As we predicted in yesterday’s preview, Norwich finally broke through and beat Brentford 2-1 away from home to get their first win of the season! Is this the much needed spark to resurrect their season?
Norwich bring home all three points from London in their 11th match of the season. This is their first victory in the English Premier League (EPL) after an excruciatingly long streak of 20 games in England’s top tier without a win! Manager Daniel Farke might have felt a bit of the pressure releasing after the match, but it was not long-lasting as he got sacked by the club only a few hours later despite of the win! He is the fourth EPL manager so far to have been sacked.
“It’s definitely a great day for us. There’s no replacement for wins. My players are young lads and it’s not easy for them when there’s a lot of criticism,” said Farke after the match. “There is spirit and belief in this dressing room and everyone was committed to getting the first three points for the club.”
Brentford are having what could easily be called a crisis right now, as this marks their fourth loss in a row in the EPL. While their season start was anything but boring, they are now showing more of what most expected of them, which is a lack of consistency. They will now have a chance to put themselves together during the international break and go all-in against the 19th team in the EPL, Newcastle United, on the 20th of November.
Back to the match between the Bees and the Canaries. Norwich flew into it with real vigour and already six minutes in it was time for them to celebrate. Mathias Normann, a loanee from Rostov, sliced through Brentford’s defenders and placed a beautiful shot into the bottom right corner to put his team in front. Veteran striker Teemu Pukki then added a second goal in the 29th minute of the game from a penalty kick.
The Bees thought they are back in the game 50 minutes in, when Bryan Mbeumo scored from the edge of the penalty box, but the referees quickly waved it off for an offside.
This did not discourage the home side as they kept pushing and finally, in the 60th minute, Rico Henry tucked in a cross by Ghoddos to make it 2-1, and that is the way it stayed till the end.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank was not completely disheartened by the result as he still believes in his strategy and in his team: “When we perform as we have done, there is no need to change the system. If we keep going like this, then by the law of statistics we will be fine.”
Norwich still sit at the bottom of the EPL table with five points, the same amount as 19th Newcastle. Brentford are 14th with 12 points.
