Sunday, 20 September 2009
A point won, or two lost?
Norwich City 2 Charlton Athletic 2
Two points thrown away? A well earnt draw? Old defensive lapses coming back? Or a solid defiant performance? Whichever way you look at it, I would have happily taken a battling 2-2 draw yesterday morning. Sure my head sunk and I had the hump at the final whistle but the Canaries deserved their point and we go into the 8th week of the season unbeaten, in the top two and with tough opponents such as Brentford, Southampton and Norwich all played.
Despite the radio commentators rather blasé approach to the final minutes of the game - they reckoned that Norwich had ran out of ideas - I was flinching at every Norwich attack as they continued to have their tales up despite the clock running down. McLeod perhaps should have finished the game, but we simply did not keep enough possession and close out the game as we have in previous matches. Norwich however are a class up on every other side we have faced this season.
The first half was almost exemplary. From a Jonjo corner a fine header from the on-fire Deon Burton put us ahead and after that our midfield five controlled the game with Semedo seemingly immense. Then on a perfect counter-attack Lloyd Sam put in a peach of a cross for Shelvey to head home. 2-0 and sailing, but the advantage was halved annoyingly just before the break by a player I have always rated, Wes Hoolahan who smashed home after a quickly taken throw left us flat-footed.
The 2nd half was nearly all Norwich but for 45 minutes we held firm, our defenders getting good praise from Clive Walker on the radio. Elliot saved well from Smith and after great work by Youga, McLeod had a one-on-one he should have got on target but the Canaries kept coming and it took a dubious and fortunate goal by Holt to grab a draw.
Norwich fans celebrated like they'd won the cup, which tells us something. Onto the next game with our pride intact.
Reports: Drinking During the Game; Charlton Casual; Doctor Kish; Uttlesford Addick.
Quote: "Anyway, goalkeepers get pampered these days. You only have to touch them and it's a free-kick. It was just bad goalkeeping and, even if it was a bit lucky, overall we deserved it." - Grant Holt
¶ 19:57 
Norwich City 2 Charlton Athletic 2Two points thrown away? A well earnt draw? Old defensive lapses coming back? Or a solid defiant performance? Whichever way you look at it, I would have happily taken a battling 2-2 draw yesterday morning. Sure my head sunk and I had the hump at the final whistle but the Canaries deserved their point and we go into the 8th week of the season unbeaten, in the top two and with tough opponents such as Brentford, Southampton and Norwich all played.
Despite the radio commentators rather blasé approach to the final minutes of the game - they reckoned that Norwich had ran out of ideas - I was flinching at every Norwich attack as they continued to have their tales up despite the clock running down. McLeod perhaps should have finished the game, but we simply did not keep enough possession and close out the game as we have in previous matches. Norwich however are a class up on every other side we have faced this season.
The first half was almost exemplary. From a Jonjo corner a fine header from the on-fire Deon Burton put us ahead and after that our midfield five controlled the game with Semedo seemingly immense. Then on a perfect counter-attack Lloyd Sam put in a peach of a cross for Shelvey to head home. 2-0 and sailing, but the advantage was halved annoyingly just before the break by a player I have always rated, Wes Hoolahan who smashed home after a quickly taken throw left us flat-footed.
The 2nd half was nearly all Norwich but for 45 minutes we held firm, our defenders getting good praise from Clive Walker on the radio. Elliot saved well from Smith and after great work by Youga, McLeod had a one-on-one he should have got on target but the Canaries kept coming and it took a dubious and fortunate goal by Holt to grab a draw.
Norwich fans celebrated like they'd won the cup, which tells us something. Onto the next game with our pride intact.
Reports: Drinking During the Game; Charlton Casual; Doctor Kish; Uttlesford Addick.
Quote: "Anyway, goalkeepers get pampered these days. You only have to touch them and it's a free-kick. It was just bad goalkeeping and, even if it was a bit lucky, overall we deserved it." - Grant Holt
