After last Saturday’s disappointment at Ashton Gate, (0-1 away) little was expected for the Tuesday night game at home to Wolves. Wolves were in excellent form, having scored 26 goals in their first 11 games, and were at the top of the table. Things didn’t look good for the misfiring Norwich team, and the feeling around Carrow Road was not a positive one.
However, on 28 minutes things began to look much better. Norwich were awarded a free kick to the left of the penalty area, which Sammy Clingan whipped in to the far post. Wolves’ keeper appeared to have it covered, but having caught the ball, back-pedalled into his own goal to make it 1-0 to Norwich. Fortuitous perhaps, but it was just what the low on confidence Norwich team needed.
Things were to get even better on 39 minutes, when Leroy Lita added a second for the home club, but soon after on 41 minutes, Wolves’ Collins brought the scoreline to 2-1. Half-time was as a result, a nervy affair for the home faithful, but it didn’t take Lita long to extend the Canaries lead.
Lita had come to Norwich with a fine pedigree, and perhaps it was only a matter of time before he showed the Norwich fans what he was all about. This game seems to have shown us the real Leroy Lita, and he wrapped up his hat-trick on 70 minutes. Wolves had previously pulled another goal back from a penalty, but by this stage Norwich’s tails were up and there was only going to be one winner. Norwich even added a fifth from Lee Croft on 75 minutes, after Lita narrowly missed out on his fourth goal of the game.
It must be said that the Wolves team did not perform as they can, but in Wolves’ manager Mick McCarthy’s words “Norwich played extremely well”, and they were definitely the worthy winners on the night. Next up is Doncaster at home on Saturday. Let’s hope the boys in Yellow and Green can do it again.
Will Sargent.
