Despite taking the lead and playing their part in an entertaining opening first-half Saddlers lost the plot after half-time and conceeded 3 goals in less than 15 minutes as Norwich played some excellent attacking football to take a deserved 3-points. Both sides could have scored within the first 5 minutes of this game. Simon Osborn's cracking right-footed volley went inches past the post. Norwich then went on the attack and the ball appeared to be looping into the top corner before Walker made a great save. Walsall took the lead after just 5 minutes. The lively Gary Birch fought hard to get onto the end of Jamie Lawrence's header before smacking the ball past Green. Walsall were forced to defend for the rest of the first-half. Norwich managed to find space on the left-wing with alarming regularity. Huckerby and Roper enjoyed a good battle for the most of the opening period but the defence struggled with the height of Peter Crouch. Crouch found himself in space on numerous occassions and headed wide from 6-yards with no defender in sight. Norwich continued to put dangerous balls into the box and Walker had to make a couple of good saves from distance whilst Vinny Samways almost added to the lead but his long-range effort was tipped over the bar by Green. No changes were made at half-time by Colin Lee and as Norwich stepped up the pressure the midfield became almost non-existent. On 52 minutes Drury got behind the defence and crossed for Henderson to slot home from close range and 5 minutes later Norwich squeezed the ball through for McVeigh to score to give Norwich the lead. Norwich secured the points with a third goal. Despite being the only Norwich player in an attacking position, Crouch was left unmarked, Henderson was given all the space and time he needed to cross and Crouch just prodded the ball home. Norwich should have added a fourth but Walker made a great save from a fierce long range drive and at the other end Leitao's diving header went over the crossbar. Before the game was over Crouch and Ritchie managed to get themselves sent-off. Both had already been booked and after a scrappy challenge players from both sides squared up to one another which resulted in 2 red-cards being issued. |