Tony Pulis’ debut as Crystal Palace manager got off to a poor start as his side lost to potential relegation rivals Norwich City, with Gary Hooper bagging the game’s only goal to keep the Eagles at the bottom of the table.
Norwich City vs. Crystal Palace: Final score 1-0, Hooper spoils Tony Pulis’ Palace debut
Norwich City spoiled Tony Pulis’ debut at Crystal Palace by gaining a valuable 1-0 win at Carrow Road, with Gary Hooper scoring the game’s only goal.
All eyes were on Crystal Palace's playing style to see whether they had adopted any of Pulis' famously direct tactics, but in truth the biggest change seemed to be a determination to press their opponents from the visitors, making things much harder for their opponents than they had done in recent weeks.
Norwich did come very close to an early opener however, Johan Elmander hitting the bar from a set-piece with the ball bouncing down onto the turf, giving an opportunity to make use of the goal-line cameras, which showed that the ball hadn't crossed the line. Nathan Redmond also forced Julian Speroni into a fine save as Palace's industry failed to prevent Norwich from forcing them onto the back foot.
Redmond was looking typically dangerous for the hosts and had a huge hand in the opening goal. A fine run down the right allowed him to put a good ball into the area, and Wes Hoolahan put it back into the path of Gary Hooper for a simple finish as the former Celtic man put the hosts in front.
Palace came within inches of an equaliser straight after however, as Barry Bannan arrived on a rebound with a ferocious and brilliantly-placed effort which deflected off the head of Martin Olsson on the way to striking the bar.
The second half did not live up to the promise of the first, but as time elapsed, the complexion of the game began to change. Norwich were fading as the second half wore on, and despite Palace’s workrate across the pitch, it was the visitors who were growing into the game rather than looking tired. Dean Moxey almost created an equaliser with a lethal cross into the area, but Sebastian Bassong just about managed to divert it over to his bar, taking a great risk of an own-goal but managing to keep Palace out.
Norwich had a worrying moment in the last minute of injury-time as a deep free-kick led to Palace having a couple of half-chances, but a missed scissor kick was about as close as the visitors got to scoring. And it ended up with a deserved result for the Canaries to lift some of the pressure on Chris Hughton.
It’s a poor result to start Tony Pulis’ career in South London, but there were encouraging signs considering how long the former Stoke boss has been with the side. The defending for the goal, however, was pretty wretched - that will be the first task faced by the new man.
Norwich City: Ruddy; Martin, R Bennett, Bassong, Olsson; Fer, Howson, Redmond, Hoolahan (B. Johnson 79'), Elmander (Becchio 81'), Hooper
Goals: Hooper 30’
Crystal Palace: Speroni, Ward, Gabbidon, Delaney, Moxey, Jedinak, Dikgacoi, Bannan (Williams 73’), Puncheon (Kebe 76’), Chamakh (Gayle 80’), Jerome
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