Sheffield Wednesday 0-4 Norwich City
City move top of the table with a heavy win over the Owls
A tale of two halves was in store at Hillsborough. Wednesday edged the first but just couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net before Norwich dominated the second period to sink the Owls into seventeenth.
The Owls should have opened the scoring in the third minute. Adam Reach floated a ball towards the back stick where Steven Fletcher headed it across goal and the ball fell to the feet of Matt Penney who teed up Josh Onomah but the Spurs loanee somehow squandered his shot over the bar from close range.
Norwich were awarded a penalty two minutes later as the referee judged Daniel Pudil to have tripped Vrancic in the area. Marco Vrancic stepped up but saw his poorly executed spot kick saved and held by Cameron Dawson.
A quarter into the game, Bannan’s corner was headed out by Zimmermann to Matt Penney who saw his well struck volley take a wicked deflection which almost caught out Tim Krul but the Dutch international was relieved to see the ball bounce past his far post.
Atdhe Nuhiu then went close when Bannan chipped the ball over to Steven Fletcher who headed the ball across the box for Nuhiu who looped his chance over the bar. The linesman had already raised his flag for offside so it ultimately wouldn’t have counted if Nuhiu could have converted.
Tom Lees had a low driven shot, from Nuhiu’s flick on, saved down low by Krul.
On the half hour mark, Buendia found an unmarked Pukki in the box who subsequently flicked the ball on for Onel Hernandez but the winger struck his effort inches wide of Dawson’s near post.
Moments later, Adam Reach played a one-two with Fletcher before rifling a shot towards goal which was parried by Krul into the path of Onomah who fluffed his lines and skied his shot over the bar.
Barry Bannan tried his luck from thirty-five yards as he hit a thunderous effort towards goal which needed to be palmed behind by Krul. From the corner, Daniel Pudil saw his miscued volley glanced wide at the last second by Fletcher.
The half-time whistle went to end a strong half for the Owls. This trend wasn’t set to continue though…
City took the lead six minutes after the restart. Onel Hernandez’s pass was deflected by Pudil perfectly into the path of Pukki who slotted his shot past Cameron Dawson.
Pukki almost bagged his brace moments later. Buendia switched the ball to the forward who was unmarked. Pukki took the ball in his stride before seeing his effort saved down low by Dawson.
Norwich doubled their lead five minutes after the opener. Buendia was on hand to take the ball past his marker before stroking his shot past Dawson.
This was followed by a cry of ‘Oh Sammy Sammy Sammy Hutchinson’ and ‘One Keiren Westwood’ in protest from the crowd.
On the hour mark, Norwich had put the game to bed as Pukki was on hand in the middle to tap home from Buendia’s cross.
Wednesday’s first major opportunity of the second period came when Adam Reach threaded the ball through to Atdhe Nuhiu. The Kosovan international hit his shot, on the swivel, which in the end was a routine save for Tim Krul.
With twenty minutes to go, Steven Fletcher lined up a shot from long range which went miserably wide.
Dennis Srbeny added a fourth goal with his first touch of the afternoon. Cameron Dawson scuffed his clearance into the path of Vrancic who subsequently teed up the substitute for an easy tap in.
Dawson then produced a fine double save to deny first Hernandez, and then Srbeny on the follow up.
Barry Bannan’s dinked cross from out wide almost caught out the keeper as the ball kissed the crossbar before nestling on top of the goal.
The final whistle soon sounded to the relief of the Wednesday supporters. Is it time for Jos Luhukay to go? Leave your comments below…
The Owls next face Steel City rivals Sheffield United, on Friday 9th November, at Bramall Lane.
Norwich welcome Millwall to Carrow Road on Saturday the 10th.
Attendance: 23,425
Goals: Pukki (51’, 62’), Buendia (56’), Srbeny (80’)
Sheffield Wednesday: Cameron Dawson, Liam Palmer, Josh Onomah, Joey Pelupessy, Steve Fletcher (Fraser Preston), Barry Bannan, Tom Lees, Atdhe Nuhiu (Lucas Joao), Adam Reach, Daniel Pudil (Jordan Thorniley), Matt Penney
Unused Subs: Joe Wildsmith, Morgan Fox, Ashley Baker, Michael Hector
Norwich City: Tim Krul, Max Aarons, Christoph Zimmermann, Timm Klose, Jamal Lewis, Alex Tettey, Mortiz Leitner (Ben Godfrey), Emi Buendia (Marco Stiepermann), Mario Vrancic, Onel Hernandez, Teemu Pukki (Dennis Srbeny)
Unused Subs: Michael McGovern, Ben Marshall, Alfie Payne, Oluwarotimi Odusina
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