Premier League
NorwichNorwich City1TottenhamTottenham Hotspur0

Norwich City 1 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur

By James McMathBBC Sport
Joseph Yobo tackles Paulinho during Norwich's Premier League match with Tottenham.
Joseph Yobo tackles Paulinho during Norwich's Premier League match with Tottenham.

Robert Snodgrass scored the only goal as Norwich moved away from the relegation zone and dented Tottenham's top-four hopes.

Scotland winger Snodgrass curled his low shot from 18 yards beyond Hugo Lloris after Bradley Johnson's pass.

Hughton 'immensely proud' of Norwich

Goalkeeper John Ruddy helped Norwich to victory, denying Emmaunel Adebayor and Nacer Chadli in the second half.

Norwich came close to doubling their advantage when Johnson thundered a free-kick off the underside of the bar.

It was Norwich's second victory in 12 league games and a significant boost for manager Chris Hughton, who was under growing pressure following comments made by chief executive David McNally earlier in February.

Hughton's side created the better chances and stood firm as Tottenham tried in vain to claw their way back into the match.

It was a lacklustre display from the visitors, who failed to score in the Premier League for the first time since Tim Sherwood took over in December.

They did not register a shot on target in the first half and Chadli's low cross, which was cleared by Sebastien Bassong in the six-yard box, was as close as they came.

It meant that Snodgrass's goal, which gave Norwich a deserved breakthrough in the early stages of the second half, was enough to earn the points.

Defeat bitterly disappointing - Sherwood

Ricky van Wolfswinkel stole possession from Nabil Bentaleb just inside the Spurs half and found Johnson, whose through-ball released Snodgrass. The Scotland international held off Danny Rose and curled his low shot beyond Lloris from the edge of the area.

Spurs finally started to pose a threat but a combination of poor finishing and fine goalkeeping from Ruddy kept them at bay.

Adebayor stole possession from Bassong to go clear but a heavy touch allowed the goalkeeper to come out and save at his feet.

Sherwood introduced Roberto Soldado in place of Paulinho and the Spaniard missed two good chances within two minutes of coming on. First he lashed his shot wide from 10 yards after Adebayor's neat lay-off, before glancing a header wide from Aaron Lennon's right-wing cross.

After that, Norwich missed a succession of chances to double their lead.

Snodgrass whipped a free kick narrowly wide and Johnson came even closer, crashing his drive off the underside of the bar. Then Nathan Redmond was denied by Lloris in the follow-up before substitute Gary Hooper's cut back was just behind Alex Tettey, who was well placed six yards out.

Tottenham had one final chance to salvage a point when Chadli was picked out by Mousa Dembele, but Ruddy was there again to make a brave save.

The result moved Norwich four points clear of the bottom three, while Spurs are now six points off fourth-placed Liverpool.

Line-ups

Norwich

Formation 4-4-1-1

  • 1RuddyBooked at 90mins
  • 2Martin
  • 23Olsson
  • 27Tettey
  • 26Yobo
  • 5Bassong
  • 7Snodgrass
  • 4Johnson
  • 9van WolfswinkelSubstituted forHooperat 72'minutes
  • 10Fer
  • 22RedmondSubstituted forHoolahanat 86'minutes

Substitutes

  • 3Whittaker
  • 8Howson
  • 11Hooper
  • 12Pilkington
  • 13Bunn
  • 14Hoolahan
  • 16Elmander

Tottenham

Formation 4-1-4-1

  • 25Lloris
  • 16Naughton
  • 3RoseSubstituted forTownsendat 82'minutes
  • 15CapoueSubstituted forChadliat 14'minutes
  • 20DawsonBooked at 88mins
  • 5VertonghenBooked at 79mins
  • 19DembéléBooked at 32mins
  • 8PaulinhoSubstituted forSoldadoat 65'minutes
  • 10Adebayor
  • 42Bentaleb
  • 7Lennon

Substitutes

  • 9Soldado
  • 17Townsend
  • 21Chadli
  • 23Eriksen
  • 24Friedel
  • 35Fryers
  • 37Kane
Referee:
Craig Pawson
Attendance:
26,834

Match Stats

Home TeamNorwichAway TeamTottenham
Possession
Home41%
Away59%
Shots
Home13
Away9
Shots on Target
Home3
Away2
Corners
Home5
Away3
Fouls
Home8
Away15

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Norwich City 1, Tottenham Hotspur 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Norwich City 1, Tottenham Hotspur 0.

  3. Post update

    Attempt saved. Nacer Chadli (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Emmanuel Adebayor.

  4. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Andros Townsend.

  5. Booking

    John Ruddy (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card.

  6. Post update

    Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Martin Olsson.

  7. Booking

    Michael Dawson (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  8. Post update

    Foul by Michael Dawson (Tottenham Hotspur).

  9. Post update

    Gary Hooper (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  10. Substitution

    Substitution, Norwich City. Wes Hoolahan replaces Nathan Redmond.

  11. Post update

    Attempt missed. Nathan Redmond (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a corner.

  12. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Bradley Johnson (Norwich City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sébastien Bassong.

  13. Post update

    Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Aaron Lennon.

  14. Post update

    Attempt saved. Nathan Redmond (Norwich City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Gary Hooper.

  15. Post update

    Bradley Johnson (Norwich City) hits the bar with a left footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.

  16. Post update

    Foul by Michael Dawson (Tottenham Hotspur).

  17. Post update

    Leroy Fer (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  18. Post update

    Attempt missed. Robert Snodgrass (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Gary Hooper.

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Andros Townsend replaces Danny Rose.

  20. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Nacer Chadli (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Danny Rose.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Chelsea27186349212860
2Arsenal27185452272559
3Man City26183569274257
4Liverpool27175570353556
5Tottenham2715573633350
6Man Utd27136843311245
7Everton26129537271045
8Newcastle27124113338-540
9Southampton2710983832639
10West Ham2787123134-331
11Hull2786132931-230
12Swansea2777133640-428
13Aston Villa2777132737-1028
14Norwich2777132039-1928
15Stoke2769122742-1527
16Crystal Palace2682161836-1826
17West Brom27413103139-825
18Sunderland2666142642-1624
19Cardiff2757151948-2922
20Fulham2763182759-3221
View full Premier League table

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