Soccer:Norwich picked up where they left off against Bolton with a fine 2-1 victory over Sunderland at Carrow Road last night. Goals from Leon Barnett and Steve Morison put them in control before Kieran Richardson's late strike in the dying minutes gave the visitors brief hope.
After a bright start from the visitors, Steve Morison created space for a shot at the edge of the Sunderland area but his low strike was well held by Simon Mignolet. Titus Bramble missed a high ball through the middle, which suddenly released Wes Hoolahan 20 yards out, but the skipper lobbed the ball over the advancing goalkeeper and high into the stands.
Norwich continued to look lively through Anthony Pilkington down the right. Despite their dominance, the Canaries were unable to further test Mignolet and slowly Sunderland grew into the match. However, other than a couple of agricultural clearances from the Norwich rearguard, goalkeeper John Ruddy was not concerned.
The Canaries, though, were ahead after 31 minutes. David Fox fed Elliot Bennett into the right side of the Sunderland area with a neat one-two. The former Brighton winger dashed to the goal-line before cutting the ball back through the six-yard box, which was missed by Wes Brown and centre-back Leon Barnett tapped in at the near post.
Sunderland looked for an immediate response, but Stephane Sessegnon ballooned his 20-yard effort wide. Norwich pressed again at the end of the first half, with Hoolahan breaking clear and seeing his low strike deflected behind. The home side went two up on 48 minutes with a header from Welsh international Morrison.
Norwich came out of the blocks quickly at the start of the second half and were rewarded when Morison doubled the hosts’ lead after 48 minutes. Pilkington got away down the left, and his run into the box saw overlapping full-back Marc Tierney clip the ball across goal where Wales striker Morison got above Brown to power a header into the net from six yards.
Kieran Richardson pulled a goal back for the visitors after 86 minutes but Norwich held on for a deserved victory on the night.
