Sargentina! Has Josh Sargent scored Norwich City’s most important goals of the season?

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Josh Sargent may not have even been a name on the lips of those many American fans who follow the Premier League avidly.

However, he may have altered that narrative on a cold night in Hertfordshire when he netted two very different goals to secure a lifeline for Norwich City.

In a vital clash, his side came away from Watford with all three points against a disorganised and embattled club who seem certain to part with their manager, Claudio Ranieri.

The first half was goalless but the signs were ominous for the home town Hornets. They began the faster but the Norwich players, especially the outstandingly hard-working Teemu Pukki and Brandon Williams, gradually began to realise that they for once had the edge in quality on their opponents.

So often in the Premier League have Norwich had less talented players than their foes, that they seemed disinclined to accept the evidence, but over time it seeped in.

That proved to be the story of the second half as Norwich were the better side and got better at being better.

The opener was a testament to Pukki’s battling quality. He chased a ball that was being shepherded out by a defender and used just the right amount of force to edge the opposition off the ball without surrendering a free-kick. His cross, again less than perfect, but brought out the best in Sargent.

The American managed to reach out with his heel and retrieve the ball from almost behind him, to direct it onto the underside of the bar and just across the line.

His second goal also illuminated Watford’s lack of fight as he jumped to head home as the defender marking him did not even attempt to put him off, never mind get to the ball first.

By the time substitute Juraj Kucka put through his own net, the game was truly over.

Norwich had won six points in six days having despatched another troubled club Everton the previous Saturday with Rafa Benitez sacked from the Everton hot seat shortly afterwards.

The Canaries still have a long battle to fight and most of it will be uphill to beat the drop. Watford’s first battle will be to restore dressing room unity and find a new manager.

By full-time, that struggle looked to be even more uphill than that of their Norfolk visitors.

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