Sunderland faced a fourth defeat in a row, after Josh Sargent's strike puts the Canaries one point outside the play-offs, leaving us nine away from the top six, and nine away from the bottom three.
Most Sunderland fans were going into this game with the idea that the season was over. We had lost three games in a row, and last weeks 2-1 defeat to bottom half Swansea was a sign that we're not going anywhere. Not to mention, our best player this season Jack Clarke is out for six weeks, with an ankle ligament injury.
Due to this, I wanted to see us use these final 12 games as a way to bed through players that could be important for us next season. The likes of Hemir, Adil Aouchiche, and Chris Rigg have all had limited game time this campaign, but could definitely play a bigger role next season.
Unlike the lads in red and white, Norwich were still within a good chance of finishing in the top six. A lot of Sunderland fans would have struggled to believe that after we floor wiped them in October.
However, David Wagner has managed to turn the tide and the Canaries went into this game unbeaten in five. But just like us, their star man Jonathan Rowe is also out injured, the winger injured his hamstring.
Starting 11: Anthony Patterson, Trai Hume, Jenson Seelt, Luke O’Nien (C), Leo Hjelde, Dan Neil, Pierre Ekwah, Jobe, Callum Styles, Romaine Mundle, Luís Hemir
Mike Dodds made two changes to the line up, he dropped Nazariy Rusyn for Hemir, and Abdoullah Ba for Romaine Mundle. Dodds made it clear last weekend that he wasn’t afraid to change things.
Norwich got the game underway, and immediately started passing it around at the back. But, we quickly regained possession and started pinging the ball around.
Despite a very similar 11, we had reverted back to four at the back. After a stale nine minutes, Norwich won a corner. The delivery was poor from Gabriel Sara and it was easily cleared.
Romaine Mundle and Hemir were pressing well, and we won a corner. It was taken short and given to Pierre Ekwah who had a strong effort on goal.
The home side immediately went up the other end and started pinging some balls into our penalty area. In the 14th minute Trai Hume made a crucial block to deny Josh Sargent.
The rain was pouring down at Carrow Road, plus our defending was sloppy. Jenson Seelt was having a poor game, with the Dutchman struggling to clear things.
Luke O’Nien took a free kick that found it’s way to Trai Hume. He whipped in a lovely ball that Hemir should have latched onto. Mundle had an effort instead, but he couldn’t get a clear connection with the ball.
Romaine Mundle was causing Norwich problems, and he wasn’t afraid to take on a man. He won a free kick just outside the box, but Ekwah’s effort was comfortably dealt with.
Gabriel Sara whipped in a dangerous set piece for Norwich, that nearly found Ben Gibson. Borja Sainz then had a good effort on goal.
Whenever we got forward, we were crossing it in to try and find Hemir. The game was end to end, both teams had their fair share of possession and looked very content with playing out from the back.
In the 35th minute we put together a really nice move. Dan Neil slid through Trai Hume, but unfortunately he was off side. Despite this, the quick one touch football was a sign of what we needed to do.
Norwich tried a similar thing, but Mundle was quick to charge down Jack Stacey and win us a goal kick. A few moments later, the winger decided to cut inside and have a shot that went wide.
The home side put together a dangerous move that ended with Josh Sargent putting an effort wide. Similarly to our move earlier on, the linesman put his flag up and ruled Sargent offside.
Trai Hume was shown the first yellow card of the afternoon after he fouled Borja Sainz. Sara then proceeded to put in a really poor ball that went out for a goal kick. The Brazilian also had an effort that went straight over the bar.
After that, the whistle went and the first half ended 0-0. Neither side offered much going forward and it was almost like we were watching walking football at times. That said, it was a steady first half performance and we were still in the game.
Hemir kicked things back off. It was clear that there was more intensity from the get go. Jack Stacey put in a good ball that was headed wide by the experienced Ashley Barnes.
Norwich had upped the tempo and were whipping in some dangerous balls. Anthony Patterson should have came out and claimed one of them because we were scrambling to get them clear.
Gabriel Sara forced Patterson into making a save at his near post. We started the second half flat, meanwhile the Canaries were building momentum.
We were struggling to gain control of the ball, all whilst Norwich were passing it around our penalty box. Romaine Mundle was doing a good job at getting back and doing the dirty work. The camera then panned to Labour leader Keir Starmer who was in attendance, he must be a Norwich fan.
In the 57th minute we finally got forward, and Dan Neil won a corner. Styles whipped in a good ball, but it was headed clear and Josh Sargent was about to break on the counter. Ekwah took one for the team and pulled him down. He received a yellow card.
Sydney Van Hooijdonk was subbed on for Norwich, a player we were linked with in the summer. In the 64th minute Callum Styles was fouled by Grant Hanley, but wasn’t shown a yellow card. Pierre Ekwah took the free kick and just like most of our free kicks, it went way over the bar.
Mike Dodds then made a few changes. Hemir and Romaine Mundle were subbed off for Nazariy Rusyn and Abdoullah Ba. Mundle showed some promise, with a bit more development he could be a good player for us.
We got extremely lucky, after Trai Hume miss placed a pass that found Sara, he rushed his effort and put it over the bar. We should have been 1-0 down.
After that, we got forward but couldn’t create much. Jack Stacey then went up the other end and had a solid effort that went wide. Norwich put together another attack and Sainz had a shot that went straight at Patterson.
In the 71st minute the lads got forward, and Dan Neil picked out a lovely pass to Trai Hume, who hit it hard and low, but Callum Styles couldn’t get it from underneath his feet.
Styles was then subbed off for Chris Rigg. After whipping in a dangerous cross a few moments prior, Dimitris Giannoulis was shown a yellow card for a foul on Rusyn.
Abdoullah Ba had our best chance of the game, when he drove into box and had a shot that hit
the bar. Nazariy Rusyn then had a shot that went wide a few minutes later.
We started pressing more, and we managed to get the ball to Jobe, who scored, but it was miles offside, so it was ruled out.
Despite a small spell of positivity, Seelt and O’Nien had a mare at the back, and Josh Sargent put the hosts 1-0 up in the 81st minute. It summed up what was another deflating afternoon.
Norwich continued to come forward, and Jack Stacey hit the side netting. Jobe was then subbed off for Mason Burstow.
Abdoullah Ba put a solid ball into the box, Rigg charged at it and went down with a head injury. It fell to Rusyn who headed it straight at Angus Gunn. The youngster got up and continued.
Jacob Sorenson entered the book after he fouled Luke O’Nien, how ironic. There was no kissing involved this time.
Five minutes were added on, and Dan Neil put in a lovely ball, but no one was able to make anything of it. Moments later, Rusyn had a headed effort that went straight at the goalkeeper again.
Jenson Seelt was shown the final card of the game after he accidentally collided with Giannoulis. The game ended 1-0 to Norwich.
I’m just used to it as this point, when do we ever perform away from home. We lack quality all over the pitch. A big summer window is needed because we can’t have another season like this. I feel bad for everyone who went to Carrow Road today.
FINAL SCORE – NORWICH CITY 1-0 SUNDERLAND
ALS MAN OF THE MATCH – DAN NEIL: If I have to pick one of our players, then I’ll pick Neil. He picked out some good passes and it’s a shame everyone around him was so poor. If we sell him, he will be a big miss next season.
