Goal search continues for Norwich City boss Chris Hughton
Grant Holt still leads the way with five league strikes in a campaign where only QPR have scored fewer Premier League goals than the Canaries approaching the final run-in.
Paddy Davitt
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
9:54 AM
Norwich City boss Chris Hughton insists the Canaries are working overtime to find the cutting edge which will secure their Premier League future.
City’s latest 0-0 home draw against Southampton was their third goalless affair in the last five league games at Carrow Road during a spell where Hughton has permed Grant Holt, Kei Kamara and Luciano Becchio in a bid to unlock Norwich’s scoring potential.
Holt still leads the way with five league strikes in a campaign where only QPR have scored fewer Premier League goals than the Canaries approaching the final run-in.
“I can’t say that we have been brilliant in front of goal because, although we scored two in the Everton game, the statistics haven’t shown that,” said Hughton. “But we are working hard on it. In the last two home games, I have played two up front to try to get those opportunities and against Everton we scored twice.
“We create chances, probably not as many as we would like. Anybody watching the (Southampton) game, even if our play wasn’t as fluid as we would have liked, could see we were playing two up front and that is an indication that we are endeavouring to try to get goals.
“It is not a question of us not wanting to score goals and just making ourselves solid and a tough team to beat.
“We played with two wide players and two up front, which is an indication that we are trying to win. Is it an area we have found difficult? Yes it is. For us and a club of our stature it is difficult to get those balances right.”
Norwich midfielder Robert Snodgrass revealed Hughton has urged the Canaries to be more ruthless at the sharp end of the pitch.
“That’s what the gaffer is saying, be more ruthless. I think in certain phases we are creating chances,” he said. “At Swansea we scored three in the first half. Those days come – we’ve not had that many this year – we scored three against Manchester City as well, but we can look at it in all different ways.
“The most important thing is picking up more points. We can talk about scoring as many goals as you want but you saw a few years back at Blackpool, they were scoring goals all over the place and got relegated. The main aim is to stay in the Premier League.”
Norwich’s defensive resolve has kept them clear of the bottom three for the majority of the season and Hughton believes the Southampton shut out could be another big step in the right direction ahead of trips to Sunderland and Wigan.
“What was important was if we couldn’t win then make sure a club around us didn’t get the three points,” he said.
“That’s important. We have got a good home record. We have lost only three league games at home all season – to Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City – so there are lots of positives and there were positives in this game.
“We just need to make sure that we are focused going into the next two away games to give ourselves an opportunity to get something.”
More Sport news
- Chris Hughton - Norwich still have plenty to play for at Manchester City
- Norwich City defender Javier Garrido expects no old pals’ act at former club Manchester City
- Norwich City boss Chris Hughton insists David Beckham deserves to be remembered as a great
- Manchester City’s Micah Richards aims to finish with a flourish against Norwich City
- Michael Eccles returns for Norfolk in MCCA Knockout Trophy clash
- Cromer coping well on top flight return
- FA reveal what leagues champions King’s Lynn Town and Dereham Town will be in for 2013/14 campaign
- Norwich City boss Chris Hughton backs Grant Holt to play his part in the Canaries’ Premier League plans
- Photo gallery: From the archive - Norwich City V Manchester City over the years
- Norfolk Senior Cup final: Norwich City Under-21s 2, Wroxham 0
ADVERTISEMENT
16 comments
We all keep hearing Norwich must score more goals but what happens on the pitch?In most cases when Norwich do get near the penalty area they cross to nobody.Where are the shots? Alex Tettey won two games via his shooting then he stopped.Via Southhampton 2 shots were recorded. we cannot say this was because Southhamptom have a great defence.It is the players that do not want to shoot and many premiership clubs have now worked how Norwich Score!Via cross and header.
Report this comment
paul553
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Just one little win would get us close. Trouble is, to win you must score. Somebody will have an off-day against us, then all will be well. Man City, maybe?
Report this comment
Mad Brewer
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
I like you ideas.Trouble is who dares loses. We cant aford to do that with teams below us.
