My Blog

	1 – 2
Date: 09/04/2012		Venue: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 36,126		Referee: Michael Oliver

Having reached the magic mark of 40 points with the draw against Everton at Carrow Road, I still felt two more were needed for guaranteed safety.  And I wasn’t expecting Norwich to get anything out of the next two games, away against Spurs and home against Man City.  Granted that Spurs were on a stuttering run, but Norwich had looked dead on their feet on Saturday – so I felt expecting them to play only 48 hours later was too much.

But on this evidence Norwich have greater strength of depth than Spurs.  Several changes saw Howson back in midfield and Wilbraham starting up front alongside Holt.  Spurs played into Norwich’s hands by not playing Parker.

A defensive mix up in the 12th minute saw Pilkington on his return to the side net a loose ball to score his eigth of the season.  Shortly afterwards, there was an absolute stonewall of a penalty to Norwich which was bizarrely not given by the ref.  Friedal gathered the ball, launched it up field and from a delightful through ball from Livermore, Defoe lifted it over Ruddy for a goal.

Spurs started the gamesmanship that they have sadly become famous for under Redknapp.  Kaboul kicked out at Holt off the ball, clearly trying to provoke a reaction and a second clear cut penalty was also denied when Adebayor felled Wilbraham in the area.  But Norwich were resolute.  A great save from Ruddy kept the scores level, and Bale hit the underside of the bar before Elliot Ward scored an absolute peach, a 20 yard curler for his first ever NCFC goal.

That gives Norwich 43 points and mark Easter Monday 9th April into your diary.  Astonishingly – that is the day that Norwich City ensured another season in the premiership.