Norwich 0-1 West Brom: Salomon Rondon's second-half header secures the three points for Tony Pulis' men at Carrow Road
- Salomon Rondon netted his second Premier League goal to open the scoring for West Brom at Carrow Road
- The 26-year-old Venezuela striker latched onto James McClean's superb delivery to head home past John Ruddy
- Norwich dominated possession in the second half but were unable to break down a resilient West Brom defence
A grubby win but a clean sheet. Beneath the baseball cap, Tony Pulis could not help but smile.
This was a game that could have got away from West Brom, those misers who would appear to pride themselves as much for what they stop as what they take. But if any side can ride the sort of storm that Norwich brought in the first half, it is one managed by Pulis.
That is not to say the away side were terribly impressive defensively. Plenty of chances were conceded because of their own errors in the first half, but they have that valuable knack of somehow keeping balls out of nets – six times they have now kept a clean sheet in the Premier League this season. That number stretches to a division-high 16 when you include all the games played since Pulis took over in January.
West Brom striker Salomon Rondon netted his second Premier League goal to open the scoring for the visitors at Carrow Road
The 26-year-old Venezuela striker rose highest to head home past John Ruddy following a superb delivery by James McClean
Rondon is mobbed by his West Brom team-mates after scoring the opening goal in the Premier League clash with Norwich City
Norwich midfielder Wes Hoolahan has an opportunity to net his side's first goal of the afternoon but fails to test Boaz Myhill
With that kind of foundation, as Pulis has so often proved at his clubs, there is always a chance. Here, it ensured they were in the game when a chance fell to Salomon Rondon in the 46th minute and he headed the winner.
Pulis said: 'The back four and the goalkeeper are jumping up and down about another clean sheet but I was more pleased with the quality going forward.
'We talk about the clean sheets because of the record I have got. But I also like to play wide players and we had Stephane Sessegnon on the right and James McClean on the left was magnificent. I was really pleased.
'We played well. We should have scored more but fair play to the lads – they really deserved that.'
Norwich City centre back Ryan Bennett and midfielder Jonny Howson challenge Craig Dawson in an attempt to clear the ball
Saido Berahino (right) prepares to deliver the ball into the box during the first half of West Brom's Premier League clash at Norwich
West Brom's Chris Brunt (right) drives forward for Tony Pulis' team but is closely followed by Norwich midfielder Alexander Tettey
Norwich star winger Nathan Redmond surges forward for the hosts and delivers the ball into the box ahead of West Brom's Brunt
West Brom forward Stephane Sessegnon (right) attempts a shot at goal during the goalless first half at Carrow Road
James McClean, who was criticised for his post-match celebrations in last weekend's win over former team Sunderland, runs with the ball
MINS | KM | MILES | |
---|---|---|---|
Norwich City | 109.5 | 68.0 | |
Jonny Howson | 90 | 11.2 | 6.9 |
Russell Martin | 90 | 11.1 | 6.9 |
Alexander Tettey | 90 | 10.9 | 6.8 |
West Bromwich Albion | 118.1 | 73.4 | |
James McClean | 90 | 13.1 | 8.2 |
Stephane Sessegnon | 90 | 11.3 | 7.1 |
Claudio Yacob | 90 | 11.3 | 7.0 |
Data courtesy of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the Official Player Rating Index of the Barclays Premier League |
There must also have been an element of relief for Pulis, whose side were booed during the win over Sunderland last week because of the basic nature of their attacks.
They were far more fluid and inventive here, even if their goals tally remains painfully low after a match against the most fragile defence in the division.
That is one major concern for Alex Neil, not to mention their run of three straight defeats and the forthcoming run of games against Manchester City, Swansea, Chelsea and Arsenal, with a Capital One Cup fixture against Everton thrown in.
He said: 'I wouldn't say it is worrying times. It is not a nice time - I have never even lost two league games in a row never mind three.
'Yes you are concerned - I'm looking at what I can do to put it right.'
The Scot will know his side could have led in the first half, with Matt Jarvis comfortably able to dominate his duel with Craig Dawson and good chances falling to Nathan Redmond and Wes Hoolahan. Over the whole game, Norwich actually had 16 shots to West Brom’s seven.
But the devil was in the detail – West Brom’s chances were simply better.
Dawson fluffed a header from four yards at the end of the first half and Rondon, a £12million record signing, made the difference at the start of the second, making the most of some weak Norwich defending on a counter attack and heading in an excellent McClean cross.
West Brom manager Tony Pulis delivers instructions from the Carrow Road touchline during Saturday's Premier League tie in Norwich
Former Birmingham winger Redmond reacts on the Carrow Road turf after missing an opportunity to open the scoring on Saturday
Norwich City defender Ryan Bennett (left) competes for the ball with West Brom's second-choice goalkeeper Boaz Myhill
Jonny Howson competes in the middle of the park with opponent Claudio Yacob during the first half of their Premier League clash
West Brom forward Stephane Sessegnon beats Norway international Tettey to the ball during their top flight clash on Saturday afternoon
Former Wales international Myhill grimaces on the turf as Tony Pulis' men bid to replicate last weekend's victory over Sunderland
West Bromwich Albion defender Gareth McAuley and Norwich's midfield maestro Wes Hoolahan battle to win the ball at Carrow Road
Former Sunderland forward Sessegnon shields the ball from Howson as the Norwich midfielder attempts to win the ball
Brunt, who has been deployed as a left back by manager Tony Pulis, sticks out his left leg in an attempt to challenge Redmond
Norwich City manager Alex Neil cuts a dejected figure on the Carrow Road touchline during his side's top flight clash with West Brom
- Mourinho refuses to speak to media after loss to West Ham
- 'It's been a tough week' Jose stonefaced at press conference
- Klopp: At the end no goal, 98% ok, not perfect, 2% missed
- 81-year-old stuns guitar shop staff with his playing
- Bully takes a beating as 'victim' unveils his boxing skills
- Simon Cowell's adorable son Eric gate crashes his interview
- WARNING GRAPHIC: 'Drunk' driver plows into OSU parade
- Woman crashed into crowd as OSU homecoming parade was ending
- 'Drunk' driver kills 3 at Oklahoma State Homecoming Parade
- Shocking footage shows women being tortured for 'witchcraft'
- Can you work out what this bizarre object is in the sky?
- Owner terrifies cat by placing CUCUMBER on the floor
- Jose Mourinho is on the brink: Chelsea manager and his club...
- West Ham 2-1 Chelsea and Aston Villa 1-2 Swansea RESULTS:...
- West Ham 2-1 Chelsea: Andy Carroll scores winner as Jose...
- Mario Balotelli could be sued after being accused of...
- South Africa 18-20 New Zealand Rugby World Cup RESULT: All...
- Arsenal 2-1 Everton: Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny...
- Robert Lewandowski reported to police for drinking champagne...
- Jose Mourinho's soap opera season hits new low as Chelsea...
- Lionel Messi refuses to rule out eventual move to the...
- Arsenal 2-1 Everton Barclays Premier League RESULT: Olivier...
- United vs City is the £545m game: Player price tags prove...
- Chelsea 'devastated' by West Ham defeat, admits Gary Cahill...
Pleased to see Rondon scoring and keeping another c...
by Gen. Harry Flashman 92