The ACN Match Review: Burnley (h)

How did we play? 

Norwich City absolutely bullied Burnley and stole their lunch money, bringing a level of energy, pace and power that the Clarets simply weren’t ready for, and couldn’t live with.  

Brooks, Schwartau, Musaba and Toure will be difficult for anyone to deal with on this form. Whenever there was green grass ahead, they ran into it. Whenever a throughball was on, they played it. Whenever a shot was on, they took it on. The pace of those four on the counter also helped us navigate the few spells where Burnley did have some territory – everything England didn’t have in this summer’s semi-final and which we also haven’t had in our team for a few years. 

Speaking of England, Kyle Walker was still starting tournament games up to, and including, Euro 2024. I don’t recall him dispossessing one of our wingers until the last ten minutes. Josh Laurent had clearly had enough and quite literally grabbed at his chance for an early bath.

What was the best bit of the game? 

That was one of the best opening 20 minutes to a game I’ve seen from a Norwich team in a long time. Big Phil did a number on his compatriot Nicky Hayen and knew exactly where and whom City should press. It set the tone for the rest of the afternoon. 

We were creating chances – throughout the whole 90 – through both fast, fluid moves as well as through pure chaos. There were several other blocks and deflections that nearly fell to a yellow shirt too and forced a last-ditch Burnley intervention. A top-drawer performance just one week after the club should have, according to one national radio clown, held an emergency meeting to axe Clement. 

What was the worst bit of the game? 

I’d like to think even the biggest doomsayers would struggle to pick any faults here. All fears of last season’s momentum being lost should now be put to bed. 

What was the atmosphere like? 

What a difference a week makes. Carrow Road loves everything described above in terms of the aggressiveness and directness towards goal, and seems ready to fall in love with this team again. If ever there were a week for a fast start though, this was it. It unsettled Burnley just as Millwall unsettled us last week. 

Not nearly as many made the trip from Lancashire as we did to Bermondsey. They look like a team and a fanbase bruised by Premier League batterings not just last season but three seasons and five seasons ago. 

Hero of the match 

The forward players will get all the plaudits and rightly so, but Norwich City immediately became a better side with an up-to-speed Pelle Mattsson. It was a moment I’d forgotten about until watching back the full 90 on YouTube, but he made a crucial interception and block at point-blank range at 2-0. Needless to say the afternoon becomes a lot less comfortable if that one goes in.

Summary in five words 

This is now the standard.