Coming off two straight wins, Norwich had every reason to be confident, but Norwich’s record away from home has not been good over the last few seasons. Despite this record, the trip to Pride Park was seen as a game where a point was a realistic goal. The previous game at home to Derby was fairly even, with the Rams winning 2-1 from a last minute freak goal. This game was also notable for the match fixing allegations which followed it. Thankfully these have not yet come to anything, and both teams hope that this remains the case.
Norwich didn’t get off to a good start, conceding after only 14 minutes, and fifteen minutes later the Canaries had gone two down. At half-time things weren’t looking good for Roeder’s men, but thankfully they began the second half much brighter than the first. This period of better play resulted in John Kennedy’s first goal for the club on 64 minutes, the Scot powering in a fine header to take the score to 2-1. Norwich fans now had some hope, but this was extinguished with 10 minutes to go by Kazmierczak’s goal. Norwich went back to Norfolk with nothing to show for their efforts, but at least there were some bright spots in this 3-1 defeat.
Saturday’s game at Burnley was one of those games that Norwich fans see on the fixture list and don’t hold out much hope for. Norwich’s weakness has often been not getting up for away fixtures to lesser teams, and Burnley away was one of those days. Burnley is a bleak place at the best of times, but the 500 or so Norwich fans that traveled to the game were not greeted with either good weather or good seating. When you are sat on a wooden bench you know it’s not going to be a classic. Burnley are a not a bad team, but like many Championship clubs they are not a rich club. What you see is what you get with Burnley and they certainly work hard.
On Saturday, Norwich were almost the exact opposite of Burnley and it was as if the Norwich players’ thoughts had drifted to Christmas shopping rather than getting the three points. The first half was dire, but miraculously the score was level at nil nil. Norwich should have counted their lucky stars that they hadn’t gone behind, but when they came out for the second half the team’s attitude had not changed one bit. This was probably as poor as Norwich have been under Glenn Roeder, and the end score of 2-0 was more than Norwich deserved. After the game Roeder said “I didn’t feel we showed enough courage, and I’m not happy with any team of mine that doesn’t show courage”. He could have been harsher, but for a man who seldom criticizes his team, this was a damning verdict. Put simply, Burnley wanted the game and Norwich clearly didn’t.
This is a problem that needs to be addressed, and fast. The Canaries play Preston at home on Saturday in a game where the team needs to pick up some momentum, but the next away game to Nottingham Forest will truly tell if this team has the heart to survive in this league. It is one thing to be inspired by 25,000 home fans, but Norwich need to start picking up some points away from home if they are to have any serious ambitions of pushing up the table this season.
Will Sargent.
