There really is something about busy night games at GP. Always a much better atmosphere than Saturdays too – as long as a crowd turns up.
At half-time we feared the worst – Norwich looked faster, stronger and frankly better. Bennett’s limp-off was not as concerning as it once would have been. Of the many beneficiaries of Andy Scott’s reign Karleigh Osborne should be near the top of the list. The ricks are slowly leaving his game and he’s developed an odd poise.
Anyway the second half was outstanding. The interplay between Wood, Dickson and Saunders was facilitated by the superb Hunt at the fulcrum of everything. Weston and Cort were full of effort and running, albeit without the latter threatening the scoresheet.
The only areas of concern were Kevin O’Connor and the unconvincing Lewis Price. For KO’C there was some good, composed break-out play, but he was slow off his heels and often chasing shadows when not in possession, which bodes ill. That said, Norwich’s midfielders were of a higher quality than most we will see this year. Price had a fortunate reprieve on a number of crosses, and however many times we re-watch the video we still can’t see a deflection on the free kick that beat him a metre inside his near post.
Still, it’s churlish to criticise after a good team performance like that and, much though Brentford were assisted by Norwich’s extraordinary internecine squabbling and desertion of composure after half-time, these are the games to be enjoyed.
Price 5 – Foster 7 Bennett 6 (Osborne 7) Phillips 7 Dickson 8 – Saunders 8 (Taylor -) O’Connor 5 Hunt 8 Wood 7 – Weston 6 (Kabba -) Cort 6
