Cook leaps to hand Canaries a lifeline

FOR a few long moments time stood still, a mix of wonder and disbelief engulfing Carrow Road. Did that really just happen? With Ondrej Duda’s shot heading towards an empty net, the script was written: Norwich’s new boy had made an immediate impact.

Then Bournemouth’s last line of defence burst into life. From the floor, he leapt into the air, meeting the ball with an outstretched right hand. The contact was minimal, but significant enough to divert the ball on to the post.

It was one of the saves of the season, one that kept Eddie Howe’s strugglers on terms.

The only problem? Their hero was defender Steve Cook, who succumbed to instinct as danger beckoned. Another issue? His moment of troubled genius left Bournemouth both a goal and a man down with nearly an hour left to play.

After Teemu Pukki converted the penalty, the visitors did well to stay in the game until Ben Godfrey ensured a nerveshredding last 15 minutes for the home side. Referee Paul Tierney had shown the defender a yellow card for his rash challenge on Callum Wilson. But after consulting the pitchside monitor he decided Godfrey had to go.

From there, Bournemouth huffed and puffed but Norwich stood firm for a first league victory since November.

‘It was an important win for us… we were the better side from the first to last second,’ Daniel Farke said. ‘We are not over-excited because we know it’s still a long road,’ he continued. ‘But we want to work on this miracle.’

Norwich are now six points from safety — three behind the visitors, who slide further into the mire.

Eddie Howe’s team have now lost four on the spin without scoring for the first time since their days in the third tier.

The manager admitted Cook’s ‘bizarre’ handball ‘cost’ his side the game. But he refused to criticise the defender, insisting: ‘You have to support him.’

Instead, Howe searched for crumbs of comfort in his side’s battling spirit and the fact they created some chances.

There was a small victory in particular for Wilson, who registered his first shot on target since October. But after he and Emi Buendia both missed headed chances, Cook took matters into his own hands.

NORWICH (4-2-3-1): Krul 6; Aarons 6.5, Godfrey 5, Zimmermann 6, Byram 6; McLean 6.5, Tettey 6; Duda 6.5 (Hanley 78min, 6.5), Cantwell 7, Buendia 6.5 (Rupp 90); Pukki 6.5 (Drmic 85, 6). Booked: Krul, Buendia. Sent off: Godfrey (76min). Subs (not used): Fahrmann, Hernandez, Lewis, Trybull.

BOURNEMOUTH (4-3-3): Ramsdale 6.5; Smith 5.5, Cook 4, Ake 6.5, Rico 6; Billing 6, Lerma 6 (Solanke 78, 6), Gosling 5.5 (Cook 86, 6); H Wilson 6 (Francis 34, 6), C Wilson 5.5, Fraser 5.5. Booked: C Wilson, Smith. Sent off: Cook (31min). Subs (not used): Boruc, Surman, Simpson, Surridge.

Referee: P Tierney (Lancashire) 7.