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Norwich City 1-3 Watford: Ismaila Sarr scores twice as Hornets beat Canaries

By Emlyn BegleyBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Premier Leaguecomments234

Ismaila Sarr
Ismaila Sarr has scored 21 league goals since his Watford debut in August 2019, more than any other player for the club in that time

Ismaila Sarr scored twice as Watford beat Norwich in the battle of the two promoted sides and Premier League relegation rivals - to leave Norwich bottom on no points.

The Canaries become only the fourth side to ever lose their opening five Premier League games - and manager Daniel Farke is the first manager to lose 15 consecutive matches in the English top flight.

Watford move up to 11th with their second victory of the season.

Emmanuel Dennis snuck in behind Ozan Kabak to head in the opener from Kiko Femenia's cross and celebrated with a somersault.

Teemu Pukki levelled when he ran on to a ball over the top from the halfway line by debutant Mathias Normann before slamming past the advancing Ben Foster.

That ended a run of 23 Premier League appearances - going back to 2019 - in which the Finn had failed to score from open play.

But Sarr put Watford ahead when he buried Joshua King's cut-back from the byeline.

And he wrapped up the game when he slotted home the rebound after Tim Krul saved King's shot. The goal was initially ruled out for a King offside but eventually awarded following a video assistant referee consultation.

Pressure mounting on Farke as Watford's differing approach pays off

Norwich City 1-3 Watford: Canaries were punished for mistakes says Daniel Farke

Both of these sides were promoted last season 12 months after being relegated from the Premier League.

Farke did well to get the Canaries back up - but in the top flight, the run of defeats that includes the final 10 games of 2019-20 is now the worst losing run any manager has endured.

He defended his players from fans' criticism in a heated news conference this week but little that happened at Carrow Road in this game will appease the supporters.

The approaches from the managers were different. Watford made four changes from their last defeat, with five from Norwich.

But Watford's four new faces were all players in their 30s, with plenty of English experience - including former England goalkeeper Ben Foster.

Norwich handed debuts to Kabak and Normann and a first Premier League start to Josh Sargent.

Both sides had 12 shots - with Norwich dominating the first 15 minutes of the second half as they pushed for a third league goal of the season.

The real difference in the game was the finishing. All of Dennis and Sarr's seven combined shots were on target - whereas Pukki and Sargent did not force a save between them.

At 1-1, Pukki dragged a shot wide and Foster denied Kenny McLean and Milot Rashica.

They all missed and then Sarr scored twice - his second Premier League double after doing so against Liverpool in 2020 - and that was that.

Watford played at ‘high level' in Norwich win - Munoz

Player of the match

FosterBen Foster

with an average of 8.64

Norwich City

  1. Squad number8Player nameGilmour
    Average rating

    6.85

  2. Squad number22Player namePukki
    Average rating

    6.16

  3. Squad number24Player nameSargent
    Average rating

    5.57

  4. Squad number21Player nameWilliams
    Average rating

    5.54

  5. Squad number2Player nameAarons
    Average rating

    5.48

  6. Squad number23Player nameMcLean
    Average rating

    5.47

  7. Squad number5Player nameHanley
    Average rating

    5.46

  8. Squad number17Player nameRashica
    Average rating

    5.37

  9. Squad number16Player nameNormann
    Average rating

    5.37

  10. Squad number1Player nameKrul
    Average rating

    5.31

  11. Squad number15Player nameKabak
    Average rating

    5.31

  12. Squad number18Player nameTzolis
    Average rating

    4.60

  13. Squad number14Player nameCantwell
    Average rating

    4.31

  14. Squad number35Player nameIdah
    Average rating

    4.12

Watford

  1. Squad number1Player nameFoster
    Average rating

    8.64

  2. Squad number23Player nameSarr
    Average rating

    7.86

  3. Squad number25Player nameDennis
    Average rating

    7.81

  4. Squad number4Player nameEtebo
    Average rating

    7.28

  5. Squad number8Player nameCleverley
    Average rating

    7.26

  6. Squad number12Player nameSema
    Average rating

    7.13

  7. Squad number7Player nameKing
    Average rating

    7.09

  8. Squad number3Player nameRose
    Average rating

    7.08

  9. Squad number5Player nameTroost-Ekong
    Average rating

    7.04

  10. Squad number21Player nameKiko Femenía
    Average rating

    6.99

  11. Squad number33Player nameKucka
    Average rating

    6.99

  12. Squad number15Player nameCathcart
    Average rating

    6.92

  13. Squad number2Player nameNgakia
    Average rating

    6.87

  14. Squad number19Player nameSissoko
    Average rating

    6.85

Line-ups

Norwich

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Krul
  • 2Aarons
  • 15Kabak
  • 5Hanley
  • 21WilliamsBooked at 90mins
  • 8Gilmour
  • 16NormannSubstituted forCantwellat 70'minutes
  • 23McLean
  • 24SargentSubstituted forTzolisat 70'minutes
  • 22Pukki
  • 17RashicaSubstituted forIdahat 88'minutes

