, who travel to Aston Villa today.
No wonder manager Farke described the win as “special”.
He said: “I trust my lads. In the first half Teemu was there with two good chances.
“We had to handle some difficult situations but I knew we could create something special.
“They tried to break our rhythm and to annoy us. We played our football and made it our game. It was a special win for us.
“To be here with such a young side and be so competitive and to win this game is very special.
“It’s outstanding for us and a massive win.”
Blackburn’s days of glory amongst the elite might now be a distant memory but under manager Tony Mowbray they are still hoping to snatch one of the play-off spots by the time we reach May.
They may be in the bottom half of the ladder, in 14th, but they are only seven points off the top six.
Mowbray said: “I thought we played well and competed against a team at
the top of the table. It’s been a frustrating day because we’re not used to getting beaten at home.”
Norwich, though, had the better chances and they could have got off to a flyer when – in the 13th minute – Todd Cantwell’s defence-splitting pass sent Pukki racing into the box with a one on one with keeper David Raya.
But he could only find the side netting to add to the frustration of Farke, who believed his players were being subjected to some roughhouse tactics from the home side.
It had been a first half littered with fouls and stoppages.
The template had been set with a late challenge on Norwich’s Emiliano Buendia which forced the midfielder to eventually limp off, Richie Smallwood lucky to escape any punishment.
The Rovers player did, though, go into the book along with team-mate Corry Evans plus Norwich’s Hernandez and Moritz Leitner before the half-time whistle as the challenges increased in ferocity.
Amid the skulduggery Rovers keeper Raya tipped over a 25-yard rocket from Marco Stiepermann.
And Pukki was again off target, this time dragging his shot from an astute pass from Cantwell just past the post. Blackburn had been restricted to an effort from Danny Graham which was deflected wide and a Bradley Dack header which hit a yellow wall.
Something had to give and thankfully the second half improved – and so did the prospect of Norwich taking all three points on offer.
The industrious Cantwell kept prompting and Pukki kept plugging away in the opposition box, his next effort slicing across the face of the goal.
A thumping header from Christoph Zimmermann produced a fine reflex save from Raya.
And at the other end the coveted midfielder Dack began to influence proceedings.
He broke into the box only to see his low shot smothered by Tim Krul while Derrick Williams headed narrowly over from a Smallwood corner.
But Pukki ensured he had the final say, coolly slotting home in the 86th minute.
Farke added: “To win this game in the end against a side that had one loss in the last 31 home games – a big, big compliment to Tony and his lads who are doing a fantastic job – it is outstanding for us.”
Norwich host Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day while Mowbray takes his Blackburn to Leeds’ Elland Road.