Report this comment
sharky
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
The delivery as all have pointed out is lacking as is driving for the byline, which we did early days. Martin seems to have backed off driving forward the way he used, I would bring Whits back as he does drive forward and would put Martin midfield with Pilks, Hoolahoop and Snodgrass to join - use Hoolahoop and Snodgrass free role in centre midfield. It may leave back four a little exposed but as Del boy would say he who dares wins rodders. OTBC
Report this comment
Singapore Canary
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Steady On - we know watching the game online on TV is not the same as being there but I assume they get the same almost blanket Premier League coverage in the Algavre as we do in Brussels. Any game, any where for free. We do watch, we are aware. Dio you ever come out with anything positive?
Report this comment
DJ_FRAMBOISE
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Btw, the goals are those rectangular frames with nets behind them.
Report this comment
Mad Brewer
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Careful, Dom; if you`re not allowed to see it from the Algarve, what chance have you got from Ghana? You hef been instructed. Ve vill not tolerate dissention. Sieg, Bile!!
Report this comment
Mad Brewer
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
If we could afford the players that you ask for, AC, we will be spending all our little money and hoping for the best. See wher QPR are. We are being prudent and building at the moment. We WILL stay up!! And then, see what we can do over the summer, with more money in the coffers. Best way to build is from defence. What is the point in having someone score double figures in goals a season and get relegated, like Blackpool.
Report this comment
Ghana Dom
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
You can see all that from the Algarve can you? Doubt it!
Report this comment
Steady On
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
AC you need to compare other clubs leading scorers. You might get a shock. It aint easy.
Report this comment
sharky
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Its true we do lack pace. However do recall the ball skidding though the penalty area three times but we failed to get a touch. Holt might have scored if he wasnt fouled. The problem is we cant let teams below us, beat us.I,m happy if Bramble plays.
Report this comment
sharky
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
"Top scorer Grant Holt, 5 goals". The entire problem, encapsulated in 6 words. We knew there was a problem last May......solution? Loan signing Harry Kane. The problem was screaming at us over Christmas. OK we have 2 new strikers, neither of them with Premiership pedigree, but no aggressive running from the back, or down the wings.....so no supply. Dont expect much on Sunday.....we will be seeking another nil-nil as Sunderland try to bomb the hell out of us!!!
Report this comment
Algarve Canary
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
I certainly don't blame our forwards for not scoring enough goals - it is the lack of service which is the problem! Snodgrass ploughs a lone furrow but always having to cut back inside before crossing the ball into the box means defenders can easily deal with it...How many times have we driven to the byline and put in a telling cross or pass? It's pretty easy to defend against us at the moment -we are very predictable and have a tendency to hoof the ball up field in the hope of something happening, only to lose possession and find ourselves defending again! Not really rocket science is it?
Report this comment
kevin rymell
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Absolutely spot-on Oz. Speed kills in this League. Speed of foot and speed of thought. We have neither. Playing two up front and wingers is all well and good, but those wingers do a hell of a job defending a lot of the time. Pilkington has been criticised a lot this season, but the amount of work he does in front of Garrido is phenomenal. He also is our only regular that has pace, yet we never seem to be able to utilise this. When we do attack there is often a huge gap between our back six and the forward players. And we don’t move the ball quickly enough. A difficult balance between defence and attack. Perhaps we just don’t have the players at the club….at the moment.
Report this comment
Erpingham Tractor
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Message from the fans seems to be sinking in with Hughton. We have to get the ball and players into the bo more from open play though. Not sure they've figured out how to do that yet tho'.
Report this comment
shefcanary
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
The only way we're going to get more goals is a better supply line. Most of our goals this season have come from set pieces. I can't remember the last time we went around a defender and put a ball into the 6 yard box for a simple tap in. We don't have a creative enough midfield and lack pace to scare teams. The trouble is Hoolahoop is our most creative player but he's hard to fit in. He's too slow for the wing, not strong enough for midfield and to short for a centre forward.
Report this comment
Oz Canary
Wednesday, March 13, 2013