11 JANUARY 2025
NORWICH CITY 0 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 4
EMIRATES FA CUP, THIRD ROUND -
at CARROW ROAD, NORWICH.
As a change from their Premier League schedule, the Albion travelled to East Anglia to meet Sky Bet Championship side Norwich City at Carrow Road in the Third Round of the Emirates Cup , the match being broadcast by BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Last time out the Seagulls had drawn 1-1 at home to Arsenal in the Premier on the 4 January and for their visit to Norwich, the Albion made six changes to their starting line-up from the Arsenal game, with Jason Steele, Adam Webster, Yankuba Minteh, Julio Enciso, Kaoru Mitoma and Geroginio Rutter coming in for Bart Verbruggen, Igor Julio (injured), Brajan Gruda, Matt O'Riley, Simon Adingra and Joao Pedro (injured).
Norwich Head Coach Joannes Hoff Thorup was missing top scorer Borga Sainz who was starting a 6-match FA ban and on the Canaries substitutes bench was former Albion defender Shane Duffy.
The Canaries were fast out of the traps and early on Jason Steele in the Albion goal was forced to save from Lewis Dobbin and Amankwah Forson's curled effort struck the post. In between Joel Veltman's shot was saved by Norwich keeper George Long. Julio Enciso's toe-poked shot was then saved by the diving Long.
The visitors took the lead on 37 minutes when Georginio Rutter got on the end of Veltman's precise cross to head powerfully past keeper Long. 1-0. In time added on in the first-half Rutter's well-struck shot took a deflection off defender Callum Doyle and unhindered ended up in the Canaries net for Albion's second. 2-0. Nearly game over.
Half-time 2-0.
First action of the second-half saw Yankuba Minteh unleash a piledriver of a shot which keeper Long did well to deflect away from goal. Marcelino Nunez shot from long-range but his effort missed the target by a narrow margin. On 59 minutes Albion clinched the tie when Enciso's curled shot flashed past Long. 3-0.
Having been broiught on as a substiute for Minteh on 71 minutes, three minutes later Solly March netted Albion's fourth when he cut in from the right and unleashed a superb left-foot shot into the top of the Norwich net. 4-0. A thoroughly professional performance by Seagulls.
Final score 4-0.
Match stats:
Albion had 21 attempts at goal, with 8 on target and won 4 corners, free-kicks conceded - 13.
Norwich had 6 attempts at goal, with 1 one target and won 3 corners, free-kicks conceded - 3.
TO SUM UP - Albion ended their 8 match winless run, with an emphatic 4-0 win at Norwich City. It was great to see Solly March back on the scoresheet after his lengthy injury absence. Albion's reward is a Fourth Round tie at home to Chelsea in early February.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason STEELE; Joel VELTMAN (Jakub MODER 78), Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Adam WEBSTER (Ruairi McCONVILLE 71), Pervis ESTUPINAN; Carlos BALEBA, Yasin AYARI; Yankuba MINTEH (Solly MARCH 71), Julio ENCISO (Danny WELBECK 63), Kaoru MITOMA; Georginio RUTTER (Brajan GRUDA 63).
Subs not used: Bart VERBRUGGEN (G/K), Ed TURNS, Matt O'RILEY, Simon ADINGRA.
Norwich City line-up (4-3-3):- George LONG; Jack STACEY, Jose CORDOBA, Callum DOYLE (Brad HILLS 46), Ben CHRISENE (Shane DUFFY 79); Amankwah FORSON (Kellen FISHER 46), Kenny McLEAN (Capt), Marcelino NUNEZ (Onel HERNANDEZ 61); Oscar SCHEARTAU, Anta CRNAC (Josh SARGENT 79), Lewis DOBBIN.
Subs not used: Angus GUNN (G/K), Kaide GORDON, E. MYLES, Lucien MAHOVO.
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire).
Fourth Official: Sam Allison.
Possession: Albion - 52%. Norwich City - 48%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Georginio Rutter (Albion).
Attendance: 24738 (including 2380 Albion fans).
FORTHCOMING FIXTURES:
16 JANUARY 2025 - IPSWICH TOWN - Away - Premier League - kick-off 19.30. Albion won 2-0
19 JANUARY 2025 - MANCHESTER UNITED - Away - Premier League - kick-off 14.00
Jack Kaye.