Farke believes Canaries’ relegation was inevitable
DANIEL FARKE says it was ‘not realistic’ to expect Norwich to survive in the Premier League this season after their relegation was sealed by West Ham yesterday.
Michail Antonio’s four goals secured a 4-0 victory for the Hammers at Carrow Road, as the Canaries lost their top-flight status with three games still remaining.
Norwich had needed their first win in the league since February to avoid relegation and Farke apologised to the supporters. However, the German, who guided City to the Championship title last term, was honest regarding his own expectations of the squad.
Norwich boss Farke said: ‘Yes it is of course a disappointing day with the harsh loss, a 0-4, but today is also the day where relegation is finally confirmed and it is of course a big disappointment.
‘It is not like it is unexpected or not that we were not prepared for it but once it is confirmed it feels even more disappointing.
‘We are always self-critical so the first step that you have to take is always to ask yourself what you could have done better.’
Antonio has starred in a central role since the competition’s restart, with six goals in the Hammers’ six matches, and manager David Moyes believes he could have had more.
When asked about the 30-year-old’s four-goal haul in East Anglia, Moyes said: ‘He’s been excellent because we have been without Seb Haller so we have been really limited in our options. I think Michail is developing with it, he’s getting better at it, his link-up play. He should have had one or two in midweek as well so today has been good for him. Not many people score four goals in a Premier League match.’
Elsewhere, Newcastle boss Steve Bruce became the latest Premier League manager to question the capability of VAR after seeing his side lose to two Troy Deeney penalties at Watford.
Dwight Gayle had given the visitors the lead at Vicarage Road before Deeney stepped up to smash home two spot-kicks and earn Watford a 2-1 win as the Hornets took a big step closer to top-flight survival.
Deeney made no mistake in ending a six-game scoring drought after Craig Pawson pointed to the spot following Matt Ritchie’s trip of Kiko Femenia, with the Watford skipper repeating the feat 10 minutes from the end as Ismael Sarr was adjudged to have been fouled by Javier Manquillo.
Bruce said: ‘I thought the first penalty was really, really soft,’ he said.
‘I thought it was supposed to be clear and obvious and what is the point in sending it to VAR when they are not going to overturn anything any more?
‘All this nonsense we have got with VAR, they are supposed to be clear and obvious but they looked remarkably soft to me.
‘They looked remarkably soft, especially the first one, it was a massive game for them and gave them a lifeline.’
Watford now sit six points clear of the relegation zone and satisfied manager Nigel Pearson said: ‘We have still got a lot of work to do but, credit where it is due.’