CANARIES SOAR
Norwich issue the perfect response after
NORWICH made immediate amends for a dramatic late defeat at Newcastle in midweek, withstanding another nervous finale and impressing boss Alex Neil with the character they showed.
Cameron Jerome and Robbie Brady set the Canaries on the way to victory, but after Norwich conceded two stoppage time goals in midweek, Wolves set up another jittery ending when Dave Edwards pulled one back.
But the visitors showed why they are second in the league by doing what they did not at St James’ Park – seeing the game out – and Neil believes they were worthy winners.
“It was disappointing to concede. It was a sloppy goal,” he admitted. “But at that point, you’re looking for your boys to stand up and show the character they have got – they did that in spades.
“A lot was made of the game during the week, and a lot was said about how we’d respond so it was nice to come here and put three points on the board.
“I thought we deserved to win. We were unfortunate not to be leading by more than one at halftime, and after going two-up you expect to win the game.
“We’re in real good form – it’s six wins out of seven and we were 90 seconds away from it being seven out of seven.”
Wolves were caught napping in defence within two minutes of the kick-off, and Jerome took full advantage by out-jumping Danny Batth to head Wes Hoolahan’s left-wing cross beyond Carl Ikeme.
Jacob Murphy should have doubled the advantage on the half-hour, when Hoolahan – completely unmarked in the area – squared unselfishly, only for the winger to shoot too close to Ikeme, who saved with his legs.
Norwich’s wide men continued to cause problems, however, as Wolves failed to hit a shot on target in the first half, but started the second brightest – Joao Teixeira scooping wide after cutting inside in the 51st minute.