Sawyers’ strikes to shoot down Canaries

A second half goal from new signing Romaine Sawyers brought a morale-boosting victory for Cardiff City in a pulsating clash with the highly fancied Norwich City in the Welsh capital.

Bluebirds boss Steve Morison had assembled a large new squad this year and home fans could expect a breezy, new style of play we hear.

That big squad is already proving its worth. New signing Ebou Adams is out for some time with a nasty muscle injury while Welsh youngsters Rubin Colwill and Isaak Davies remain side-lined with injury. Eight new signings began for Cardiff City.

Isaac Hayden and marquee signing Gabriel Sara were unavailable for Norwich City, while visiting boss Dean Smith also faced other fitness doubts for the long trip to South Wales.

The talented Todd Cantwell started the game in midfield for the Canaries, and former Cardiff loan player Jordan Hugill began on the bench.

Home skipper Ryan Wintle was prominent in a lively start to the game, as the home side took the fight to their yellow shirted guests – great to see both teams in their traditional colours by the way.

The Carrow Road anthem “On the Ball City” rang out from the well-populated away seats while the home fans sang in tribute to the late Peter Whittingham on seven minutes – the club having rested his number 7 shirt this season.

Despite skill and endeavour from both sets of players, neither goalkeeper saw any meaningful action until the slick Cantwell brought a smart diving save from Ryan Allsop on 20 minutes. The home keeper also reacted well to clutch the ensuing corner.

Cardiff’s Sheyi Ojo showed the home fans that his feet were just as nimble as Cantwell’s but his drive at Tim Krul lacked venom.

Most of the play seemed to be taking place in and around the home defenders as evergreen Finnish star Teemu Pukki and the effervescent Cantwell asked questions of the men in blue.

The hosts met firm resistance from Grant Hanley and his men on the occasions when they pressed forward. The Canaries left few gaps for the Welshmen to exploit.

Cardiff had no real striker in situ to capitalise on the endeavour of Callum O’Dowda, Ojo and others – a point driven home by the fact that the number 9 shirt remains unallocated in the home squad numbers. Post-match speculation linked striker Andy Carroll with the Bluebirds.

The visitors had a great chance to open the scoring on 35 minutes but Greek left-back Dimitris Giannoulis could only flash the ball across the face of goal as his teammates flew forward. It had been a lively, yet unproductive half for both sides.

The game sprang into life as the second half began. A somewhat speculative effort from Romaine Sawyers eluded Krul to make it 1-0 and spark noisy celebrations from the home fans packed behind the keepers’ goal.

The former West Brom man had clearly ruffled the Canaries’ feathers as he and Cantwell squared up to one another shortly after the goal. Other home players also joined in the fun while the vociferous home fans amongst a crowd of 19,969 did their best to antagonise the gifted midfielder. Cantwell replied by firing in a corner which Kenny McLean clipped against the crossbar.

Welsh international Mark Harris and new club captain Joe Ralls entered the fray as the home side finally had something to bite on. Cantwell began to drift deeper as Morison’s men grew in confidence.

An almighty melee erupted on 66 minutes as Ralls hauled back the dashing Pukki in midfield. Angry exchanges saw Hanley join Ralls on a yellow card as the tangle took some time for referee Mr Robinson to unravel. The altercation set the pattern for the rest of the game. Seconds later the visitors demanded a penalty as the match grew into a bitter battle.

Perry Ng, who had been cautioned in the scrap described above, saw red as the game continued in its nasty style. Curtis Nelson came on to replace him at the back.

Hugill replaced Pukki as Smith chased an equaliser against the determined and aggressive 10 men of Cardiff. Both sides looked capable of losing their heads now as all the combatants threw themselves into the fray.

Sure enough, Hanley was also dismissed for an untidy challenge down the back of Harris’ legs.

The young Welsh international was proving a real handful up top for the hosts with determined running and never-say-die endeavour. He had been a marked improvement on Max Watters since coming on.

The dismissals and other incidents saw Mr Robinson add seven minutes to what was now a pulsating clash. The home fans roared their way through their collection of terrace hymns.

Jamilu Collins jinked and crashed his way forward to earn a free kick high up the field. Harris and Ralls were in no mood to take it quickly. It was desperate defending amidst deafening noise as the seven minutes ticked away.

The final whistle brought bedlam in the stands as the new look Bluebirds held on for a mighty win.

A breathless second half had sent the home fans away happy with a victory over the Canaries, a side who many think could fly high this season.

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