BOLTON NORWICH 4
0
Norwich were simply superb. Dynamic. Devastating with fabulous Finn Teemu Pukki notching a double to take his league tally to 23 for the season as the new leaders took advantage of Leeds’ inactivity. Marco Stiepermann and the exquisite E m i l i a n o Buendia finished the job to leave Bolton outclassed.
Manager Daniel Farke (left) was frustrated by a missed penalty but couldn’t hide his delight, and said: “Now I can give my players some time off. It’s well deserved.
“Sixty three points is a really good statistic after 33 games and we take the compliments. Our performance was really, really good. But my feeling is that we could have added a few more goals. We should be more clinical and brutal.
“Pukki, though, in linking play, is world class. I work every day with him and see his quality. His goals are in key moments.”
Bolton chief Phil Parkinson made no excuses and said: “Some of their football was out of the Premier League and not the Championship. You have to hold your hands up and credit the opposition.”
One look at the lunar surface at the University of Bolton Stadium suggested free-flowing football wouldn’t be the name of the game.
But then you underestimate the skill, craft and clinical finishing of Norwich, who mastered the bumpy, threadbare pitch with consummate ease.
Farke’s flyers were absolutely brilliant to completely overrun a Bolton side seriously chasing a lost cause.
Norwich gave full warning of their deadly intent after four minutes when Buendia’s shot was flipped away by former Canaries keeper Remi Matthews.
Then, in the eighth minute, Norwich stormed into the lead when Pukki controlled brilliantly, side-stepped and then hammered home.
It was 2-0 in the 25th minute when Norwich launched into a great build-up that ended with Pukki telepathically pulling back for Stiepermann to rattle into the bottom corner.
Bolton were stunned. Shell-shocked. This wasn’t the start their lowly position demanded and they tried to get back into the game when Pawel Olkowski had a go with a shot comfortably collected by keeper Tim Krul.
But in the 34th minute, Norwich put the game out of Bolton’s flimsy reach.
performance alone and great goal. REFEREE: Andy Woolmer 6. Possession 31% 69% Shots On Target 3 12 Shots Off Target 6 7 Blocked Shots 3 4 Corners 1 0 Foulsconceded 20 14 Offsides 1 0 Yellow Cards 1 0 Red Cards 0 0