‘Utterly dominant’ - City fans joyous after Super Mario strike seals late win

Connor Southwell

Published: 9:45 PM October 20, 2020 Updated: 7:17 PM November 21, 2020

Super sub Mario Vrancic celebrates his late winner against Birmingham City last night Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd

It was Mario Vrancic to the rescue as Norwich City won back-to-back games for the first time since May 2019 at Carrow Road last night.

The first time we've been properly in control of a game tonight, coupled with being able to create chances with real regularity. On another night we win that 3 or 4-0. Progress, lovely.
— Jon Punt (@puntino) October 20, 2020

Rupp really showed what he is made of and hope he gets loads of belief from his cracking performance! Fair play to him #ncfc
— Mike Ward (@mjtward19) October 20, 2020

A Norwich City sub (Idah) setting up another Norwich City sub (Vrancic) - you love to see it.

It's the first time it's happened for #ncfc since West Brom A in Jan 2019 (McLean to Rhodes) and the first time at Carrow Road since Rotherham in Oct 2016 (Josh Murphy to Naismith)
— NCFC Numbers (@ncfcnumbers) October 20, 2020

People talk all the time about 'empty' possession but in these 2 2nd halves, after not scoring in the 1st half, we've drawn 2 RCs & another 5 YCs. That's due to pressure & fatigue - 3 GS, 0 GA. #ncfc #OTBC
— Nick Alpers (@NickAlpers) October 20, 2020

Great to be on the pitch tonight, wasn't as sharp as I'd like but I'm building. Massive win, bring on Saturday @NorwichCityFC
— Todd Cantwell (@ToddCantwell_10) October 20, 2020

23 shots on goal, utterly dominant from Norwich tonight & another massive victory. Did everything we needed to against a defensively solid Birmingham side. Over the moon & my love for Vrancic grows even stronger
— Jack Reeve (@JackReeveTNC) October 20, 2020

The behind closed doors OLE's from Daniel #ncfc pic.twitter.com/eI4RC4CiBU
— Ian (@Ian_M1) October 20, 2020

Fuming with the performance after we took the lead. Delighted with the performance from minute 1 to Super Mario's 88th minute winner. Should have gone ahead much earlier. Clean sheet, but lucky to get it in the end though. Rupp, Emi and Todd all with very good performances. #ncfc
— Adam Brandon (@AdamBrandon84) October 20, 2020

It's coming together. Some great performances tonight headed by Rupp and Cantwell. All aboard #ncfc pic.twitter.com/NcW87UwLvM
— Ian (@Ian_M1) October 20, 2020

I wanted a good performance combined with three points - I got it. Pleased. But we need to be more clinical in front of goal. Could have had 5 or 6 tonight. #ncfc
— van der Finz (@JamesFinbow) October 20, 2020

Todd Cantwell returned and was an influential figure as the Canaries totally dominated Birmingham, with over 70 percent of possession.

Yet they couldn’t unpick the lock until a couple of minutes after Adam Clayton had picked up a second yellow card for the visitors.

The superb Lukas Rupp won back the ball, Emi Buendia found Adam Idah in the box and his fellow substitute was by his side to take the pass and fire low past the Blues keeper in the 87th minute, to roars of delight.

It built on the 2-1 win at Rotherham on Saturday, with Daniel Farke’s team putting in their best display of the season so far, against a team trying to defend.

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A fine chance for a third win on the spin awaits on Saturday when newly promoted Wycombe come to Carrow Road, after a bad start to life in the Championship.

- Read the thoughts of City fans above and below

Derby and Birmingham won't be the only teams who will set up like that and try and frustrate us. But if we can show the patience we did tonight it will stand us in good stead this season. Promising performance and a great three points #ncfc
— Richard Balls (@RichardBalls) October 20, 2020

What a victory for patience. Rupp was outstanding I thought tonight. Todd could have had a hat trick. 'Nearly' and 'almost' seem to be the words I use the most when we get into the last 3rd. Great that one eventually dropped for super Mario. #ncfc
— Mark (@mark_merlot3108) October 20, 2020

And before we get carried away with the Lukas Rupp love in – Hanley and Gibson… that looks a good partnership #ncfc
— A bloke from Norwich (@FoolFromTheHill) October 20, 2020

Love a late winner. Twice in three days. Get in! #ncfc
— Melissa Rudd (@melissajrudd) October 20, 2020

Max Aarons (20) v Birmingham City

82 Touches
90% Pass accuracy
3 Key passes
100% Dribble success
100% Tackle success

Always an outlet on the right. #ncfc pic.twitter.com/ALNGxVssSx
— Mezzala Football (@MezzalaFtbl) October 20, 2020

Amidst the praise for Cantwell and Rupp we shouldn't forget how good Buendia was tonight. Worked so hard front to back, got the touch to take it away from Hogan late on, and started nearly all the moves that led to chances. Committed, quality display. #NCFC
— Andy Head (@AndyHead02) October 20, 2020

Fully deserved win against a team that parked the bus from minute one. Some excellent individual performances tonight #ncfc
— Nathan Hollis (@SecondRowSaint) October 20, 2020

Hard fought but well deserved win for the Canaries. After the struggles of last season, back to back wins will help rebuild confidence. #ncfc
— Nick Bennett (@NickBennett58) October 20, 2020

Love Mario, but not sure he really has the engine to effectively influence a game for a full 90 minutes. #ncfc
— William Hart (@MrWilliamHart) October 20, 2020

A superb performance from Lukas Rupp this evening. Deserved man-of-the-match! pic.twitter.com/cG5AKiE9mm
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) October 20, 2020