SARGENT FIRES DUDS
Canary’s sick as a parrot
JOSH SARGENT conjured up a miss-of-the-season contender to keep winless Norwich stuck at the bottom.
The USA striker failed to locate an open goal on a day when both sides fired blanks, although Brighton saw a strong penalty shout turned down.
It was a second successive goalless draw for the Canaries but boss Daniel Farke admitted poor finishing by Sargent cost his side two points.
He said: “Josh is the most disappointed guy in the dressing room – he knows he should have scored.
“He had the time to take a touch and put the ball easily into an empty net.”
Sargent was recruited from Werder Bremen in the hope he could take the pressure off Teemu Pukki, who also missed vital chances.
The USA forward worked hard and would have scored in the 14th minute had his shot on the turn not taken a slight nick off Lewis Dunk to go wide.
That roused the Carrow Road faithful but they couldn’t believe their eyes just before the break when Albion keeper Robert Sanchez rushed out of his box and shanked his clearance.
That left Sargent a simple finish but he panicked and undercooked his shot massively.
It might not have been going in either – Shane Duffy hoofed it clear anyway.
Brighton, who have lost just once all season, could have been ahead by the break themselves, with VAR and the bar saving Norwich.
Tim Krul had just made a smart parry to keep out Adam Lallana’s low drive before Neal Maupay rounded him and went down.
Had the Dutch keeper clipped him as he came out?
Referee Peter Bankes refused to point to the spot as angry Norwich defenders accused Maupay of diving – and VAR declined to rule there had been a significant error.
Seagulls boss Graham Potter gave the officials the benefit of the doubt.
He said: “If the referee on the pitch doesn’t give a penalty then it’s a tough one for the VAR to overrule, that’s my instinct.”
Brighton were soon back for another opportunity. Leandro Trossard fired Maupay’s nod down goalward on the turn and it required a glove tip from Krul to divert it on to the bar.
The second half began with Sargent, who had never scored more than five in a Bundesliga season, found wanting in front of goal again.
Dunk squandered possession to Pukki, who played his strike partner into a shooting position but a duff first touch allowed Dan Burn to slide in.
Pukki had been waiting more than an hour for a chance of his own but when it arrived, his attempt to dink over Sanchez at the near post bobbled harmlessly wide.