Filed under: Sunderland, Norwich, Premier League, Football, Match Reports
Norwich piled the pressure on Sunderland manager Steve Bruce with a deserved victory at Carrow Road.Norwich bossed most of the first 45 minutes and led through Leon Barnett's 31st-minute tap in, the defender's first Premier League goal.
And the second half was just three minutes old when Steve Morison doubled the Canaries' lead.
Kieran Richardson pulled one back late on but Norwich held on to add to their first win of the season, last week's 2-1 win at Bolton.
Bruce was a former Norwich favourite and helped them beat Sunderland in the 1985 Milk Cup final.
But this reverse was an embarrassment for the former Manchester United man, who saw his players out-performed by a Canaries side that is continuing an amazing journey under Paul Lambert that began in League Two just two seasons ago.
GOALS:
31 mins: Elliott Bennett plays a swift one-two with David Fox and his cross eludes the Sunderland defence to allow Barnett a tap in.
48 mins: Marc Tierney's cross from the left is met by the head of Morison, who scores from six yards out having out-jumped Wes Brown.
86 mins: Richardson pulls one back with an effort from the left of the box.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
6 mins: Wes Hoolahan seizes on an error by Titus Bramble but can only lob over the Sunderland bar.
26 mins: Nicklas Bendtner sees his snapshot on the turn saved by Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy.
63 mins: An error lets bendtner in but Ruddy saves again.
68 mins: Sunderland substitute Connor Wickham sees close range connection fly straight to Ruddy.
REACTION:
Lambert paid tribute to his side's team spirit - which he reckoned had been created by being stuck in Norfolk together all week, every week.
"I think that comes from where this club is, in the Norfolk area. There not much you can do here other than travel nine hours to get somewhere. You have got to hang about with each other, so I think that certainly helps you.
"I am proud as anything of them. I have been since the day I walked through the door. The players that have left, the new ones coming in and the ones who were already here have been a credit to the club."
Bruce admitted his side had been poor.
"It was disappointing. We simply didn't perform. We have international players who unfortunately played poorly. It wasn't our night.
"I can't criticise their work-rate but simple mistakes made it a very difficult game for us. We switched off for both goals and that sums up our evening. They were poor goals to give away."
WHAT IT MEANS: That Norwich can enjoy the rest of the week and if they look at the table they will see themselves in the top half. As for Sunderland, performances must change on the pitch or they will take place elesewhere.
NORWICH 2 (Barnett 31, Morison 48) SUNDERLAND 1 (Richardson 86)
PLAYER MARKING:
Norwich (4-4-1-1): Ruddy 8; Naughton 7, R Martin 7, Barnett 7, Tierney 7; Bennett 8 (Crofts 84, 5), Johnson 7, Fox 7, Pilkington 7 (Vaughan 78, 5); Hoolahan 7; Morison 8 (Holt 78, 5).
Subs (not used): Rudd, Surman, C Martin, de Laet.
Sunderland (4-4-1-1): Mignolet 6; O'Shea 6, Brown 6, Bramble 5, Richardson 7; Elmohamady 6, Gardner 7, Vaughan 6, Larsson 5 (Dong-won 67, 6); Sessegnon 5 (Wickham 67, 6); Bendtner 7.
Subs (not used): Westwood, Turner, Cattermole, Colback, McClean.
REFEREE: Chris Foy
ATTENDANCE: tbc
NEXT UP:
- Norwich v Manchester United (Away), Premier League, 01/10 1500 BST
- Sunderland v West Bromwich (Home), Premier League 01/10 1500 BST
MAN OF THE MATCH: Elliott Bennett (Norwich): The way he set up the first goal was the best example of how the former Brighton winger is taking to life in the top division but there were plenty of others too. Pacy.
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