Played
October 15, 2011 10:00 AM EDT
Carrow Road — Norwich, Norfolk
Referee: J. Moss
Attendance: 26567
October 15, 2011 10:00 AM EDT
Carrow Road — Norwich, Norfolk
Referee: J. Moss
Attendance: 26567
Top of the Match
Anthony Pilkington
Norwich City
Norwich City
Anthony Pilkington
Norwich City
Norwich City
Flop of the Match
Wayne Routledge
Swansea City
Swansea City
Brendan Rodgers
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Norwich City 3-1 Swansea: Anthony Pilkington double keeps rampant hosts ninth in Premier League
The Canaries won the battle between the newly promoted sides thanks to brace from ex-Huddersfield man to continue fine start to the season as Swans drop into bottom half
By Matt Scott
Getty Images
Anthony Pilkington's double fired Norwich City to a convincing 3-1 win over Swansea City.
The match was the first meeting between any of the Premier League's newly promoted sides and Norwich backed up its standing as the highest placed of the three with a fine performance.
Leon Britton returned to the Swans' line-up after recovering from injury during the international break, with Steve Morison keeping his place ahead of Grant Holt for the hosts.
Norwich's Carrow Road was bathed in sunshine and the Canaries made the brightest possible start. Elliot Bennett's cross was headed back into the area by Morison and Pilkington was on hand to smash the ball in to give Norwich the lead inside the first minute.
Paul Lambert's men had started the game at a ferocious pace and could have had a chance to double their lead just minutes later as Morison looked to run through one-on-one before being hauled down by Swansea skipper, Monk who was booked.
Norwich did double their lead in the tenth minute, however after Martin was given a free header from David Fox's free-kick.
Just as it looked to be a tough afternoon developing for Brendan Rodgers, his side grabbed an instant goal.
Scott Sinclair burst down the left hand side leaving Naughton and Bennett in his wake, slipped in the area and managed to prod the ball into the path of Graham, who swept in his second goal in as many games.
The game continued at break-neck speed, with both sides creating dangerous opportunities that Graham and Morison failed to finish off. Swansea looked to test Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy from distance as it came into the ascendancy, but couldn't conjure up anything particularly dangerous.
Norwich had some chances of its own, and although Swansea continued to enjoy the better of possession before the it half, it was nearly made to pay for its profligacy in front of goal when Michel Vorm was caught out and found himself lucky to see Bennett's cross drift over his bar.
The Canaries started the second half in a similar vein to the first, with Morison looking particularly dangerous. However, another player would get the third goal for the Canaries – a Norwich corner fell to Johnson who was unable to shoot but prodded the ball to Pilkington, who swivelled and put in his second of the game to restore Norwich's two-goal cushion.
Morison was forced off through injury shortly afterwards and was replaced by Norwich club captain, Grant Holt.
Scott Sinclair tried to take the game to Norwich, hitting another long-range effort but failing to hit the target as Brendan Rodgers continued to tweak his lineup to try and find a way to make his team's improved play count.
The game's substitutions had slowed the tempo slightly which was playing into the hands of Swansea's possession game and they had a chance to grab a goal following Danny Graham's surging right-wing run but Dobbie's shot was blocked and his follow-up header drifted comfortably into Ruddy's arms.
As the game entered the final ten minutes, Norwich began to sit back and allow Swansea more and more of the ball. Brendan Rodgers' side was unable to create a chance though and has now lost its first four Premier League games of the season, mirroring its early away form to last season in the Championship.
The match was the first meeting between any of the Premier League's newly promoted sides and Norwich backed up its standing as the highest placed of the three with a fine performance.
Leon Britton returned to the Swans' line-up after recovering from injury during the international break, with Steve Morison keeping his place ahead of Grant Holt for the hosts.
Norwich's Carrow Road was bathed in sunshine and the Canaries made the brightest possible start. Elliot Bennett's cross was headed back into the area by Morison and Pilkington was on hand to smash the ball in to give Norwich the lead inside the first minute.
Paul Lambert's men had started the game at a ferocious pace and could have had a chance to double their lead just minutes later as Morison looked to run through one-on-one before being hauled down by Swansea skipper, Monk who was booked.
Norwich did double their lead in the tenth minute, however after Martin was given a free header from David Fox's free-kick.
Just as it looked to be a tough afternoon developing for Brendan Rodgers, his side grabbed an instant goal.
Scott Sinclair burst down the left hand side leaving Naughton and Bennett in his wake, slipped in the area and managed to prod the ball into the path of Graham, who swept in his second goal in as many games.
The game continued at break-neck speed, with both sides creating dangerous opportunities that Graham and Morison failed to finish off. Swansea looked to test Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy from distance as it came into the ascendancy, but couldn't conjure up anything particularly dangerous.
Norwich had some chances of its own, and although Swansea continued to enjoy the better of possession before the it half, it was nearly made to pay for its profligacy in front of goal when Michel Vorm was caught out and found himself lucky to see Bennett's cross drift over his bar.
The Canaries started the second half in a similar vein to the first, with Morison looking particularly dangerous. However, another player would get the third goal for the Canaries – a Norwich corner fell to Johnson who was unable to shoot but prodded the ball to Pilkington, who swivelled and put in his second of the game to restore Norwich's two-goal cushion.
Morison was forced off through injury shortly afterwards and was replaced by Norwich club captain, Grant Holt.
Scott Sinclair tried to take the game to Norwich, hitting another long-range effort but failing to hit the target as Brendan Rodgers continued to tweak his lineup to try and find a way to make his team's improved play count.
The game's substitutions had slowed the tempo slightly which was playing into the hands of Swansea's possession game and they had a chance to grab a goal following Danny Graham's surging right-wing run but Dobbie's shot was blocked and his follow-up header drifted comfortably into Ruddy's arms.
As the game entered the final ten minutes, Norwich began to sit back and allow Swansea more and more of the ball. Brendan Rodgers' side was unable to create a chance though and has now lost its first four Premier League games of the season, mirroring its early away form to last season in the Championship.
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In EDT
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Robin van Persie Striker Man United |
26 | 3 |
|
Luis Suárez Striker Liverpool |
23 | 0 |
|
Gareth Bale Midfielder Tottenham |
21 | 0 |
|
C. Benteke Striker Aston Villa |
19 | 3 |
|
Michu Midfielder Swansea City |
19 | 0 |
