Norwich City 5 Walsall 0

Last updated : 17 April 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Norwich City took another giant step towards the Premiership with this emphatic victory over struggling Walsall.

The home side kicked-off and it took less than two minutes for them to take the lead. Mathias Svensson fed Leon McKenzie and his right-wing cross was volleyed goalwards by Darren Huckerby for Damien Francis to drive it home at the near post from four yards out.

There was a chance for a second goal when James Walker blocked McKenzie's shot with no City player on hand to take advantage of the rebound.

Robert Green saved a shot from Lee Bradbury before Kevin Cooper's shot was blocked after good work by Huckerby on the Norwich left.

Cooper then appeared to be tripped in the Walsall penalty area but referee Michael Pike waved play on.

Jermaine McSporran's shot was saved by Green before Simon Osborn was booked for tripping the lively Huckerby.

McKenzie then went on a run down the inside-left channel but his shot curled wide of the far post.

Darren Bazeley was booked for tripping McKenzie and then the former Posh striker scored his first home goal for Norwich in first-half stoppage time.

Huckerby crossed from the left-wing and McKenzie out-jumped the Walsall defence to direct his header high into the net at the near post from eight yards out.

In the first minute of the second half McKenzie set up Huckerby but his fierce shot was deflected for a corner. When Svensson tried to get in on the act his shot was saved by Walker.

The Swede had more success in the 51st minute when he got on the end of Craig Fleming's diagonal cross from the right-midfield and headed over Walker to score at the near-post from 12 yards.

With half an hour still to play Walsall had all three substitutes on the pitch including acting-manager Paul Merson who showed some deft touches in midfield.

Norwich sent on Phil Mulryne in place of Cooper and in the 73rd minute the City sub's low cross from the right found Huckerby and his first-time right-foot shot from 14 yards curled inside the far post.

Bazeley then kept out Malky Mackay's header and Green had to move smartly as McSporran threatened to pull back a goal for the Saddlers.

Instead it was the home side who completed the scoring, Svensson's diving header from Mulryne's diagonal right-wing cross beating Walker at the far post from ten yards out.

After the game Svensson played down press speculation that he is expecting a call-up to the Swedish squad but conceded that his sixth goal in five games is giving him a lot of confidence.

Canaries boss Nigel Worthington said: "We had a great start with the early goal and the mental attitude was spot on. We got the result we deserved." Merson was proud of the effort his players had put in saying: "We knew it was going to be tough and it got even tougher when we let a goal in early on.

"All I asked was for the players to give 100 per cent. I thought the first half was pretty even apart from the two goals. If Huckerby had been playing for us who knows what would have happened." MAN OF THE MATCH: Matt Svensson - Just edged out Darren Huckerby and Leon McKenzie with two quality goals worthy of the Premiership football he hopes to be playing with Norwich next season.