Norwich drop out of top two despite Jordan Rhodes rescuing late point against West Brom

Norwich City's Jordan Rhodes celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the game during
Norwich City's Jordan Rhodes scored within minutes of coming on Credit: PA

West Bromwich Albion 1 Norwich City 1

The expectation was for a feast of goals from two of the most potent attacks in the Championship, not least after their previous encounter this season, which Albion won with the best of seven. 

Albion head coach Darren Moore would have been more than content with 1-0 this time, had Dwight Gayle’s 15th goal of the season been the only one. In the event, it was a mark of the fight-to-the-end character of this Norwich side that they salvaged a late point.

Substitute Jordan Rhodes provided it, arriving at the near post with perfect timing to wrong foot the home defence and turn home a Kenny McLean cross. Both men had come off the bench in fact, just a couple of minutes earlier.

Norwich slip out of the top two after four Championship matches without a win, which some will see as a wobble, but this was a brave performance, after which you would assume manager Daniel Farke to be the happier of the two, although Moore insisted any disappointment should be set against his side’s performance at the end of a week of setbacks.

“I can’t be too disappointed because what a performance it was from us,” he said. “We didn’t allow Norwich any momentum. We tried to get the second goal but it was a top performance against top opponents. 

Dwight Gayle of West Bromwich Albion scores a goal to make it 1-0
Dwight Gayle had earlier put West Brom into the lead Credit: Getty Images

“The one person we could’ve done with that chance not falling to was Jordan. I have worked with him before – and like Dwight he’s a top marksman.”

The setbacks were threefold, forcing Moore into several changes. Harvey Barnes has been recalled by parent club Leicester City, while both Matt Phillips and James Morrison were injured. In addition, Jake Livermore, who was red-carded at Blackburn as a substitute, is suspended.

Moore pitched 18-year-old Rekeem Harper into his midfield for his first start in the Championship. Still digesting the loss of Barnes, who has been a vital component of Albion’s attack in every match so far, Albion fans watched with some trepidation, but, albeit in a different role, the young player delivered a composed performance. 

The major consolation was that leading scorer Gayle was fit to resume after a hamstring injury and the on-loan Newcastle striker needed only 12 minutes to make his finishing quality tell, getting in front of Jamal Lewis at the near post to convert a cross driven in by Mason Holgate, making his Baggies league debut at right-back following his arrival from Everton on loan.

Norwich City's Onel Hernandez (left) and West Bromwich Albion's Rekeem Harper during the Sky Bet Championship match at The Hawthorns
West Bromwich Albion's Rekeem Harper, 18, made his first Championship start in midfield Credit: PA

Norwich had not suffered an away defeat since losing at Sheffield United in August, yet it was a while before they could create anything that looked likely to bring them an equaliser. Indeed, they could have gone further behind when Hal Robson-Kanu fired narrowly wide after another Holgate cross had been headed straight to him.

But they grew into the game and went close to drawing level when Teemu Pukki’s touch diverted Alex Tettey’s cross and goalkeeper Sam Johnstone had to react quickly to keep the ball out.

Albion began the second half as if keen to stretch their lead early, mindful perhaps of Norwich’s propensity for scoring late goals, but a second goal eluded them, despite the best efforts of Robson-Kanu and Gareth Barry, before Gayle blazed wide in a good position.

Albion needed a second goal but it did not come. Instead, the two Norwich substitutes combined to make the home crowd’s frustration feel so much worse, McLean’s low cross seeming to cause a moment’s hesitation in among the home defenders, enabling Rhodes to pounce.

Farke readily took credit for the match-winning change. "I'm really pleased for Jordan Rhodes. It's great that he and Kenny McLean were able to come on and fulfil my ideas,” he said.

Match details

West Bromwich Albion (4-3-3): Johnstone; Holgate, Dawson, Hegazi, Gibbs; Harper, Barry, Brunt; Robson-Kanu (Leko 90+1), Rodriguez, Gayle (Sako 85).
Subs not used: Bond (g), Bartley, Hoolahan, Adarabioyo, Field.
Bookings: Barry, Rodriguez, Holgate.

Norwich City (4-2-3-1): Krul; Aarons, Zimmermann, Godfrey, Lewis (McLean 81); Tettey, Vrancic; Buendia (Srbeny 66), Cantwell (Rhodes 80), Hernandez; Pukki.
Subs not used: McGovern, Klose, Trybull, Thompson.
Bookings: Tettey, Buendia, Vrancic, Krul.

Referee: Darren England (South Yorkshire)

Attendance: 25,544.

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