The ACN Match Review: Bristol City (a)

How did we play? 

Take nothing away from what has been a pretty miraculous two-week recovery heading into this international break, but Bristol City were another rudderless outfit that Norwich should be dispatching. We barely needed to get into third gear. 

We looked just as poor and demoralised as these teams before then. What Norwich have that they don’t, however, is Philippe Clement, who has probably been burning the midnight oil to analyse the living daylights out of the six losses prior to this now four-game winning run. 

And clearly he hasn’t lost the respect or the buy-in of these players (and staff), contrary to one ludicrous national writeup, or otherwise you wouldn’t be seeing such a renewed burst of energy now. Players are wanting to get on the ball, and are busting a gut off the ball, summed up by Harry Darling’s goalline clearance deep in stoppage time. 

As Ffion wrote in her review of Derby (A), this game was – similarly – a mixture of both us having bucked our ideas up and having had a run of charitable (or just “crap”) opponents. Let’s now produce this against a top-eight challenger.

What was the best bit of the game? 

If someone did to me at five-a-side what Mathias Kvistgaarden did to Lisav Eissat, I don’t think I’d show up the following week. I’m glad that little highlight will now be seen, as a lot of Mathias’ tireless work has been going unnoticed. Him converting the penalty he won was the perfect way to round off the rout.

What was the worst bit of the game? 

The first half wasn’t a great watch, was it? Again though, you could say that about several games this season and Norwich have found a way to go behind and eventually lose them. Not this time. Paris Maghoma produced the one highlight from the only attack of note I can remember, and we go 1-0 up against a team ready to implode.

What was the atmosphere like? 

Boos greeted each of the five goals, and it felt only a matter of time that the inevitable corner flag tweet from the Robins’ media team would appear but alas, Michael Skubala fights on – for now. 

Norwich City have scored more goals at Ashton Gate than Bristol City this season and also the same number as them in the calendar year – having hit four back in April too (thanks NCFC Numbers for those incredible nuggets). It’s a great away end for travelling yellows to be in, that’s for sure.

Hero of the match 

Seems a strange pick in a 5-0 win, but Dan Grimshaw’s save from Scott Twine (from a long throw) came at 1-0 and proved just as pivotal as any of the five goals. To reiterate what I wrote post-Charlton, it’s his job for the foreseeable future. Without having to be exceptional, he has brought steadiness between the sticks.

The second half – after this would-be equaliser was repelled – wasn’t even a contest.

Summary in five words 

Go get your haircuts in.