It was a backs-to-the-wall performance from the Canaries as they secured a fifth consecutive clean sheet and became the first Championship side to win at Boro in an evening match since November 2011. http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/norwich-manager-daniel-farke-we-13679593
Yes, as PD said, CJ played really well without actually scoring, but his contribution to our victory was vital. I see JM also got singled out for praise for his part in Boro's downfall. I liked when he mentioned in his post match interview how he values Wes's influence to his development and something several of us commented on in close season. Onwards and upwards. Take note RBF!!!
Like earlier posters, I woke up at 4am, early in the second half, to be pleasantly greeted with the scoreline. I spent the rest of the match fighting my inner hope that Boro would equalise. I had a 1-1 draw with Madders first scorer as my prediction. Glad I was partially wrong. I have a feeling that this is the first time we have ever gone 5 games without conceding in the league. After the Villa/Millwall games this is totally unreal.
Graeme Bailey @GraemeBailey There we go - Norwich hold out for the win, they battled well but Boro need to be beating mid-table fodder like that...
Perhaps Graeme hadn't noticed that Boro and City are even on points now. Bloated sense of entitlement indeed.
As for the defensive improvement, this from the match report says it all: "When the dangerous Adama Traore threatened to cut loose James Husband could count on the extra support of Marley Watkins. There was a mirror image on the opposite flank, with Yanic Wildschut moving through the gears to protect Ivo Pinto. City out of possession appear to have the formula required. Those frustrating Carrow Road stalemates are inevitably a brake to more accelerated progress, but the base is far more solid and the development curve clear to everyone now approaching the second international break." The return of Klose is important, as is his growing partnership with Zimmermann, but the whole team defending is at the heart of the six clean sheets in a row.
Something we've not really had for a while. Redmond rarely offered defensive support and Jacob when he was here had, and Josh has a long way to go to match what RER quoted above. Good to hear it.
Yes Rick, we are now playing and defending as 'a team' and if we can mostly take the lead in games, it forces our opponents to attack more and so give opportunities for us to breakaway and hopefully score more.
Many people have credited the return of Klose with the upturn in our fortunes, but Trybull and Tettey both came into the line-up at the same time and the combined effect of that has been impressive. Add to that the tracking back of Wildschut and Watkins last night and we finally have an effective whole team defense, including Jerome's harassment of opposing defenders up front. DF deserves huge credit for bringing that about.
How many people on here were almost giving up hope before a ball had been kicked saying 'we've got no chance this season with a load of players from the German 2nd Division and a free transfer???'. Yet, as DF has proved, with the right coaching and tactics (which he's adapted to Championship football), great things are possible. There will be hiccoughs along the way!!! I'm looking forward to seeing them play again and unfortunately the next game I can make is the derby, followed the following Saturday by the game V Derby.
I don't think it's been mentioned on here, yet, but cheers to Marley Watkins for for not giving up and winning back the ball which led to JM's goal.
Spot on CS and his pass to JM was perfect!!! Text of JM's interview - https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/norwich-city-scorer-reveals-impact-of-teammate-on-his-own-game/ DF's rallying call - http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwic...y-s-record-breaking-defensive-steel-1-5212721
Confirming your post - https://www.footballfancast.com/opi...e-best-out-of-marley-watkins-vs-middlesbrough Edit - ANOTHER free signing and I was wondering who might replace Josh, but DF seems to have found his man.
Hmmm, I honestly can't remember any doing or saying that? I felt a sense of cautious optimism, a step into the big unknown as opposed to who's next off the merry-go-round. My impressions from twitter, etc, were the same. Let's see what we're dealing with properly before shooting from the hip. Top philosophy - and starting to pay off, it seems
Well I can remember a few that were moaning that all we had bought were 4th tier Germans! I can't be arsed to check back through the posts but I certainly remember them!
Apparently, the Efes were quite strong when we appointed an unknown German head coach...and he brought all his cronies with him. But I like to think they're fading now and DF continues to build on the style that he wants to impose, but at a pace that suits the players at his disposal. That way, we'd all be happy