Substitutes

  • 4Gibson
  • 7Rupp
  • 14Cantwell
  • 18Tzolis
  • 20Lees-Melou
  • 28Gunn
  • 30Giannoulis
  • 35Idah
  • 44Omobamidele

Watford

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Foster
  • 21FemeníaSubstituted forNgakiaat 59'minutes
  • 5Troost-Ekong
  • 15CathcartBooked at 37mins
  • 3Rose
  • 33Kucka
  • 19Sissoko
  • 23Sarr
  • 8CleverleySubstituted forEteboat 82'minutes
  • 25DennisSubstituted forSemaat 73'minutes
  • 7King

Substitutes

  • 2Ngakia
  • 4Etebo
  • 6Louza
  • 11Masina
  • 12Sema
  • 17Fletcher
  • 26Bachmann
  • 27Kabasele
  • 29Hernández
Referee:
Robert Jones
Attendance:
26,649

Match Stats

Home TeamNorwichAway TeamWatford
Possession
Home49%
Away51%
Shots
Home12
Away12
Shots on Target
Home5
Away8
Corners
Home4
Away8
Fouls
Home10
Away14

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Norwich City 1, Watford 3.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Norwich City 1, Watford 3.

  3. Booking

    Brandon Williams (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  4. Post update

    Juraj Kucka (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  5. Post update

    Foul by Brandon Williams (Norwich City).

  6. Post update

    Corner, Watford. Conceded by Tim Krul.

  7. Post update

    Attempt saved. Ismaila Sarr (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Joshua King.

  8. Post update

    Foul by Juraj Kucka (Watford).

  9. Post update

    Kenny McLean (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  10. Post update

    Joshua King (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  11. Post update

    Foul by Ozan Kabak (Norwich City).

  12. Substitution

    Substitution, Norwich City. Adam Idah replaces Milot Rashica.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Ken Sema (Watford).

  14. Post update

    Max Aarons (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  15. Post update

    Attempt missed. Jeremy Ngakia (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Juraj Kucka.

  16. Substitution

    Substitution, Watford. Peter Etebo replaces Tom Cleverley.

  17. Post update

    VAR Decision: Goal Norwich City 1-3 Watford (Joshua King).

  18. Goal!

    Goal! Norwich City 1, Watford 3. Ismaila Sarr (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.Goal awarded following VAR Review.

  19. Post update

    Attempt saved. Joshua King (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tom Cleverley with a through ball.

  20. Post update

    Attempt saved. Milot Rashica (Norwich City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Max Aarons with a cross.

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Comments

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234 comments

  • Comment posted by MarkJ2222, at 18:47 18 Sep 2021

    Watford fan here but some of the comments on here about Norwich are disrespectful. They deservedly went up as champions, well-run club, good style of football and great fans. We may both get relegated but we are both giving it a go on ultra limited budgets compared to the Top 15. Good luck canaries but for today COYH!

    • Reply posted by D1688157795703, at 19:00 18 Sep 2021

      D1688157795703 replied:
      Agree Mark, in 2019/20 WFC won 1 out of the first 17 games, then Nigel Pearson nearly pulled off the miracle. Only relegated by 1 point. Never give up hope.

  • Comment posted by Tom, at 17:01 18 Sep 2021

    Bit unfair on Watford to refer to them as "relegation rivals" with Norwich at this stage of the season!? They haven't once been inside the relegation zone this season.

    • Reply posted by I Despair, at 17:25 18 Sep 2021

      I Despair replied:
      Think disrespectful of both teams after 5 games to lead with this headline.

  • Comment posted by D1670927639085, at 19:13 18 Sep 2021

    We have 5 clubs who haven't won a single game yet, 5 games into the season. Yet the BBC have Watford down as in a relegation battle. Fantastic sports journalism again.....

