Dowell strike gives Farke a grand day out
Norwich two points from promotion
THE Championship promotion battle is a long and arduous course but, on Grand National day, Norwich showed exactly why they will win the race to the Premier League by a significant distance.
Kieran Dowell’s goal from a firsthalf free-kick was all that separated them and Derby but it was a typical performance for the Daniel Farketrained Canaries: as lick,p ass-andmoves ty le coupled with a well-drilled, solid defence.
They galloped into an early and commanding lead at the front this season, showed the staying pedigree to shirk every challenge along the way and powered down the home straight to all but secure promotion.
With the chasers also winning this weekend, official confirmation of an instant Premier League return will have to wait but it is a mere formality.
The promotion party has long been a matter of when not if and, with pubs reopening this week, the local boozers in Norwich can put the champagne on ice.
Champagne football is how Farke describes his side’s style. ‘I’m a happy man tonight, it was not magic but it was a hard-fought win,’ said t he 44- year- ol d German. The possession statistic often lacks context but it was telling here. After 15 minutes, Norwich had seen a staggering 87 per cent of the ball. Wayne Rooney’s side were bullied into submission. Three Derby players were booked inside the opening 20 minutes, all for late challenges born out of the frustration of chasing shadows.
While t acti cal f ouls can, in hindsight, be an art form, Derby conceded too many dangerous free-kicks. Dowell shot just wide with one after 10 minutes.
Derby were warned but they did not learn. Craig Forsyth committed another silly foul with a lunge on Todd Cantwell. Dowell lined it up again and did not miss this chance, finding the top corner with a pitchperfect shot. It was a third goal in his last five games for Dowell, who has peaked for the home straight of the season after ankle surgery ruled him out of the bulk of the campaign.
The 23- year-old former Evertonian’s return has been like a new signing for Farke — another constant threat in the front four who glides across the pitch similar to Cantwell and Emi Buendia.
‘I’m delighted with Kieran,’ added Farke. ‘He’s on the right path. It was a world-class free-kick.’
Farke deserves credit for Dowell’s form, though. He looked a bit lost after four loan spells while at Goodison Park but has found a home in Norfolk.
His quality has always been there. He shone in glimpses for Nottingham Forest and had a good game or two for Wigan but Farke has made him into a consistent danger.
Norwich continued to dominate but Derby grew into the game and were the better team in the second half. Colin Kazim- Richards and Teden Mengi forced excellent saves from Tim Krul.
Patrick Roberts, who was particularly influential, slalomed through on goal only for Krul to smother it. While the Canaries are famed for their attacking prowess, the World Cup-level experience of Krul is crucial at the back.
But as good as Krul had been in goal, he nearly handed Deby a leveller in injury time when KazimRichards picked his pocket and squared the ball to Graeme Shinnie who shot over.
‘We performed very well especially in the second half,’ said Rooney. ‘We deserved a point from the game.’