Worthy reflects on what might have been
CHRIS LAKEY Norwich City were left to reflect on what might have been as they blew and they blew but failed to knock the rickety house of Leeds down in Saturday's Championship opener.
CHRIS LAKEY
By CHRIS LAKEY
Norwich City were left to reflect on what might have been as they blew and they blew but failed to knock the rickety house of Leeds down in Saturday's Championship opener.
Canaries manager Nigel Worthington saw Robert Earnshaw miss a string of chances and new boy Lee Croft concede a penalty which was enough to give Leeds a win they didn't deserve.
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They were the downsides, as Worthington was keen to emphasise.
“I think the Leeds people will say we deserved something from the game,” he said.
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“Very pleased to come to Leeds and put a performance on like that and create the chances that we created. The only two downsides is we didn't take the chances, which is disappointing. But that will happen, and you know Earnshaw for sure in this league will score goals, if we keep getting the chances, as long as we keep creating the chances.
“And the other one was I thought the penalty was a little bit harsh. It was a loose ball, bodies coming together and it has gone in Leeds' favour. But other than that I couldn't have asked for any more of the players. I feel sorry for the players as apart from getting the result they have done everything else.
“There were a huge amount of positives.”
If Earnshaw can find his scoring boots - and the evidence clearly suggests he can - then there could be much brighter times ahead for City, who, with Youssef Safri, Carl Robinson and the excellent Dickson Etuhu pulling the strings, out-passed Leeds for much of an entertaining game.
It was a far cry from the so-called “hoofball” that so upset many fans last season.
“They worked very well, the three boys up at the top with their pace broke quickly and I thought we were reasonably solid at the back,” added Worthington. “There are so many plusses - one or two bits to add to it, will help us.
“There must have been four or five good chances that were created and to come away and do that is very pleasing, but it would have been nice to have come away with a good result.”
While losing at Leeds isn't unforgivable, City know that home games must be won, starting with Preston tomorrow.
“We have got to get ourselves ready for Tuesday night and ready to go again and hopefully we can play as well, create the chances, and maybe stick a couple in the back of the net,” added Worthington.
He goes into the game with no added injury concerns and likely to start with Croft again, although the £600,000 signing went off shortly before the hour mark with a touch of cramp.
“To be fair he did very well to do as long as he did,” Worthington said. “I was very pleased - not an easy first game, Elland Road, but he has come away and I think he has shown enough signs today that he will be an exciting player and a good player for Norwich City.”
