Fittingly, it was a plot fit for a Hollywood horror movie.
Norwich City, the victims of a 6-2 stuffing against a Newcastle United side bedeviled by appalling form just under a fortnight ago, would travel to the Etihad Stadium; the home of the Premier League leaders. Manchester City, scorers of 18 goals on home turf in October, would continue their blistering run against Alex Neil’s strugglers.
But the script had been scrapped. Sixty-six minutes in and the score still read 0-0. The visitors, brought to life by the addition of England U21 winger Nathan Redmond, were attacking well and causing City problems at the back. This was not what Manuel Pellegrini had planned for.
After witnessing their team hit five against Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night, the Chilean was offered some rare encouragement by supporters to stick with his historically controversial 4-4-2 formation. Kelechi Iheanacho’s blistering display in the 5-1 victory ensured that whatever system was employed, it had to accommodate for the 19-year-old Nigerian and fans were granted their wish as Iheanacho was handed his first Premier League start.
His strike partner and mentor, Wilfried Bony, set an example not to be followed in the first half. The Ivorian skewed two notable chances within the first 30 minutes that should have tested the hands of John Ruddy. There was enough power behind the 26-year-old’s efforts, but very little accuracy.
It was Iheanacho, however, who made way for Raheem Sterling ten minutes into the second half and his strike partner may have breathed a sigh of relief. The move shifted Kevin De Bruyne into the number 10 role as City continued their pursuit of a deadlock breaker.
With under 25 minutes remaining and impatience tightening its grip on the Etihad Stadium, Nicolas Otamendi took to the air to meet Kevin De Bruyne’s corner and directed a bullet of a header into the top corner of Ruddy’s net. The Argentine had been the best player on the pitch before giving his side the lead in a game he may not have expected to exhibit his defensive abilities and his recent form suggests £32m was well spent this summer.
But that was no sign of the floodgates opening for the Blues. The Canaries continued to flap their wings and their equaliser came in extraordinary circumstances. Robbie Brady’s seemingly innocuous delivery into the box wriggled out of the grasp of Joe Hart and into the path of Cameron Jerome who tapped home from a yard out. This was an exceptionally bizarre gaffe from Hart who has been in terrific form this term, but the high-profile blunder had given Norwich the momentum with just seven minutes left on the clock.
And the chaos continued to unravel. With Ruddy off his line, Russell Martin took it upon himself to occupy the vacant role between the sticks and palm away Sterling’s effort that was destined for the back of the net. City had a penalty, Norwich were reduced to ten men, and Yaya Touré confidently smashed in his second league goal of the season.
Complete and utter relief for City, but still time for more theatre as Brady brought down Sterling in the 18-yard-box and gifted the hosts another penalty. Aleksandar Kolarov stole the ball from his teammate, much to the 20-year-old’s disgust, and fired wide.
The sound of Bobby Madley’s full time whistle was music to ears of City fans who, after one of the most absurd 90 minutes of football seen this season, can enjoy another evening at the top of the table.
