Despite the reverse fixture ending 7-0 in favor of Manchester City, the match at Carrow Road saw nothing of the sort. Norwich played a disciplined game, while City suffered due to injuries - and some interesting decisions by Manuel Pellegrini. In the end it’s Norwich City that are much happier with this point, with the Citizens unable to capitalize on Arsenal’s loss earlier in the day.
When the match kicked off, Norwich refused to sit back and let the visitors come to them. In the first fifteen minutes, Norwich refused to sit back and let the visitors come to them. The Canaries controlled the match, and it looked as though they might actually take something from the game.
The hosts’ best chances came back to back. In the 16th minute, Nathan Redmond, whom the City defense allowed plenty of space inside the box, got on the end of a ball from Gary Hooper. Unfortunately the attacker sent his shot well over the bar, despite having only Joe Hart to beat. Moments later Norwich had the ball in the back of the net, but Hooper’s goal was ruled out for offside.
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As for the visitors, it seemed obvious they were missing Sergio Agüero up front. But as the first half progressed, Manchester City put more and more pressure on the Canaries, with Norwich eventually resorting to putting as many men back as possible. By the end of the first 45, City looked the more likely to finish with all three points. Álvaro Negredo hit the woodwork, and shortly after grazed the side netting with a shot from distance. At the close of the half, John Ruddy was forced to smother a low shot from Stevan Jovetić, ensuring no one could poke in a rebound.
Norwich spent the majority of the second half in the same manner as they’d finished the first - holding back, ensuring that Manchester City couldn’t get the ball in the net. Edin Džeko, on for Jovetić for the final thirty minutes, wasn’t having the best of games, putting his shots either wide or directly into the side netting.
With fifteen minutes left to play, Manuel Pellegrini made an odd decision - at least, for the manager of a side claiming to be chasing four trophies. He removed Negredo in favor of Aleksandar Kolarov, a switch that seemed to indicate that City would be content with the draw.
While Kolarov did manage to make his own attempt at goal, it was Norwich that came the closest in the final minutes. Ricky van Wolfswinkel nearly connected with a cross from Redmond, but instead it was Anthony Pilkington that got a piece of the ball. His 89th minute shot, sent in from a difficult angle, went just barely wide.
LINEUPS
Norwich City: Ruddy; Martin, Yobo, Bassong, Olsson; Redmond, Tettey, Johnson, Pilkington (Whittaker 90); Fer; Hooper (van Wolfswinkel 68)
Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy, Navas, Milner, Toure, Silva, Jovetic (Dzeko 62), Negredo (Kolarov 77)