Bradley Johnson leading from the front as Norwich City show their fighting spirit
Bradley Johnson tries his luck. Picture: Andrew Tobin / Focus Images
Michael Bailey
Sunday, September 2, 2012
7:24 PM
Norwich City’s belief and combative nature are alive and well as far as Bradley Johnson is concerned, with the Canaries picking up an excellent draw at stuttering Tottenham.
Indeed much like last week’s Carrow Road clash with QPR, it could and perhaps should have been City’s first victory of their Premier League campaign as the visitors put in a replica of the fantastic performance that earned them at 2-1 at White Hart Lane on Easter Monday last season.
But there was still plenty – if not more – satisfaction to be taken this time around, as Chris Hughton’s men responded to having much the better of proceedings only to fall behind to Moussa Dembele’s 69th minute opener.
It was Robert Snodgrass’ first goal in yellow, or black as it turned out, five minutes from time brought Norwich the draw their efforts more than deserved.
“Everyone can see in the team, we’ve got belief and we proved that again today,” said Johnson after his own notably productive 90 minutes.
Bradley Johnson directs proceedings at White Hart Lane. Picture by Andrew Tobin/Focus Images“Norwich have proved throughout the years they’ve always scored late goals. When we go 1-0 down we will never let our heads go down and we will always fight back, and it’s paid off for us here.
“Every point in this league is a precious one, but to come here to White Hart Lane and play them off the park like I thought we did, we were unlucky not to get all three. But it’s another one on the board.”
Andre Villas-Boas appears to have a bit of winning over to do with the Spurs fans, as his side was booed off at the break and full-time.
Tottenham are yet to win a competitive match under the Portuguese’s stewardship since he took over in the summer.
As for Norwich, their own summer upheaval seems to be settling down as Hughton directed comfortably his team’s most accomplished performance so far.
“We are always coming to these top clubs and it’s always good to get a point, and the fans were magnificent today,” said Johnson, as more than 3,000 City supporters left White Hart Lane with a smile on their faces – as they did in April. “They were singing throughout the whole game and I think they gave us that push to get the equaliser.
“We knew if we got in their faces they’d be under pressure. We did that and turned the crowd on them, and that’s always a good thing for the visitors.
“We’ve come here for two game and had two good results – and you can’t take credit away from us. I think we’ve seen their strengths and we’ve stopped them. Gareth Bale was terrific down at our place last year, so we came here last year and we stopped him playing – and we’ve done the same again. We’ve made them play the way they did.”
After Friday’s closure of the transfer window, it would be fair to say City’s first boost on Saturday came with the team sheet. Having helped destroy City at Craven Cottage two weeks earlier, Dembele’s £15m move from Fulham saw him start his Spurs career at half-time. He duly made his mark by raising Spurs’ tempo and putting them ahead – before Norwich showed just how far they have come in the space of 14 days.
“I was happy to see him on the bench, to be fair,” smiled Johnson. “But he’s one of the best midfielders I’ve played against. Tottenham have got a great signing there. He’s a world class player and he only came on at half-time and he changed the game for them.
“But we showed the fighting spirit we have shown throughout our time in this league, that we know we’re going to get a goal – it came in the last five minutes and we were unlucky not to get another.
“At Fulham I think Dembele ran the show when we were there two weeks ago and it’s always good to see him on the bench and not doing the same again.”
City had their own star signing impressing too – albeit a summer arrival.
After excelling against QPR a week earlier, Snodgrass was at it again – bringing out a superb save from Brad Friedel with his head before avoiding hesitation to drill inside his far post to break his Canaries duck.
“He’s settled in well – I remember when I came here the lads were great, they give you a great welcome,” added Johnson. “He’s got me and Jonny Howson here with him, and he’s always in the right play at the right time. He was unlucky not to score earlier with the header – Brad Friedel made a great save – but he always pops up in these areas and it was a great finish.
“It is strange we’re now together here (like at Leeds) but they wouldn’t be here if they couldn’t play.”
More Sport news
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- Audio: Jonny Howson - Norwich City showed they can cope with pressure
- Russell Martin so proud of Norwich City’s achievement
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- Ian Ellis is warming up nicely
- Test your knowledge of Norwich City’s Premier League campaign with our end of season quiz
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21 comments
Doppelgänger! I asked Arthur ASCII.
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Mad Brewer
Monday, September 3, 2012
Great result saturday,I bet there are alot of Prem managers who would love to have the mid-field talent we have in our squad,Not since the days of " Ian Crook and Co have we had such a good midfield line up,hope young Harry Kane proves to be a dark horse then i think we can look forward to another season in the prem.OTBC
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ncfcforever
Monday, September 3, 2012
If you've got opinions Brewer, why not share them on a forum rather that the reaction section of an online news article? This is no place for an exchange, from what I've read of your posts you'd fit in well over at the pinkun forums. the right "mould" shall we say (right vintage too...) Maybe you already post there?
