Dan the man not in a flap as Canaries flying towards title
THE champagne remains on ice for Daniel Farke and Norwich – but crowning glory surely awaits.
This stylish performance and goals from Xavi Quintilla, Max Aarons and Emi Buendia ensured the Canaries need just two more points to claim the Championship title for the second time in three years.
Already promoted, they are now five points ahead of secondplaced Watford with two games left.
Norwich boss Farke said: “I’m really happy with this win.
“We responded in style against an in-form side. They were great goals and we should have scored even more.
“Having
93 points from 44 games is grear.
“We are in a fantastic position but we need to stay disciplined.
“The main job is done but the lads deserve to lift silverware.”
This was an exciting game from the start with the pressure off mid-table QPR and to some extent Norwich.
Osman Kakay went close within the opening seconds after robbing Todd Cantwell while Buendia came close to punishing a poor Jordy de Wijs header.
Teemu Pukki may have 25 goals this season but he could have bagged a hat-trick as he missed two golden chances with tame shots.
But Norwich took the lead in freak circumstances as Seny Dieng – sporting a mask after a broken nose – fumbled Quintilla’s weak
32nd-minute shot in. It was quite the way for the Spaniard to score his first career goal. And it could have
QPR
5
8
1
5
13
3
1
0
80.1
18
50
41.8 been more before the break as Dieng redeemed himself to foil Kieran Dowell.
QPR should have been level 10 minutes into the second half, though, as Grant Hanley was adjudged to have fouled Chris Willock.
But Lyndon Dykes’ penalty down the middle was superbly saved by Tim Krul.
Norwich punished Rangers by going down the other end to score with Aarons volleying home from Kenny McLean’s cross. Dykes eventually got one back on
71 minutes with his sixth goal in as many games from Charlie Austin’s flick-on.
They could have equalised as Austin headed over fellow sub Albert Adomah’s cross.
Eventually the Canaries wrapped up a deserved win, finishing off another slick passing move eight minutes from time.
Cantwell found McLean who crossed for Buendia to slot home his 14th goal of the campaign.
Disappointed QPR boss Mark Warburton said: “Norwich will be champions, we know they are a good side.
“We showed them too much respect in the first half and we needed to manage the game better in the second half.”
QPR: Dieng 5; Dickie 6, De Wijs 5 (Ball (75th) 6), Barbet 6; Kakay 6 (Adomah (66th) 6), Johansen 6 (Bettache 89th), Thomas 7 (Field
(46th) 6), Wallace 6; Chair 6 (Austin
(66th) 7), Willock 7, Dykes 6
NORWICH: Krul 7; Aarons 8, Hanley
5, Omobamidele 6, Quintilla 7 (Tettey
89th); Skipp 6, McLean 7; Buendia 8 (Placheta 89th), Dowell 6 (Sorensen
(74th) 6), Cantwell 7 (Hernandez 85th); Pukki 5 (Hugill 85th)
STAR MAN: Max Aarons
REF: J Linington
Shots on target Shots off target Blocked shots Corners Fouls Offsides Yellow cards Red cards Passing success % Tackles Tackles won % Possession %
7
9
3
5
6
4
0
0
85
13
76.9
58.2