Norwich City vs Sheffield United. Sky Bet Championship.
Carrow RoadAttendance26,373.
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Norwich City and Sheffield United at Carrow Road on Saturday | Josh Sargent and Ollie Arblaster net for the Canaries and the Blades respectively as spoils are shared.
Saturday 24 August 2024 18:41, UK
Norwich are still looking for their first Championship win of the season and Sheffield United remained undefeated after a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Carrow Road.
The Canaries took a 22nd-minute lead through Josh Sargent against the run of play, but the visitors were level just after the half-hour mark following an assured finish from young skipper Ollie Arblaster.
The game ebbed and flowed after that with the Blades having a slight edge, but both defences held firm to ensure honours ended even.
The visitors had the better of the early exchanges, with Harry Souttar heading a fifth-minute corner inches over, but found themselves behind midway through the half as Norwich made their first real opportunity count.
Amankwah Forson skilfully guided Marcelino Nunez's pass into the path of Sargent and the United States international produced a precise finish to net his second goal of the season.
It was tough on the Blades but Chris Wilder's men quickly regrouped and were deservedly back on level terms 10 minutes later.
Andre Brooks had been wreaking havoc down the right and when his cross was deflected to the edge of the box Arblaster expertly picked his spot to beat Angus Gunn.
Norwich might have regained the lead just before the break when Sargent got a close-range header on target but Michael Cooper marked his United debut by making a smart stop.
Gunn saved well at his near post to keep out a piledriver from Harrison Burrows as the Blades started the second period strongly, with the same player then curling an ambitious effort just over as the game passed the hour mark.
Nunez, from a 25-yard free-kick, and Sargent both saw efforts comfortably gathered by the keeper as Norwich sought a response, while at the other end Gunn had to be alert to grab a long range free-kick from Gustavo Hamer.
The hosts produced a storming finish, but the ball did not run for them at a couple of key moments and the points were shared.
Norwich's Johannes Hoff Thorup:
"There is a lot of belief in this squad - you should see the way they train - and they showed that against a strong team with a lot of Premier League experience.
"We took some more steps in the right direction today. It was a good performance - and there is potential for us to be even better in the future.
"I thought we started well and then scored a fantastic goal, with the ball coming all the way from the back.
"That is exactly what I like to see but then we then conceded a poor goal when we had the ball and then gave it away, which has happened before this season. That was disappointing and is something we have to work on.
"But after that we did well and there were a lot of times when he looked like having a good chance and the final pass, or the final touch, wasn't quite good enough."
Sheffield United's Chris Wilder:
"We are looking to add at the top end of the pitch, either wide or more central, but we won't be doing any hectic stuff.
"I thought it was a good game between two clubs with a lot of similarities. Both have been in the Premier League, both have strong squads and are well coached.
"Being greedy I think we could have taken all three points had we shown just a little more quality in and around the box when we were in good positions.
"But when my head hits the pillow tonight I'll probably be happy with a hard-earned point against a good side. This is a very difficult place to come to and if you are not going to win a game it's important you don't get beat and come away with something.
"This is a good group and their attitude to going behind was first class."