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Steady On
Monday, September 3, 2012
Trouble is, Steady On, I`m useless with computers. I find posting on these boards nice & simple (mostly) and have enjoyed the banter on here for the last 2 years or so. As for this being "no place for an exchange", it seems to work fine for many other people, too. Many thanks for your kindly advice.
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Mad Brewer
Monday, September 3, 2012
Error 503. Even spoiled my new "Smiley-face" €:-{)
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Mad Brewer
Monday, September 3, 2012
Great result saturday,who needs a Gerrard or Lampard,when you have got Johnson,Snodgrass Howson,Hoolahan,Fox,Tetty etc, I bet alot of prem managers would love to have the same midfield gems in their squads,Hopefully young Harry Kane will prove to be a suprise addition and help the goals to start flowing. OTBC
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ncfcforever
Monday, September 3, 2012
If you've got opinions Brewer, why not share them on a forum rather that the reaction section of an online news article? This is no place for an exchange, from what I've read of your posts you'd fit in well over at the pinkun forums. the right "mould" shall we say (right vintage too...) Maybe you already post there?
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Steady On
Monday, September 3, 2012
Btw, welcome back, Swiss. Regards, Ged S Doppelgaenger. €;-{). Couldn`t manage a whole Umlaut.
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Mad Brewer
Monday, September 3, 2012
Btw, welcome back, Swiss. Regards, Ged S Doppelgaenger. €;-{). Couldn`t manage a whole Umlaut.
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Mad Brewer
Monday, September 3, 2012
Nobody "got rid" of Brewer, Steady On - my computer has been out of order. You flatter yourself. Your (sic) welcome to that bit of advice, gratis. MBA was close, but no, I am not Ged or a Jedi. Nor do I share a computer. (Btw, NCFC fan since before the 1959 Cup Run). Johnson and all the other "Yorky" midfielders were immense. The whole team was. If BJ carries on like that, Tettey might have a fight on his hands getting selected ahead of him. All good. OTBC. ;-)
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Mad Brewer
Monday, September 3, 2012
I think I might have got rid of brewer with my Star Wars reference. Your welcome everyone. We were amazing the other day and Bradderz is thriving in the middle with his mate, a joy to watch.
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Steady On
Monday, September 3, 2012
I think I might have got rid of brewer with my Star Wars reference. Your welcome everyone. We were amazing the other day and Bradderz is thriving in the middle with his mate, a joy to watch.
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Steady On
Monday, September 3, 2012
Disaster, nail on the head with just that one paragraph! Also Mr. Crab very funny observation, I know it was an innocent comment, but the politically corrent buch will probably see it differently. Amazing how one good result brings a feel good factor. I don't think Norwich are as bad as their result at Fulham suggests, they outplayed Spurs and played them off the park. Now I don't know how much of that is down to how good Norwich are or how bad Spurs are under AVB. Norwich deserved all three points against QPR and SPURS, that tells me a lot about the coming season. I think the opening day resuly was a one off, since then everything has been positive. Not so sure about the Troll and the Brewer being the same entity?
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RoadWarrior
Monday, September 3, 2012
Funniest thing was the fans singing "Come on You Yellows", when we were playing in black. The we realised that if we'd sung "Come on You Blacks", we'd probably have got thrown out - especially in that area of London!
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The Crab
Monday, September 3, 2012
@Billy, if his endeavour counted, he would have a chance. Sadly, in these days of all things 'celebrity', being 'A list' is vital, so his chance is minimal. The big clubs produce the big players, don't yer know. Any contender would already play for the recognised top 6 (?) Just look at the regular MOTD team? Reminds me of seniors in a public school. So smug, yet so reflects the clique in English football. Only on the international stage, are our vastly overpaid, over hyped 'top heroes' seen for what they are - mediocre.
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Dissaster
Monday, September 3, 2012
Be interesting to see if this sparks up more England talk for this man, I think he deserves it, works endlessly and silences big players, hence why Lambert used him every time against the big teams. OTBC.
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Billy
Sunday, September 2, 2012
I am Sparticus . . . no, I am Sparticus . . no, I am Sparticus. Don't yer just love conspiracy theories. I smile.
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Dissaster
Sunday, September 2, 2012
I am Sparticus . . . no, I am Sparticus . . no, I am Sparticus. Don't yer just love conspiracy theories. I smile.
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Dissaster
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Brewer and Ged one and the same? That would be the most shocking revelation for me since I watched "The Crying Game".
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Swiss Canary
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Non related, but could not resist. Merely questioning when will Fergie fall out of love with RVP? His passion, then subsequent 'hairdryer moment', both with Stam & v.Nistelrooy, is well documented. Dutch love around Old Trafford not noted for its longevity?
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Dissaster
Sunday, September 2, 2012
no Brewer and no Ged for a while im starting to think that they they might be one in the same and their Internet connection is down! or perhaps they share a computer.
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MBA Marine
Sunday, September 2, 2012