The drive to Norwich City’s Carrow Road never gets any easier. It’s probably my least favourite away trip in terms of the journey and so full credit to all those Bristol City fans who made the effort in getting to East Anglia.
As it was, those of us in the away end were rewarded with a performance full of character and intensity, along with moments of real quality. In my opinion, a point in a 1-1 draw was the least that we deserved, having created the better opportunities.
Liam Manning recalled fit-again Rob Dickie and lined up in the now familiar three at the back, with George Tanner on the right and Haydon Roberts on the left. Joe Williams and Jason Knight partnered in central midfield with Ross McCrorie and Cameron Pring providing the width. Mark Sykes, Scott Twine and Tommy Conway were the attacking options selected.
Norwich City Manager David Wagner looked to be a man heading for the exit door at Carrow Road when his team visited Ashton Gate back in December and their late winner that day changed both his and his side's fortunes.
They are in sixth place in the table after Saturday’s draw and look to be heading for the end of season play-offs. It was never going to be an easy game for Manning’s team, with the Canaries unbeaten in 14 games at home, having won their last eight games on their own patch and last tasting defeat back on November 5, losing 3-1 to Blackburn Rovers.
We had an early scare when Josh Sargent hit the post with a shot from the edge of the area but not long after we should have taken the lead when Mark Sykes was sent racing clear after a fine through ball from Scott Twine. It was a disappointing effort from Sykes who tried to deceive the keeper and clip it over him, but Angus Gunn didn’t go to ground and as it was, the chip from Sykes went horribly wide.
It was a poor decision from Sykes, trying to be too cute when he had a simple square ball to Tommy Conway, who had kept pace with the break and would have had the easiest of tap-ins. That’s twice in a matter of games that Sykes has gone for the little clip and got it wrong. It summed up his performance, for me. It may seem harsh to say but I’d be starting Anis Mehmeti next week at home to Rotherham United and bench Sykes.
I was impressed with Scott Twine, the on loan playmaker created the chance for Sykes and saw a free-kick strike the bar and another go just wide. On another day he could have been walking away with the matchball. Gunn made two good saves from him, one in the first half, when Ben Gibson did well to get a challenge in and take the pace of the ball, and one in the second half after a good header across goal from Ross McCrorie.
There is no doubting Twine’s ability and for me, when he plays Tommy Conway has more impact on a game. The two combined on numerous occasions on Saturday and with more time together you could see that being a partnership that could really click.
The possible signing of Twine from Burnley in the summer is a discussion point on social media. When fees were talked about in January, a figure of £5 million was reported. I cannot see the club paying that kind of money for any one player in the summer and even if the finances were there, has he had enough influence on games to warrant that being paid?
Personally, I would love to sign him but only if the fee is right and I wouldn’t being paying more than £2million with maybe add ons based on our league finish next season and Twine’s contribution in terms of goals and assists.
It was another impressive performance from Haydon Roberts at the back. He scored his first Championship goal after a good move involving Joe Williams and Conway. Williams won the ball after a corner, spotted Conway and played a ball in behind the defender with the striker then picking out Roberts with a perfect pull-back. It was a tidy finish.
Williams was back to his best; tenacious when winning the ball back and looking to play when he could. The combination of him and Jason Knight in the middle of the pitch was particularly eye-catching. The Irishman intercepted and broke up numerous Norwich attacks and it was a tough choice to pick a man of the match out of Roberts, Knight and Williams. In the end I picked Joe, but wouldn’t have argued had Roberts or Knight got it.
The re-signing of Williams on a contract is such a no-brainer after performances like Saturday’s, but it is a different financial landscape now than when Joe signed, and I hope that the club and player can come to an agreement.
Similarly with Conway, we all know what Tommy is capable of and I have no doubt that we have a 20-goal-a-season player there, with the right service. Potentially three of the most important bits of business the club will do in the summer, is signing Twine and getting Williams and Conway tied down to deals.
Having taken the lead, it was disappointing to concede so quickly, and we can freeze frame the highlights and draw our own VAR lines or look at the cut of the grass but in truth it was too tight to call. I will give the benefit of the doubt to the officials, and we had a decision go our way with the penalty last week, so these things tend to even themselves out.
It was as entertaining a 1-1 draw as you are likely to see and while I felt that we did deserve more, it was still a good point and keeps the unbeaten run going. When we press higher like this and move the ball quicker, with a playmaker like Twine in the side, you can see real potential. Manningball is a joy to watch. If we can do the deals mentioned and bring in a couple of other quality signings at the top end of the pitch, the future does look exciting.
It was interesting to hear Brian Tinnion talk with James Skinner and Tony Wilkins on the Sober Sports Talk podcast, about how excited he is about the future.
Our 3 Peaps In A Podcast 'Robins Review' player ratings were: Max O’Leary 6, Ross McCrorie 6, George Tanner 7, Rob Dickie 7, Haydon Roberts 8, Cameron Pring 6, Joe Williams 8 *MotM, Jason Knight 8, Mark Sykes 5, Scott Twine 7 and Tommy Conway 7. For the sub Anis Mehmeti 6. An average player rating of 6.75 and a season average of 6.22.
For Manning, it was a 7. The team put in a string performance against a good Norwich City side likely to be involved in the play-offs. A point was the least we deserved.
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