It’s ready Emi, go for Farke
‘BUENDIA IS TOP CLASS’
DANIEL FARKE hailed dynamic duo Todd Cantwell and Emi Buendia for the goals that kept the Canaries perched on the top of the table at Christmas.
Fit-again Cantwell netted a cracking clincher for the league leaders after Buendia had struck midway through the first half.
“They were two good performances, no doubt about it,” Norwich boss Farke said.
“Emi has been in top- class shape for the last six weeks and delivered with a great goal and a great assist.
“With Todd, I got the feeling since he was back on the training pitch after his injury that he was totally focused. I wasn’t sure if he could play for 90 minutes but he delivered.”
Norwich started racking up chances from the off, with Kenny McLean heading just wide and Teemu Pukki firing across goal and beyond the far post.
The Bluebirds were dangerous from set- pieces though, with Sean Morrison’s header from Harry Wilson’s free-kick grabbed right on the line by Canaries keeper Michael McGovern.
Buendia broke the deadlock in the 27th minute with his fifth goal in his last seven games for Norwich.
The Argentinian accepted a pass from McLean, shrugged off Marlon Pack and, as defenders backed off, unleashed a low 20- yarder past Bluebirds keeper Alex Smithies.
Cardiff but almost drew level in the 41st minute through another Wi l s onMorrison combination.
McGovern punched a corner to the on-loan Liverpool man, whose delivery found his skipper six yards out at the back post but the keeper reacted superbly to paw the header away.
There was time before the break for the lively Cantwell, starting for the first time since October, to see a goal-bound effort blocked by Curtis Nelson.
Pukki – who celebrated the birth of daughter Ella on Friday – twice passed up clear chances early in the second period to put Norwich ahead.
First he latched on to Pack’s misplaced backpass only to chip over Smithies and wide, and was then guilty of a poor first touch after Cantwell had played him in.
More Norwich chances came and went with Mario Vrancic firing wide to end a swift counter
attack and Buendia denied by Smithies’ finger-tips.
Cantwell showed them how it was done with a cracking clincher in the 70th minute.
Buendia found him in space and he unleashed a rising 20-yarder that gave Smithies no chance for his first league goal since New Year’s Day.
Morrison went close again at the other end but Cardiff had to accept being second best.
Cardiff boss Neil Harris said: “When you play good teams you can’t give them the chances we did. Even from 25 yards they find the bottom corner.”
He added: “They are top of the league for a reason – they find ways to win games.”
McGovern 7; Aarons 7 (Tettey 90), Hanley 7, Zimmermann 7, Sorensen 7; Skipp 7, McLean 7; Buendia 8 (Dowell 84), Vrancic 7 (Stiepermann 81), Cantwell 9; Pukki 6 (Hugill 90).
Barden, Rupp, Martin, Omobamidele,
Smithies 7; Bacuna 6, Morrison 7, Nelson 7, Cunningham 6; Vaulks 6, Pack 5 (Hoilett 66, 5); Wilson 7, Ralls 6, Ojo 6 (Harris 76); Glatzel 5.
Unused subs:: Phillips, Benkovic, Whyte, Bamba, Bagan,
MAN OF THE MATCH: Todd Cantwell. Capped an all-action return with a cracker.
REFEREE: Tim Robinson 6.