Negative Tactics Produce No Points for Canaries

Glenn Roeder made the unusual decision to put a team out against Reading that didn't feature a recognized striker. Instead Darel Russell was asked to do the job of the lone front man. With Arturo Lupoli overlooked again and Carl Cort not deemed fit to start. Of course this selection poser came about due to Leroy Lita being unavailable.

After the disappointing defeat against Watford, Norwich rang the changes. Kennedy and Fotheringham came into the team. Norwich had David Marshall in goal and Bertrand, Kennedy, Doherty and Otsemobor in the defence. The midfield consisted of Bell, Clinghan, Pattison, Fotheringham and Croft. Russell was up top on his own.

Norwich dominated the first half and was playing very well. In fact Russell and Pattison both had excellent chances to score. Those chances went begging and despite the dominance from Norwich the teams went in 0-0 at Half Time. As expected in the second half Reading began to buck their ideas up and looked threatening from free kicks.

In the end Reading won the game with two goals in the last 10 minutes. First Mark Fotheringham was adjudged to have handballed in the area and a penalty was awarded. Considering Fotheringham was then shoved to the ground. I would describe it as a harsh penalty, but the ball did touch his hand and that happened before he was shoved. Reading converted the penalty and two minutes later they scored again through Shane Long and the game was won.

Final verdict

This was another decent away performance by Norwich. I think had the game finished in a draw that would have been fair. In fact the Norwich team was set up to get a draw. I was disappointed with Glenn Roeder's selection because I thought this was the ideal game to give Lupoli a start, but again the Italian was overlooked.

The result itself was not too disheartening because I always expected a defeat against a talented Reading side. The fact that our top scorer is a man Reading don't need says a lot about the gulf between these two sides. The important thing for Norwich is to move on and prepare for the game against Charlton.

If these last two games has said anything that is the importance of Hoolahan and Lita. Both these players must start in the next game. I would also like to see another cameo role for Cort. If the opportunity arises it would be good to see how Cort and Lita play together.