Football: Norwich famous for frantic five minutes
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Norwich City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Bradford City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0
(Norwich win 4-2 on aggregate)
COMPOSURE, the essence of the Norwich game, eventually paid off for them last night. But their Second Division visitors, with a 2-1 lead from the first leg, made them look uncomfortable for more than an hour before they produced three goals in the space of five minutes to secure their place in the third round of the Coca-Cola Cup
With 15 goals in their last seven games, Norwich can approach their Uefa Cup tie with Bayern Munich in 12 days' time with confidence.
Although conceding an early goal was the last thing Norwich could afford, they lived dangerously from the start. After six minutes they allowed the country's leading scorer Sean McCarthy - whom Bradford are resigned to losing now that his contract is up - space to run and Bryan Gunn was obliged to save a smart, low drive. Four minutes later Paul Jewell headed wide from a free-kick when he might have done better.
Norwich then began to assert themselves. Chris Sutton's flashing header forced a full-stretch save from Ian Bowling and Efan Ekoku invited a final touch when he pulled the ball back. But the touch was not forthcoming.
As half-time approached, the home side's composure shaded into slackness and Bradford created two further chances. First, Jewell took advantage of defensive confusion to head back to give Gavin Oliver a clear chance, but the central defender shot awkwardly over. Then Jewell broke to the right byline and pulled back a cross to the far post. Paul Showler connected firmly, but John Polston deflected the ball away.
Seven minutes into the second half, Bradford continued in similar vein as Gary Robson's through ball put McCarthy away again for a mighty shot which Gunn beat away, just, for a corner.
Norwich had the ball in the net after 57 minutes, when Sutton turned in Ruel Fox's cross from the right, but the winger had already been judged offside.
Frustration gave way to celebration seven minutes later however as Ekoku found the net legitimately with a low shot after Fox had headed down Sutton's cross from the left. Bradford were shaken - and within the space of the next five minutes, broken. Fox volleyed in a second goal and in the 69th minute, Sutton headed home the third.
'It was a good exercise in patience,' Norwich's manager, Mike Walker, said. That quality will certainly be required in their next cup tie.
Norwich City (4-4-2): Gunn; Culverhouse, Polston, Newman, Bowen; Fox, Megson, Crook, Goss; Sutton, Ekoku (Robins, 83). Substitutes not used: Howie (gk), Eadie.
Bradford City (4-4-2): Bowling; Williams, Oliver, Richards, Lawford; Ford, Robson, Duxbury, Showler; McCarthy, Jewell (Partridge, 85). Substitutes not used: Tomlinson (gk), Heseltine.
Referee: I S Hemley (Ampthill).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments