Cardiff came from behind to defeat Norwich City on Saturday afternoon. The three points may prove vital to the Bluebirds’ campaign - they’re not out of the drop zone yet, but at least they can see the sun. Meanwhile, Norwich are back to biting their nails, sitting just two points above the relegation slots.
Cardiff City may have brought in a number of new faces - and a new manager - in recent weeks, but that didn’t stop them from falling behind early in the match against Norwich. The Bluebirds, who’ve already allowed 40 goals this season, saw their defense fall apart once more in the fifth minute. Martin Olsson got behind the back line to pull the ball back for Robert Snodgrass. The midfielder, completely unmarked, had no trouble putting his shot in the back of the net.
The Canaries continued to dominate the first half, finally forcing Cardiff’s hand. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer grew so frustrated he made his first substitution before the break, putting on new loanee Wilfried Zaha for Peter Whittingham in the 38th minute.
That - or the manager’s halftime talk - must’ve done the trick, because five minutes after the restart, Cardiff were ahead. Zaha proved his value very quickly, seizing on a misplaced pass from Norwich and sending on the through ball. Craig Bellamy got on the end of it to slot home Cardiff’s equalizer.
Just a minute later, the Bluebirds capitalized on a mistake from Norwich once more. When the visitors failed to clear their lines, Kenwyne Jones took advantage, pouncing on the rebound and putting his shot into the top corner of John Ruddy’s net.
Chris Hughton, who’s riding quite the roller coaster this season, waited until the 75th minute to make changes to his side - perhaps he thought one of Snodgrass’s many attempts would land in the back of the net. With fifteen minutes left to go, the Canaries manager made a triple substitution, sending on Leroy Fer, Nathan Redmond and Ricky van Wolfswinkel.
It very nearly worked. In the 80th minute, Redmond forced a save from David Marshall. Gary Hooper sent in his own attempt just after, but Craig Bellamy was back to clear it off the line. Then it was Fer’s turn, with a header that forced another save. Snodgrass again, putting his header against the post.
Then, in the dying minutes of the match, Hooper managed to slot home the equalizer - or so he thought. Instead the goal was flagged offside, and the Canaries found themselves without a point.
Norwich may have just been unlucky at Cardiff. But will Hughton pay the price?
Cardiff City: Marshall; Fabio (Théophile-Catherine 75), Caulker, Turner, John; Whittingham (Zaha 38), Medel, Mutch (Gunnarsson 67), Noone; Bellamy, Jones
Goals: Bellamy 49'; Jones 50'
Norwich City: Ruddy; Martin, R Bennett, Bassong, Olsson; Snodgrass, Tettey, Johnson (Fer 75), Gutierrez (Redmond 75); Elmander (van Wolfswinkel 75), Hooper
Goals: Snodgrass 5'