This is what champions do, says Farke as Norwich recover to restore 10-point lead

Daniel Farke believed his players “did the dirty stuff to let the quality shine” in this fightback win at Sheffield Wednesday, and that this was Norwich City’s most satisfying win of the season.

Norwich are surging back towards the Premier League, with their 10-point lead at the top restored, and this game highlighted why they might be better equipped for the top flight next time around.

Although they were not at their best and had a scare, Farke’s team showed they have grit these days, as well as the slickness they displayed in their 2019 promotion.

Wednesday were fighting hard for their second-tier survival and held a shock 1-0 lead at half-time, after Jordan Rhodes struck against his former club. Norwich, though, battled back – laying the platform for classy goals by Teemu Pukki and Todd Cantwell. The Finn’s 50th goal in 75 Championship games came after an intricate passing move, before Cantwell curled in a shot with 13 minutes remaining. “This is what champions do,” Farke said.

Norwich have now accumulated eight league wins in a row, while Wednesday have suffered seven losses in succession. Wednesday are investigating the pre-contract that midfielder Liam Shaw has signed with Celtic, but this looked a united group, especially when Rhodes controlled with his left foot before jabbing in with his right early on.

The shock of conceding appeared to affect Norwich initially. The visitors played some slicker football at the start of the second half, though, and Pukki fired in a 10-yard, angled strike from Oliver Skipp’s pass.

Cantwell put them in front when he evaded Liam Palmer with a cushioning touch, then finished.

Wednesday were broken but not browbeaten. Darren Moore, the new manager, said: “I’ve said to my players that we went toe to toe with the league leaders.”