Bard luck story for Sky Blues as Daniel shines as stand-in
DANIEL BARDEN kept the Canaries in the cup after the Sky Blues were stunned twice in 80 seconds.
Rookie keeper Barden, 20, pulled off a string of saves as Coventry bounced back from Kenny McLean and Jordan Hugill’s quickfire early double.
Canaries boss Daniel Farke is looking to sign an experienced shot-stopper after Tim Krul was laid low with Covid-19, while Michael McGovern begins a three-month recovery from hamstring surgery.
That saw Barden picked for his fourth game of the season – each in a different competition.
And after this showing the Canaries don’t need to rush to find a new keeper.
Farke, who has targeted former
Aston Villa goalkeeper
Orjan
Nyland, said: “We don’t have to panic as Daniel has proved he can be reliable at this level.
“You are only a proper first-team player if you have delivered in a proper game.
“He is a confident young lad and I was fully convinced he would deliver.
“But we just have to make sure he doesn’t run around proud through too many streets.”
The visitors pinged three shots at Barden in the opening two minutes, with the keeper denying Jordan Shipley and Callum O’Hare after Max Biamou fired wide.
In truth, O’Hare should have scored.
Norwich instantly replied with two goals in the space of 80 seconds, with winger Przemyslaw Placheta setting up both.
The Pole cut in from the left to find Todd Cantwell, whose cute cushioned pass gave McLean an easy finish in the sixth minute.
Hugill then headed home from close range from the next attack.
The former West Ham and Preston striker got ahead of his marker to meet Placheta’s cross at the near post.
Coventry were all over the place with full debutant Julien Da Costa giving the ball straight to Cantwell, who fired narrowly wide.
Biamou did the same at the other end after Ben Gibson’s error let him in, with Coventry and the game itself finally having calmed down. Barden enhanced his reputation in the second half with two saves to deny Biamou, who had scored a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw on this ground in the league in November, and another from sub Will Bapaga.
Norwich almost poached a third when sub Teemu Pukki curled a shot against a post from a tight angle with five minutes to go.
Coventry boss Mark Robins said: “We’ve not worked the goalkeeper hard enough. It’s disappointing to go out, but I’m philosophical in terms of what we’ve faced.”
NORWICH: Barden 8; Mumba 6 (Aarons (62nd) 6), Zimmermann 6 (Hanley (46th) 6), Gibson 6, Quintilla
6; Sorensen 6 (Skipp 88th); Tettey 6; Cantwell 7 (Buendia (72nd) 6), McLean
7, Placheta 7; Hugill 7 (Pukki (72nd) 6).
COVENTRY CITY: Wilson 6; Ostigard
6, McFadzean 6, Hyam 6; Da Costa
6, Hamer 6 (Bapaga 79th), Sheaf 6 (James (68th) 5), Giles 6; O’Hare 6, Shipley 6 (Eccles 79th); Biamou 7 (Bakayoko (68th) 5).
STAR MAN: Daniel Barden
REF: D Drysdale