Tross the boss SUB-LIME SEAGULL DOES IT AGAIN
BRIGHTON 2 NORWICH 0
SUPER-SUB Leandro Trossard inspired Brighton to victory for the second week in a row – and heaped more away-day despair on Norwich.
Trossard scored one goal and made the other to lift the Seagulls to eighth in the Premier League table as boss Graham Potter’s side made it three wins in a row at the Amex.
And Potter hailed the impact of his brilliant Belgian.
He said: “In the final third Leandro is very intelligent. He can see a pass, can finish and make the right decision, and understands where space is.
“You need that mentality where players are disappointed not to start but are ready to help the team. In the Premier League you cannot survive with just 11 players.”
Norwich are still chasing their first win on the road this season and have not scored away since their 4-1 hammering at Liverpool on the opening weekend.
Marco Stiepermann came close when his 11thminute chip beat Brighton goalkeeper Mathew Ryan – only to clip the crossbar.
Brighton should have taken the lead in first-half stoppage time but striker Neal Maupay somehow blazed over from six yards.
But Trossard had made a matchwinning cameo against Everton last week and the £15million signing from Genk repeated the trick.
First, with 22 minutes remaining, he ghosted in at the near post to turn home Martin Montoya’s cross.
Then he whipped in a free-kick and fellow sub Shane Duffy poked home from close range six minutes from time.
Norwich looked shy of confidence and are desperately in need of reinforcements when the transfer window opens in January, but manager Daniel Farke has warned the coffers are empty.
He said: “We are not naive. If we had the ability to spend money we would have done this in the summer when it is easier.
“We still have to pay for the sins of the past and we had to invest in the infrastructure of the club and other things.”
Norwich have now lost five of their last six matches since their shock win over Manchester City.
Farke added: “We are the underdog in every game in this league.
“We were prepared from some tough times.”