Farke left to thank Godfrey for winner
THE prize of Premier League football is looming large for free-scoring Norwich as they opened up a four-point lead at the top of the table.
But manager Daniel Farke isn’t getting carried away despite a sixth successive win.
“We are in a brilliant position but there are still plenty of battles ahead,” said the German.
“The Championship can switch that quickly.
“It’s a massive win but we’re not over the moon or anything like that because we must keep our concentration and continue to work hard.”
It was a toss-up as to what disrupted the league leaders more in the opening
20 minutes, the swirling conditions or their opponents’ bruising tackles.
But Kenny McLean opened the scoring in the 45th minute after Marek Rodak rushed out of his goal allowing the Scot to hook a right-foot shot past him from a tight angle.
With seven minutes of the second half gone, the home side were level.
Defender turned midfielder Semi Ajayi grabbed his fifth goal in as many games, swivelling on the edge of the box to send a right-foot shot beyond Tim Krul.
But Norwich’s mindset is all about outscoring the opposition and five minutes after that 52nd-minute equaliser they were in the driving seat once again.
Youngster Ben Godfrey celebrated his England
Under-20s call-up with the decisive goal, meeting McLean’s hanging cross at the far post with a header.
This victory wasn’t three ’n’ easy like their recent ones. Norwich had scored three or more goals seven times in their previous 10 games.
They could have done so again with top scorer Teemu Pukki and Emiliano Buencia both spurning excellent chances late on.
But Rotherham pushed them hard and could count themselves unlucky not to snatch a draw.
“I asked my lads for a performance and I thought they were excellent,” said home boss Paul Warne, whose side remain in the drop zone. The Mexico star was widely criticised for a shocking dive in defeat at Cardiff last week.
But seven days on he made a splash of his own with two late goals as West Ham came from 3-1 down with a dramatic 15-minute finale to all but Hammer the final nail in Huddersfield’s Premier League coffin. Ever since his Manchester United days, Hernandez has been known for his effectiveness off the bench – and he was back as a sub in favour of Marko Arnautovic.
Boss Manuel Pellegrini said: “Javier was playing very well in all the games except the game against Cardiff.
“Maybe that action he felt someone touched him and made a mistake. He’s an important player, he’s always a danger around the box.
“It was better not to have pressure on him but for a player to be substitute your mind has to be so important.
“The best way to do it is to perform in the game. Everyone can make a mistake during the game but it was clear he wasn’t cheating. “But I don’t agree he is better as substitute. He has had a special season.” Hernandez, who came on at the break, may well return to the starting line-up for West Ham’s next game at home to Everton in a fortnight as replacement Arnautovic was shocking.
The Austrian was booed off in his first start since t h e January transfer