Sky Sports: Norwich City 5-1 Swansea: Davitt Championship ratings.
Paddy Davitt rates Johannes Hoff Thorup’s Norwich City, who appeared to take out their displeasure in the final third on the struggling Swans.
Angus Gunn 7
May was lost in the goal-scoring frenzy at the other end, but Gunn made a wonderful reaction save in the ninth minute to deny Florian Bianchini, who drove a close-range header goalwards, but Gunn stood tall to redirect the ball around the near post. There were a few additional scares, with Liam Cullen running off the back of Callum Doyle and Ronald missing a right-footer. No chance with Cullen’s leveller. Kellen Fisher 6 Onel Hernandez and I were replaced during the break. Thorup admitted he received a kick in the process, but the initial diagnosis was that the youngster would be available for Watford. Along with the rest of his team mates, he appeared tired from recent exertions in a first half where Norwich’s passing lanes seemed limited.
Shane Duffy 6
Passing was sometimes delayed. In the 57th minute, a wayward square pass across his own area required Jack Stacey’s speed to save him. Emi Marcondes’ sixth-minute corner was on target, but it went to Lawrence Vigouroux. In the 75th minute, he took the initiative and allowed Ben Chrisene to try his luck from the edge of the box. Callum Doyle 8 Two perfect curling diagonal balls sliced apart Swansea’s struggling backline for the fourth and fifth goals. Cullen missed a big headed chance in the 22nd minute, then the same guy drew the Swans level in the 62nd minute with a stooping header.
However, he saw the danger and headed away Cullen’s looping free kick late on. He was as accomplished as he always was. Close control lifted the ball over Cullen in the 19th minute, sparking a counterattack. Then another snap into Oscar Schwartau’s feet. I spotted Ante Crnac’s run and clipped a ball that appeared to surprise Hannes Delcroix, allowing the Croatian to round Vigouroux. The second Crnac spot was even better, as he pierced the centre backs, allowing the attacker to hit the crossbar with a half-volley and Marcondes to slot the rebound on his chest. Lucien Mahovo 7 The 19-year-old made a composed and controlled complete debut. Set the tone in the fifth minute when he curled an inviting ball into the Swansea box to earn a first home corner. Got his angles wrong moments later at the opposite end to concede a needless Swansea corner that led to Bianchini effort.
Perhaps indicating nervousness on such a big day. Had the Carrow Road crowd applauding his body swerve, which persuaded Myles Peart-Harris to change the point of attack. Similarly, he made a clean tackle on Goncalo Franco. Drilled a ball into Schwartau via a swarm of Swansea midfielders. Was up on the overlap to help Marcondes, but his cross was cleared. Kenny McLean 7 The cushioned first time set off Josh Sargent’s lay-off proved too hot for Lewis Dobbin, who was sprinting close behind. Swansea’s experience proved key in the first half, when they dominated possession and the hosts retreated. Sensed the danger in the 38th minute to jump out of the defensive line to block Cullen’s shot from the edge of the area.
Emi Marcondes 8
Another who looked a touch weary in that first half with his close control slightly off. Until a majestic piece of awareness to reverse the ball into Sargent for the opener. But lasted the pace and got his reward with surely one of the easiest finishes of his professional career when he followed in Crnac’s rebound.
Sixth minute corner met by Shane Duffy. Then the vision and awareness to help on Duffy’s pass to Schwartau in the centre circle. Good again when he moved it quickly for Hernandez to slide a ball down the channel Sargent whipped wide of the far post.
Got across his marker in first half stoppage time but guided his sliding effort into the side netting.
Oscar Schwartau 8
Rate of progress underlined with a deployment back into a central midfield role that looks a natural fit for the athletic, rangy Dane. Two ball carries led to the first and third Norwich goals. The opener saw him power over half way and attract three Swansea markers before a slip pass for Marcondes to pick out Sargent.
Goalbound snap shot blocked in the 36th minute when he found space on the edge of the box. Headed crossfield again with the ball in the passage of play that saw Josh Key robbed by Dobbin. Couple of moments of defensive concern when he was sloppy on the edge of his own box to allow Ronald a shooting chance and hauled down Cullen to concede a free kick.
Onel Hernandez 6
Thorup flagged the tank was empty for the Cuban in his half-time removal after another start. But a key role in the opener in the link with Schwartau. Also timed his pass for Sargent to race through and fire wide, before a cut back from the byline in first half stoppage time was clipped into the side netting from Marcondes.
A brace on his first start since October 27 and fresh evidence of how vital he is to elevating this Norwich side in the final third. Two venomous finishes from similar positions in that right channel of the Swansea penalty area.
But as Thorup highlighted afterwards the intelligence of his running game saw him gravitate on the left-hand side when he dragged Ben Cabango out with an angled shot that brushed the leg of the centre back and flew wide.
First effort in the 15th minute was a range finder. Strange decision from Key to pass the ball to him allowed him a run into the box, but seemed in two minds as his pass was cut out. Rose above his marker in the 57th minute in a pre-planned deep corner routine but the knockdown hit a Swansea defender.
Lewis Dobbin 8
Could prove a big moment in his Norwich loan spell when he cashed in on Key’s sloppy touch and had no other thought but to drive at the heart of the Swansea defence and veer around Cabango, before a low finish past Cabango from 18 yards.
That clarity of thought and execution were absent in the first half when his pace got him into excellent attacking positions. Squared up Key in the fifth minute but wanted the ball on his right and scuffed the effort on his left.
Same again in the 25th minute when Cabango kept him on his left. Better shortly after Sargent’s opener when he twisted and turned his way into another shooting position, and this time a left-footed effort was parried by Vigouroux.
Subs
Jack Stacey (for Fisher, 45) 7
That crunching tackle, which left Ronald on the ground and prevented a Swansea counterattack, may have set the tone for Norwich’s second-half response to Cullen’s equaliser. Provided vigour, drive, and intent. Turned up the pace to collect a loose Duffy pass that threatened to bring the visitors in on the counter. Cullen’s excellent movement inside the area left Stacey outnumbered in his six-yard box, resulting in the Swansea equaliser. Ante Crnac (for Hernandez, 45): 8 The Croatian makes a big cameo after taking another break after being dropped from the starting lineup in Leeds. Won the ball from Josh Tymon and shovelled it for Sargent, while Delcroix was drawn out of position for the second goal.
Then he fought off Delcroix to reach goalside for Callum Doyle’s spinning diagonal that beat Vigouroux. He shifted his body with confidence and steered a lob that cannoned off the bar, allowing Marcondes to complete the rout. Ben Chrisene (for Mahovo, 65): 6 He made a big block in the 70th minute, getting in the way of Franco’s effort. In the 75th minute, there was a swinging effort from the edge of the area that went just wide.
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