They think it’s Ollie over
IT IS NOW... AS NORWICH SINK
DEAN SMITH insisted he will take full responsibility for his role in Norwich’s relegation after their fate was sealed by defeat at his former club Aston Villa.
The 51-year-old took charge of the Canaries in November after a poor start under Daniel Farke had left them five points adrift of safety.
He was subsequently unable to pull off the miracle of avoiding the drop – an outcome guaranteed by this loss at Villa Park and Burnley’s win at Watford – but did not shirk his share of the blame for a swift return to the Championship.
Smith said: “My reaction is obviously bitter disappointment and I fully take my responsibility as well.
“I think over the last four, five weeks there has been an inevitability about it.
“I’m disappointed that we’ve got relegated today because I thought the performance was good, but unfortunately over the season our performances haven’t been good enough.
“We’ve lacked the quality that’s required in this league which, as we all know, is a very tough division.”
The highlight of the Norwich manager’s day came as he emerged from the tunnel at Villa Park to chants of “Deano” from the home supporters.
But the pleasantries were noticeably restricted to pre-match, with the first whistle marking the start of a competitive and largely scrappy game.
One rare early glimpse of quality came from Leon Bailey, who forced Tim Krul to tip his dipping effort from the
edge of the box on to the bar at full stretch.
But, having made a bright start, the Jamaican was soon forced off the pitch as he failed to shake off the aftereffects of a firm-but-fair Brandon Williams challenge.
Fortunately for Villa, the enforced substitution worked in their favour, Danny Ings using his first touch to play a raking cross-field ball in behind to Ollie Watkins.
And, after capitalising on a Williams slip to work space, the striker crashed a powerful shot home just before the break.
Villa improved in the second period, with Watkins and Jacob Ramsey missing the best of their chances.
But Ings ultimately put the seal on a 2-0 win with a turn and shot inside the box in injury time, a blow that had Smith (right) turning his attention to a promotion push next season.
He added: “It’s imperative that we all stick together and get ready for another tilt at the Championship.
“The last two times the football club has been in it, we’ve won it, and that’s what we’ve got to aspire to now.
“The club’s very well run, I think there’s only one player out of contract at the end of the season, so there’s not an awful lot we have to do.
“We’ve been planning for two scenarios for months, and one of them was confirmed today... we’ll move forward.”
Villa boss Steven Gerrard was in no doubt that Norwich are capable of bouncing back immediately. He said: “I’m disappointed for Norwich and Dean, he’s someone who I’ve got the utmost respect for.
“But I think they’ve employed him for the big picture, they were in a tough place when he got the job.
“It was always going to be a massive mountain to climb to keep them up.
“I’ve got no doubts that they’ll be one of the favourites to bounce back next year.”