Pinkun Connor talking of that in this morn's newsletter....

2 - Cutting-edge

After a frustrating midweek in Stoke, Norwich City's cutting edge at Bramall Lane was the defining feature of Saturday's win.

City created 19 shots, eight of which were on target, and racked up an expected goals tally of 3.04, their highest of the Championship campaign to date.

29 touches in the Sheffield United box told the same story about a Norwich side willing to sacrifice territorial control for directness, committing bodies forward and backing that intent with genuine quality in the final third.

The contrast with the trip to Stoke four days earlier could hardly be starker. There, Norwich enjoyed their highest possession share of the season at 71pc, yet managed only five shots, three on target, and an anaemic expected goals return of 1.44.

Taken together, the two performances suggest Clement's Norwich are still searching for a reliable route to goal when opponents sit deep and dare them to break them down through control alone; it is when they play with less possession but greater purpose, committing players forward and taking risks in behind, that their attacking identity truly comes to life.

If City are to sustain their early-season progress, translating spells of Stoke-style dominance into Sheffield United-style incision will be the clearest marker of genuine improvement under Clement.

Posted By: DrDublin, Sep 7, 08:59:22