Pilkington: Netted for the Canaries

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Norwich 2-0 Bolton

Norwich completed the league double over Bolton for the first time since 1971 with a well deserved win at Carrow Road.

Norwich started the game brightly, shrugging off their miserable performance away from home at Sunderland in midweek, and doing far more with their possession of the ball than gutless Bolton.

Simeon Jackson slipped an early pass past a static Zat Knight, but Wes Hoolahan couldn’t quite make up the ground to connect with the ball in the box.

Minutes later, a thumping header from Zak Whitbread from a David Fox corner took a slight deflection before flashing over the bar, with Adam Bogdan beaten in the Bolton goal.

The goalkeeper fared better shortly after, making a good diving save from a right-footed shot from Grant Holt in what was the best chance of the opening 20 minutes. 

But Bogdan had the crossbar to thank for keeping the score level just before the half hour mark, as Andrew Surman’s effort slammed off the underside of the bar.

Norwich started to lose their way slightly as the half wore on, losing centre-halves Daniel Ayala and Whitbread to injury, and a late strike from Martin Petrov that took a crucial deflection before flashing wide of the target was a sign of Bolton being handed a chance to grow into the game.

The home side didn’t waste any time hitting their stride once more as the second half got underway, Jackson sending a skidding low shot just wide of the target before Surman, who was majestic all afternoon, broke the deadlock.

The Norwich man followed up a first-time shot with a right-footed volley that left Bogdan with no chance of making a save.

Bolton reacted badly to going behind, their heads dropping, and even the best efforts of Kevin Davies couldn’t inspire a comeback.

With just six minutes of normal time left, Norwich doubled their lead, Anthony Pilkington scoring with a side-footed effort after Bogdan spilled a shot from Russell Martin.

Petrov had a chance to grab a goal back seconds before the final whistle, but the comfortable final scoreline was no more than the home side deserved.