Norwich returned to the top of the table with victory at Millwall
DANIEL FARKE commended his Norwich City charges for showing true grit as they returned to the Championship summit with a win at battling Millwall.
Goals from Marco Stiepermann, Christoph Zimmermann and Teemu Pukki saw the Canaries rise back above Leeds, a sixth victory in eight league games handing them a narrow two-point advantage.
Farke was thrilled to see his team overcome the combative, never-say-die attitude exuded by Neil Harris’s Lions, and believes his team are surpassing expectations at every turn.
“It feels a lot better than the last time I came here [a 4-0 loss in August 2017]. It’s a really tough place to come,” said the Norwich manager.
“They were highly motivated, but my lads were brilliant and we’ve picked up a vital win.
“After this test, it feels even more pleasing that we could withstand it.”
Defeat left Millwall 20th in the table and a point shy of the relegation zone.
An FA Cup quarter-final tie against Premier League Brighton may be on the horizon, but Lions chief Harris is urging his team to focus fully on their bread and butter.
“The league’s the best it’s ever been with the strength in depth. It’s now about us taking the responsibility and getting the results and not relying on other re- bail us out.
“Bolton’s a much bigger game for us than playing Brighton in the FA Cup. We aren’t going to win the Cup. Staying in the Championship is our priority.
“Norwich were excellent. Their attacking threat is superior to anything else in this division.”
The hosts were unfortunate not to go ahead early on.
Jake Cooper’s powerful header was blocked on the line, before Steve Morison’s follow-up was also cleared off the line. Moments later, Lee Gregory’s curling effort was well kept out by Dutch stopper Tim Krul in the Norwich net.
The Canaries took the lead in the 16th minute. Millwall keeper Jordan Archer did well to deny Onel Hernandez, but the rebound fell kindly for Stiepermann to open the scoring.
Just before the break, Pukki could only fire straight at Archer and the Lions levelled on the stroke of half-time when Shaun Williams headed home Morison’s flick-on. Norwich had the first glaring chance of the second period. It fell to Max Aarons, but his strike trickled past a post.
Just before the hour, Morison headed the ball into Gregory’s path, but the striker failed to connect cleanly.
With 21 minutes left, the table-toppers took the lead through Zimmermann. The German rose highest to meet Emiliano Buendia’s corner and send his header beyond a helpless Archer for his first Norwich goal since his debut.
And Buendia set up Pukki to wrap the game up 10 minutes later as the Finn fired home his 28th strike of the season.
The visitors survived a late scare as Krul produced a fine double save to keep out Morison and then Mahlon Romeo.
And at the death, Archer denied Norwich a fourth with a good low stop from Pukki’s strike.