Douglas Higginbottom wrote:craigmcfc wrote:Looking forward to Saturdays double header. Under 18s v Chelsea then the Villa game, especially seeing Brahim Diaz in the flesh for the first time.
Really looking forward to it. A few possibles missing too as Tosin and Humphreys were both involved with the 21's tonight at Norwich along with Isaac Buckley. Good 2.1 win for them too even if it did need a very late penalty from Bytyqi.
Yes a hard fought 2-1 victory for the EDS at Carrow Road last night. This was the 3rd time I've attended this fixture over the last few seasons. Firstly, credit to Norwich City FC, entry is free and as a result there is always a good turn out, a 7 o clock ko means its a family affair - a good PR exercise as the club shop opens and by all accounts does a brisk trade and half time refreshment trade sees good business.
In November 2013 I saw City run out comfortable 3-0 victors and the senior team then put 7 past Norwich at the Etihad the following day, however Norwich's EDS beat us 2-1 the last time the sides met at carrow rd, securing victory with a last minute winner!
As for last night, a good spattering of blues in the crowd, which was good to see. The blues started positively Barker seeing a lot of the ball down the left, taking on Norwich's fullback, though the defender had plenty of pace and Barker found it difficult to get past him. It was Isaac Buckley down City's right however, who had City's best opportunities in the opening exchanges. Buckley having latched on to a through ball, burst into the box but saw his shot well saved by the Norwich keeper. Moments later he was in again, but having delayed his shot allowed the Norwich defender make an excellent challenge to deny him. The ensuing corner came to nothing.
After that the home side got more of a foot hold in the game and the two sides appeared to cancel each other out, though from out of nowhere a speculative effort from 25 yards out from the home side saw the ball crash of the City bar with Angus Gunn rooted to the spot.
The second half saw the blues start positively and a corner in the 53rd minute from the right side delivered by Bytiqi was missed by the Norwich goalkeeper giving Rodney Kongolo the easiest of tap ins at the far post. Norwich equalised however on 61 minutes, when they countered down City's right side. City, having committed to the previous attack, were short of numbers in midfield and the home side made the most of the situation moving the ball quickly cross field where the delivery into the box saw Lafferty fire home to bring Norwich level.
That appeared to wake City up and they largely took control hereafter, Barker came alive and was now beating the Norwich full back with regularity, with Angelino offering support they posed a real threat but with no end product. City nearly took the lead late on when a corner from the left saw Tosin time his late run perfectly to meet the ball at the back stick, however his header was cleared off the line and Norwich survived. City continued to press and got their rewards in the last minute, when another mazy run by Barker saw him felled in the box and Bytiqi fired home from the spot to earn City the 3 points, which, on their second half showing they probably deserved.
Gunn looks a decent goalkeeper, he dealt with most things well and commands his area. Tosin was the stand out player for me however. He seems to do everything with such ease. He won everything in the air, he commands and organises his defence very well, and his distribution was good. What typified his all round performance and domination was how he dealt with a long clearance from their keeper close to the end. He watched the ball closely got in front of his man and instead of heading the ball clear as everyone expected, killed the ball by taking it on his chest before taking a touch and then finding a city player with his pass.
Steve Macmanaman said on BT sport ahead of the kiev game that playing the kids at Chelsea was very likely to be damaging for them, well I think we can safely say otherwise where Tosin is concerned, Macmanaman has clearly underestimated the mental resolve instilled into our youngsters and I know others like Manu Garcia were quick to tweet how much they had enjoyed playing against the likes of Fabregas, Hazard et al.
As for the rest Angelino and Horsfield both looked good, Angelino's desire and energy levels are phenomenal and Horsfield is good on the ball and supports attacks well. Bryan was solid alongside Tosin, Glendon did his job in central midfield effectively Kongolo looks like he could go places. Barker had a much better second half and Buckley did alright. Bytiqi took his pen well though despite working hard (as they all did) didn't impact the game as much as I'd have expected. Faupala, was also quiet though showed in flashes what he is capable of - a definite talent.