  • Comment posted by CosySunset, at 16:58 18 Sep 2021

    Good job Watford

    • Reply posted by Nick, at 17:02 18 Sep 2021

      Nick replied:
      Shout out to Josh King, signs he may at last getting some form. Worked well today even though he didn't score

  • Comment posted by abc1, at 17:19 18 Sep 2021

    Great result for Watford in what was almost a must win game. That takes the immediate pressure off...and Luton threw away a three goal lead as well!! Happy days!!

  • Comment posted by watford4ever, at 18:24 18 Sep 2021

    First, congratulations to the Watford traveling fans could be heard all the way through the game, magnificent!
    Great result from a good attacking performance, certainly no chance of playing for a point. Coach deserves credit for team selection and the way the team was set up. Still look a little vulnerable at the back will need to be better against the stronger teams.

  • Comment posted by Janner, at 22:56 18 Sep 2021

    Bad reporting here. I'm a Plymouth Argyle fan and we aspire to be a Watford or Norwich club.
    I hope you both stay up and stick to the nay sayers.

  • Comment posted by Tosh, at 20:19 18 Sep 2021

    How on Earth can a BBC journalist write these 2 teams are relegation rivals when Watford are in 11th spot with double or more points than Leeds, Newcastle & Burnle? Levelling up may be government policy but BBC does not have to blindly follow the lies.

  • Comment posted by Mish, at 17:37 18 Sep 2021

    Norwich remain pointless? That is harsh. They bring a lot of joy to the people of Norfolk. Well not a lot but still.

    • Reply posted by Greatleapforward, at 17:57 18 Sep 2021

      Greatleapforward replied:
      They’re certainly bringing a lot of joy to the people of Suffolk!

  • Comment posted by Grimm, at 21:16 18 Sep 2021

    I follow the fortunes of both of these clubs. Worked in Cardiff road Watford and Cantley in Norfolk in the mid 70s. Used to regularly attend games, Norwich 1st div under John Bond, Watford 4th div under Mike Keen. Now both contesting at the highest level. Many happy memories of living in both areas, best of luck to both teams and would be great if you both avoided relagation.

  • Comment posted by Arsene Tatters, at 17:09 18 Sep 2021

    Come on you 'orns!

  • Comment posted by jeffers84, at 17:20 18 Sep 2021

    Job done.
    Onwards and UPWARDS
    COYH

  • Comment posted by ZE2man, at 17:03 18 Sep 2021

    I think I'd opt for having a good season, finishing the Championship in third and missing out on promotion in the play-ffs is preferable to this. Unless a clubs have a billionaire behind them they are barely able to compete long term in the Premier league.

    • Reply posted by Ook the Librarian, at 17:08 18 Sep 2021

      Ook the Librarian replied:
      I'm the same - I prefer the competiveness of the Championship. We tend to be too good for that but can't cut it in the premiership at the moment. Hanley and Gibson aren't good enough at this level - Would have liked us to try and sign Phillips from Liverpool. 33 more games to go .... point a game and we could make it ...

  • Comment posted by Markthehorn, at 18:12 18 Sep 2021

    Good to get a key win and nice for Sarr to score combining well with King

  • Comment posted by Viva Espana, at 17:13 18 Sep 2021

    I suspect that bottom 3 - Norwich, Burnley, Newcastle - will stay that way for the rest of the season.

    • Reply posted by Lorimer, at 17:15 18 Sep 2021

      Lorimer replied:
      As a Leeds fan, let's hope so 😊

  • Comment posted by TC, at 17:14 18 Sep 2021

    It was a good win but Norwich made us look better than we are, we need to keep it up for next weeks game another big result needed.

    • Reply posted by ThisR2Tone, at 05:17 19 Sep 2021

      ThisR2Tone replied:
      Haven't been in the relegation zone yet this season and currently sitting around midtable and unlucky not to get a point away at Spurs. Keep up.

  • Comment posted by sharkey77, at 17:01 18 Sep 2021

    Get in you golden boys!!

  • Comment posted by Happy Hornet, at 20:28 18 Sep 2021

    Emlyn Begley needs to learn to be a bit more courteous to newly promoted teams who with much reduced budgets have earned their place in the PL. These teams will struggle to establish themselves but it is frankly insulting to be writing them off after only 5 games!

  • Comment posted by Matt1982, at 18:16 18 Sep 2021

    Come on you Orns! Sarr and Dennis🔥

  • Comment posted by Paul, at 17:43 18 Sep 2021

    Norwich already thinking about the next parachute payment

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