Eadie makes it easy

Sometimes when all else has failed, when their undoubted superiority has come to nought, a team has little option but to hang on and hope for a lucky break. That was Norwich's position last night as they reclaimed their two-point deficit behind the Nationwide First Division leaders, Bolton.

Fortune took a hand in the 71st minute when Darren Eadie's long, low pass attempted to put Robert Fleck in the clear. Instead the ball rebounded off Steve Redmond and fell kindly for Eadie. Suddenly it had all opened up in front of him and a powerfully struck shot decided the game.

Three minutes later Eadie, now with a new spring in his step, worked hard to retrieve the ball from the Oldham defence, and set up Neil Adams for a goal against his former club.

Not that Adams would easily recognise the Oldham side Graeme Sharp has shaped to eke out crucial survival points away from home. Long gone is the joy and get-forward freedom of Joe Royle's teams, and a sixth defeat in seven outings was well deserved.

The first scare nevertheless came from two early Oldham corners but soon they were given opportunity a plenty to hone their defensive skills. Ian Crook, restored because Andy Johnson had been injured scoring his match- winning goals against Ipswich last week, was in particular posing the difficult questions.

When Oldham were forced to resort to foul tactics they lived dangerously because of Crook's ability from dead-ball situations. On the half hour he struck the angle of post and bar and later drew a save at full stretch from Gary Kelly.

In between a host of opportunities to break the resistance were passed up. Keith O'Neill, Rob Newman and Fleck were not sharp enough and it began to look as if a fourth home draw in an otherwise immaculate start to the season was all the Canaries could count on.

Norwich City (4-3-3): Gunn; Sutch, Newman, Polston, Mills; Milligan, Crook, Eadie; Adams, Fleck (Scott, 82), O'Neill. Substitutes not used: Carey, Akinbiyi.

Oldham Athleic (4-5-1): Kelly; Fleming, Garnett, Redmond, Halle; Beresford (D McNiven, 64), Orlygsson, Rickers, Hughes, Serrant; Ormondroyd (Allott, 77). Substitute not used: S McNiven.

Referee: G Singh (Wolverhampton).