Pukki is pukka as a poacher
D ANIEL Farke described his Norwich side’s victory at Blackburn Rovers as their biggest win of the season as they returned to the top of the Championship.
Neither side created a host of chances, but Farke’s team always looked the most likely to snatch the points.
The Canaries were frustrated by a dogged Rovers side, but they were opened up four minutes from time, giving Norwich’s top scorer Teemu Pukki a simple tap-in – his 14th goal this season – to hand the visitors their ninth win in the last 11 league games.
Farke said: “It is a massive win. We have had several outstanding performances and brilliant wins, played some nice football, and had away wins with four goals, but my feeling is this is the biggest win of the whole season and really a massive victory for us.
“Especially because of the situation we had to handle during the game. Yes, big compliments to the lads and we are all pleased.
“I think in the end it was a well deserved win, especially for such a young side.”
Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray said: “We played pretty well, competed against a team who are top of the table. I thought we probably had the best chances to win the game.
“We finished really with 10 men. With Harrison Reed, it’s difficult to bring him off after you’ve made the three substitutions. He was a standing man really and maybe that was the difference. But, yes, frustrated that we failed to take one of our chances.”
Although Norwich monopolised the early possession, Adam Armstrong had the first chance when he weaved in from the left before curling a shot that flashed past a post.
Rovers got their first glimpse of Teemu Pukki in the 13th minute when Todd Cantwell’s inch-perfect pass set him clear, but he found the side netting from a narrow angle.
After weathering the early storm, the hosts grew into the game and Ryan Nyambe’s marauding run and cross led to a chance for Danny Graham, who saw his goalbound effort deflected behind.
Marco Stiepermann’s long range screamer had to be tipped over by David Raya, and he watched a Pukki shot trickle wide before the break.
The hosts started the second half the brightest though, and their top scorer Bradley Dack ought to have done better when slipped in 12 yards out, but he shot straight at Tim Krul.
Graham then planted a free header over on the hour mark, the type of chance he would expect to dispatch.
At the other end, Pukki saw a left-foot effort sail wide before Raya pulled off an outstanding save to tip over Ben Godfrey’s bullet header from point-blank range.
Both sides were hungry for a winner but Norwich’s extra quality ended Blackburn’s resistance in the 86th minute when a slide rule pass found Onel Hernandez on the left. His cross put the chance on a plate for Pukki, who buried his 14th goal of the season from close range to break Blackburn hearts.