Make mine a big Mac!
SMITH FEASTS ON CUP WIN
DEAN SMITH is not only reviving Norwich, but he’s giving himself a rare FA Cup run.
Canaries boss Smith has never got to the fifth round before in his managerial career.
But, apart from a Daniel Podence shot that hit the post, Smith didn’t get any hassle from Wolves as Norwich silenced Molineux’s biggest crowd of the season.
Kenny McLean’s winner in first-half added time looked a bit of a fluke, but it was his first goal since August in the 6-0 Carabao Cup romp over Bournemouth.
Smith (below) was adamant the Scottish international meant it when he connected with a looping header over Wolves keeper John Ruddy.
Smith said: “He made a great run similar to that against Arsenal which I watched before I even came to
Norwich. He’s got goals in him and it was a great run and flick on after a good ball from Billy Gilmour.”
Sub Kieran Dowell would have added another but for a fantastic dive by Ruddy four minutes from the end.
“It was a hard-fought win against a team doing very well in the Premier League and in a great run of form,” said Smith, whose previous best in the Cup was the fourth round.
“Wolves only made one change from their last Premier League game, which shows how important they thought this game. I thought we created some good chances and then defended resolutely when we had to.”
Wolves were on an unbeaten six-game run, one of those a Cup win over Sheffield United, and a price cut and optimism about a
decent run brought 30,736 into Molineux.
They saw Wolves raise themselves in the second half, Podence smacking his shot against the upright.
Norwich’s 34-year-old keeper Michael McGovern, playing his first game for more than a year, got lucky when the ball rebounded back and hit his legs before he dived on the ball.
But Wolves had little threat as Norwich took their run to four wins out of the last five, despite having to change their side just before kick-off when Joshua Sargent felt ill.
Wolves boss Bruno Lage said: “We did not play in the first half with our usual dynamic.
“It was easy for Norwich to control our game, even though we had more ball possession.
“I was upset to concede in the 46th minute of the first half when the player had his back to our goal.
“In the second half, we created some chances.
“If Podence scores early in the second half when he hits the post, then maybe we can go on and win.”