Mohamed Toure netted a second-half hat-trick as Norwich got here from behind to beat Roy Hodgson’s Bristol Metropolis 4-2 in a mid-table Championship battle at Ashton Gate.
The house facet have been forward inside two minutes as Sam Morsy moved unchallenged on to a sq. go from Jason Knight and hit a candy right-footed shot previous Vladan Kovacevic from simply exterior the field.
Nonetheless, Norwich equalised after 51 minutes when Toure had a glancing header brilliantly saved by Radek Vitek, however recovered to stab house the rebound in a crowded six-yard field.
A fast get away of defence noticed Oscar Schwartau outpace Bristol’s back-line within the seventieth minute to arrange a easy tap-in for Toure, who then accomplished his treble 5 minutes later by deflecting in Paris Maghoma’s 25-yard strike.
Mohamed Toure celebrates after scoring towards Bristol Metropolis
Jose Cordoba made it 4-1 after 78 minutes with a far submit header from Kenny McLean’s cross. Substitute Sam Bell fired an stoppage-time comfort for the house facet, however couldn’t stop Hodgson’s first defeat in his fourth sport as interim head coach.
The Robins made the quicker begin on a day of brilliant sunshine and after Morsy’s early opener, Kovacevic needed to dive to maintain out an Emil Riis shot after 14 minutes.
Nonetheless, Norwich have been quickly posing a menace themselves, McLean forcing a save from Vitek with a stinging 30-yard drive. Quickly Kellen Fisher was additionally attempting his luck from distance and his deflected effort introduced the house facet’s goalkeeper into motion once more.
Bristol Metropolis seemed sure to double their benefit after 21 minutes when the ball broke to Scott Twine in entrance of purpose solely eight yards out, however he delayed his shot barely and allowed a defender to dam.
Ali Ahmed shot excessive and huge for Norwich, whereas Pelle Mattsson’s glancing header was additionally off course.
On the different finish, Bristol Metropolis had the ball within the web once more after Adam Randell’s shot had been parried by Kovacevic, however a linesman was flagging for offside.
Canaries midfielder Paris Maghoma had a shot blocked by Cam Pring, who was relieved to not concede an personal purpose moments later, with Vitek displaying good reactions to tip over his involuntary effort.
Norwich might contemplate themselves unlucky to be behind on the break, however they continued to press in the beginning of the second half and McLean despatched a long-range chip over the bar with Vitek caught out of his space.
Toure’s equaliser got here as no shock though, moments later, he was cautioned for simulation, happening contained in the field beneath problem from the advancing Vitek.
Bristol Metropolis then fell aside within the closing phases as Norwich and Toure ran riot. It took a great low save from Vitek to forestall substitute Anis Ben Slimane making it 5-1 earlier than Bell’s late strike from shut vary gave what house followers remained within the floor one thing to cheer.
The managers
Bristol Metropolis’s Roy Hodgson:
“The players are very down and dejected in the dressing because they had the dream of extending the unbeaten run and finishing the season strongly.
“I’m extra practical and knew that in addition to being able to successful any Championship sport, we have been additionally liable to lose one. Now it’s about how they react for what will probably be one other extraordinarily tough sport at Southampton on Tuesday.
“There was a lot to like about how we played in the first half, but we couldn’t hold the lead and the equaliser came after they had threatened to take a grip on the game.
“Their second purpose was a specific disappointment as a result of it got here once we have been urgent to return in entrance.
“We had produced some intricate passing but our centre-back was pushed forward, and when the cross was cut out, we were caught by a quick and powerful counter-attack.
“They took their possibilities, so nice credit score to them for that, and all we might do then was maintain preventing. The truth that we scored our second close to the top reveals the gamers did that.”
Norwich’s Philippe Clement:
There is every chance of Mo being in Australia’s starting line-up for their World Cup games and what an experience that promises to be for him.
“We have now to watch out to not place an excessive amount of expectation on him as a result of he’s nonetheless studying the sport. However he’s eager to do exactly that and he is a good lad, all the time able to pay attention
“In the second half of this game, he showed the movement that can take him behind defences and cause them problems. He has already played international football and is ambitious for more.
“It’s nice for our membership to have gamers concerned at worldwide stage and will probably be very fascinating to see how Mo will get on this summer time.”
