Back from the game; To Hull and Back for league ground 89 but A Bridge Too Far for Norwich

The 500 mile/10 hour round trip and the Humber Bridge closure were, strangely, the least tiresome aspects of the day as this was one of those inexlicably poor Norwich performances that are always likely to punctuate the best of seasons. After 40 years you’d think I’d be used to it but they’re still hard to digest.

All in all my 89th football league ground hasn’t provided the best of memories and from the first minute City were under the cosh. Hull could have been at least two up before they scored in the 6th minute. Hanley and Klosse were too far apart and the midfield weren’t tracking runs. No surprise when Irvine slotted home after another quick, incisive Hull attack.

Enter James Maddison with a first-half, 21 minute hat-trick! Two cast iron penalties were dispatched and, in between, his jinking run in the box and smart strike went under Marshall. To be 3-1 up in a game where we were being completely overrun was great, but we certainly didn’t deserve it. Hull were exploiting the gaps in what has been a solid defence and but for a few Hanley challenges they would have pulled a goal back earlier.

The injury to Leitner didn’t help matters but everyone was off the pace. For me Lewis had his poorest game and was a shadow of the confident character we’ve seen of late. He switched off and lost his man and then naively leaned onto his opponent clumsily and gave the ref an easy decision to make for their first penalty. Disappointing as it was just before halftime!

The fourth penalty just after halftime is a mystery to me; Thirteen years of senior reffing and I can’t see it?! I’ve officiated with Tim Robinson as he’s from Sussex and used to operate on the County League when I did, so I won’t be overly critical, but he saw something nobody else did!

Coming back to 3-3 Hull were in the ascendency and it was typical Norwich when we allowed them time in the area to curl a shot past Gunn for 4-3. Both Hernandez and Hanley had great chances to score for us but it just wasn’t happening.

As poor as this was, I just don’t see the need for the gnashing of teeth or throwing the towel in on Farke or the Projekt. Some of the utter bollocks being spouted on the concourse as we left was bewildering! Somehow a few seasons of sniffing the Premier League money has left some with a sense of entitlement and inflated expectations.

Get back to 5 at the back, hopefully Zimmerman will be back soon. Sadly Trybull won’t be back this season but we’ve missed him too. Hernandez looks really promising and if we can keep Leitner for longer we have some good creative talent. If we can find a goalscorer (Nelson and Marley were pretty ineffective today) then things are still going in the right direction.

That’s it, until the next time. This is Worthing Yellow, on KJCM, 98.3, and good night dear Wrathers... wherever you are. OTBC

Posted By: Worthing Yellow, Mar 11, 00:06:22