Farke takes comfort from point for off-colour Norwich
‘Some friendships that I had on the England team are not so close now – that’s quite sad’
Daniel Farke joked that Norwich City had already avoided the prospect of relegation after his side surrendered their Championship lead in a humdinger at Ashton Gate.
Bristol City were more than deserving of a point and would have taken all three were it not for a late equaliser by Max Aarons.
The result meant Norwich dropped to second, behind Leeds United, not that their manager Farke was too downbeat. He said: “I think we have avoided the prospect of relegation and that’s good! We don’t look too far ahead and there is still a long way for us to go.”
Norwich were neat and tidy in possession, but they showed resilience to earn a point after falling 2-1 behind, considering at least four of their players had suffered from flu in the build-up.
After visiting goalkeeper Tim Krul made two superb stops, Marco Stiepermann – who was among the flu sufferers – opened the scoring with a sublime left-footed curler.
On his 26th birthday, Bristol striker Famara Diedhiou levelled before the break and man of the match Callum O’dowda then put the hosts ahead when he fired in off the underside of the crossbar.
Norwich pushed hard for a response and substitute Onel Hernandez made an immediate impact when his wicked cross was headed home at the back post by Aarons.
Bristol manager Lee Johnson reserved praise for O’dowda, on the occasion of his 300th game as a manager, saying: “Callum was excellent. You can just feel when a player is coming back into form.” environment.” Sanderson criticised her former team-mates when, led by Nikita Parris during England’s 6-0 demolition of Russia, they celebrated on the touchline with Sampson on the eve of his sacking. “I’m actually lost for words and feel physically sickened by all of this,” Sanderson tweeted at the time. “They successfully manipulated the players into a them against us.”
Whatever battle lines were drawn so decisively last year are now, Sanderson insists, forgotten. Phil Parkinson, the Bolton Wanderers manager, hopes the worst of the club’s financial problems are behind them and praised his players