Paul Lambert began his Norwich City managerial career with a thumping
5-2 victory over one of his former clubs Wycombe Wanderers.
City’s second manager in as many weeks of the fledgling season wielded
the axe on the side that he watched lose 2-1 at Brentford on Tuesday
night.
The ex-Colchester boss replaced the whole of the Canaries midfield,
with Simon Lappin, Stephen Hughes, Korey Smith and Paul McVeigh all
made an impact in their first starts of the season. Despite conceding
two sloppy goals at Brentford, Lambert only replaced one of the City
defence, with Captain Gary Doherty being dropped and Jon Ostemobor
recalled at right back, with Michael Spillane moving into the centre.
Up front Grant Holt, who was made captain for the game, was joined by
Jamie Cureton, with Cody McDonald only making the bench.
Of the players dropped only Matt Gill was struggling with a slight
knock.
The Canaries kicked off towards the River End and within two minutes
showed how they intended to approach the game. Ostemobor and McVeigh
combined well on the right, with Ostemobor’s chipped ball perfect for
Cureton to run onto.
McVeigh was then in the wars when Stuart Green’s clumsy challenge left
him in a heap. Stephen Hughes struck the resulting free kick which
rebounded off the wall and fell nicely for Simon Lappin, but his well-
struck shot was blocked.
Wycombe won the game’s first corner, despite Michael Spillane’s
efforts to thwart them.
In the 12th minute City showed greater resolve. not only to defend
solidly, but also to break with quick passes between Lappin and Stephen
Hughes, who put the ball into the area which Cureton again ran
perfectly onto, but his first touch was just too strong and the ball
ran through to Scott Shearer in the visitors’ goal.
The referee was very alert to a foul on Adam Drury on the left
touchline deep into The Chairboys’ half in the 15th minute. Lappin’s
well-delivered free kick into the area was met by Grant Holt who put
his right foot shot past Shearer to open the scoring.
City were suddenly rampant with Lappin’s left wing cross being helped
on by central defender Leon Johnson into the path of McVeigh, who with
time and space aimed his shot past Shearer, but it drifted just wide of
the far post.
In the 22nd minute ex Chelsea and Leeds defender, Michael Duberry’s
foul on Grant holt earned City a free kick to the left of Wanderer’s
‘D’. It was taken short to Lappin whose shot was on target and Shearer,
at full stretch, could only parry it.
A persistent Ostemobor earned Norwich their first corner in the 25th
minute. Although Wycombe initially cleared McVeigh’s flag kick, Korey
Smith, on his full debut struck a thunderous shot that kept low,
through a crowded penalty area and into the net before Shearer could
react.
The home fans who had already been very vocal, getting behind their
side, showed they can be humorous despite the tumultuous events of last
two weeks, by chanting ‘we want seven’!
In the 33rd minute McVeigh, who received the ball from an energetic
Ostemobor, then showed Carrow Road the silky skills we’ve been deprived
of since 2007.
Although Wycombe won a 34th minute corner, the Canaries defended it
well with Jens Berthel Askou clearing the danger.
Cureton then won a corner off a defender that led to City stretching
their lead still further! McVeigh’s right-wing corner was deep this
time, but headed back into the area by Holt, where it was met by a firm
headed by Ostemobor into the far corner.
Almost immediately, Wycombe won a corner of their own and again it was
well defended, this time Alnwick coming out to claim it.
Then, very much against the run of play, in the 39th minute, Wycombe
pulled a goal back with Jon-Paul Pitman capitalising on a rare mistake
by Berthel-Askou who failed to head clear. Pitman confidently strode
forward to put the ball past Alnwick from six-yards.
In the next minute the players took advantage of a break in play and
while McVeigh received treatment the players had a drink to counter the
sapping heat.
They then did the same while Wanderer’s goalscorer had treatment after
not getting up from a fair challenge with Ostemobor.
Lambert’s first half ended much better than Bryan Gunn’s had against
Colchester and the players showed that as they went off,
The start of the second half was delayed, as the Wycombe players didn’
t emerge for several minutes after the home side. And it certainly did
not start how Lambert, or, the players had planned, for Wycombe no
doubt with Peter Taylor’s words ringing in their ears, showed far more
urgency.
Just 27 seconds in, they pulled another goal back after Spillane
failed to close down Matt Harrold, who volleyed shot past an exposed
Alnwick. The chance had come about when Chris Zebroski’s header fell
nicely for him.
However, Wanderers’ attempted fight back lasted for no more than three
minutes as Berthel Askou made amends for his first-half slip. Lappin
was fouled wide on City’s left touchline and he stepped up to whip the
ball in, where City’s Danish central defender got in front of his
marker and put a bullet header into the back of the net at the near
post.
Lappin, who was a constant thorn down Wycombe’s right side, received
the ball and deceived everyone by not crossing but attempting to chip
the goalkeeper. And had it not been for Shearer’s acrobatic tip over
the bar the Scottish winger would have scored a well-deserved goal.
In the 60th minute Alnwick was alert to Zebroski’s shot from the
inside left channel, to save it low to his right just inside the near
post. Wycombe immediately came back at City, winning a corner, although
the home side comfortably dealt with it.
Lambert made a double substitution in the 64th minute replacing the
tiring Cureton and Hughes with Cody McDonald and Tom Adeyemi,
respectively.
Within two minutes the Wanderer’s boss followed suit with Matt
Phillips coming on for Lewis Montrose, who had largely been
ineffective.
A 68th McDonald run was abruptly halted by Leon Johnson, which earned
him the games first booking.
McDonald again put pressure on the Wycombe defence, running at them
and holding the ball up well until Holt appeared to his left. The ex-
Shrewsbury striker took the ball on and after selling the keeper a
dummy he put right foot shot past Shearer to make it five goals for the
Canaries.
One of City’s goal scorers, Smith then received a well-deserved
standing ovation as he left the field in the 74th minute, to be
replaced by Wes Hoolahan.
The home side weren’t allowed to rest on their laurels though, as
Wycombe demonstrated in the 83rd minute, forcing a corner.
Spillane and Harrold both needed treatment, after a clash of heads,
but after a visit from their respective physio’s, were able to carry
on.
Sub Hoolahan and Drury combined very well down the left, ending with
City’s left-back putting a cross into the area that Holt met but was
closely shadowed and could only stab his shot over.
In the next minute though the Irishman was careless for, having shown
great skill to wrong foot two defenders, he failed when he tried it
again and lost the chance to get his cross in.
The four minutes of extra time passed off uneventfully and the referee’
s whistle was greeted by a huge roar from the much happier home crowd.
Attendance: 23, 428
Teams
Norwich:
Alnwick (gk), Ostemobor, Drury, Hughes (Adeyemi 64), Holt ©, Cureton
(McDonald 64), Spillane, McVeigh, Lappin, Smith (Hoolahan 74), Berthel
Askou
Unused Subs:
Rudd (gk), Doherty, Martin, Daley.
Wycombe:
Shearer, Woodman, John son, Duberry ©, Harrold, Zebroski, Green,
Pittman, Montrose (Phillips 66), Mousinho, Westwood
Unused Subs: Young (gk), Oliver, Westlake, Beavon, Chambers, Smith
Goals:
Norwich:
Holt (15, 72), Smith (25), Ostemobor (35), Berthel-Askou (49)
Wycombe: Pittman (39), Harrold (46)
Bookings:
Norwich:
None
Wycombe:
Johnson (foul) 68;