It was a rambling affair for the first 35 minutes at Carrow Road. Joelinton’s superb brace late in the first half gave Newcastle a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break. Norwich had a few chances but failed to take their chances.
Eddie Howe had the guys set up in the 4-3-3 with Dubravka in goal behind a back four from Krafth, Lascelles, Burn and Targett. Midfielders were Longstaff, Guimaraes and Willock with Murphy on the right and Saint-Maximin on the left. Joelinton was back in the lead.
Newcastle had the first chance of the match in the 7th minute. Guimaraes’ cross ball marked Murphy’s run into the box. Jacob’s effort was left wanting as he was pushed away from the target.
Norwich quickly created their first chance. Matthias Normann sent a ball over the top which met a booming Kieran Dowell in the box. However, the midfielder made a mistake sending his shot into the stands.
The hosts had another huge moment with Pierre Lees-Melou sending Teemu Pukki one-on-one with Dubravka in the 18th minute. The striker rounded a slippery Dubravka as the Newcastle defenders recovered. Pukki brought it back to Dowell, whose shot sailed over the crossbar.
Newcastle came very close to a corner in the 27th minute. Murphy’s delivery was met by Dan Burn as he tossed a header at the near post. The ball sailed across the face of the goal passing just beyond the far post.
Saint-Maximin traded with Joelinton around the half hour mark with the Frenchman in the lead. Shortly after, Newcastle found their breakthrough in the 35th minute and it was Joelinton with a superb strike.
A ball freed Murphy on the right who played a backheel one-two with Krafth. Murphy rushes into the area and passes Saint-Maximin on the edge of the area. Allan tried to find Longstaff but the ball was deflected with Joelinton running over it and exploding it just under the crossbar giving Tim Krul no chance.
Five minutes later, Joelinton added a second to make it 2-0. Guimaraes played a perfect ball to meet Murphy’s run into the box. Jacob tried to cross a pass to Joelinotn. He was deflected slightly but found the Brazilian at the back post and slotted him into the back of the net.
Sean Longstaff probably should have made it 3-0 as the half ended by sending a shot from inside the box into the back rows. Newcastle finished the half with all the momentum as Joelinton’s two strikes deflated the Canaries.
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