Credit: Bradford Timeline
After a spirited first half performance, Sheffield Wednesday were beaten 2-1 yesterday by league leaders Norwich City.
It had all started so well for The Owls at Hillsborough. Ex-Norwich man Jordan Rhodes scored after Barry Bannan’s free kick bounced off the wall, giving them a 1-0 lead in the first ten minutes of the game, which they carried into half time.
Before the first half ended Wednesday seemed the better team despite their lack of possession, looking set to double their lead at any time courtesy of their fluid counter-attacks.
When the game began again, Norwich looked like the league leaders that they are. They peppered the Wednesday goal, with shots from Todd Cantwell and Teemu Pukki putting the Owls on edge.
Eventually Norwich’s attempts were rewarded with a brilliant top corner finish from one of the Championship’s most prominent strikers, Pukki, on the hour mark.
The next 20 minutes of the match saw Wednesday decisively on the defensive. Norwich finally made use of the possession they had dominated the entire match, with an effort from Kieran Dowell, who came on after 62 minutes to replace Lukas Rupp.
Eventually the inevitable happened- in the 77th minute Cantwell scored after defensive mistakes by the rattled Wednesday side, giving Norwich a 2-1 lead.
While Wednesday never gave up, they could not find another goal, and the game ended with the same scoreline as their previous match last December.
This is Sheffield Wednesday’s third game with manager Darren Moore in charge and they have yet to pick up a single point. Although this performance against the league leaders showed signs of improvement, the question is whether this will come too late to keep the Owls in the Championship.
Norwich acknowledged the quality that Wednesday showed at times throughout the tie. Pukki, as he received his MOTM award, expressed his surprise at Wednesday’s lowly league position.
They have not won a game in their past seven and their position in the Championship is looking increasingly at risk, after the 6-point-deduction they suffered earlier this season for financial irregularities. With only ten matches left, things need to turn around quickly if the club wants to stay up.
Norwich, however, look a confident side, with their promotion to the Premier League all but assured under Daniel Farke.
Sheffield Wednesday’s Lineup
Norwich City’s Lineup
