Championship
NorwichNorwich City2SwanseaSwansea City2

Norwich City 2-2 Swansea City: Matt Grimes penalty earns Swans point against Norwich

Jamie Paterson of Swansea City scores Swansea opening goal
Jamie Paterson of Swansea City scores Swansea opening goal

Norwich City's play-off destiny is still in their own hands, as they earned a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Swansea City at Carrow Road.

The Swans started well, and took the lead when Liam Cullen played through Jamie Paterson, who finished into the roof of the net from a tight angle after 24 minutes.

The Canaries soon hit back, Gabriel Sara drawing the hosts level before he turned provider for Josh Sargent in first-half stoppage time.

Swansea were handed a way back into the game when Ronald was fouled in the penalty area, and captain Matt Grimes calmly slotted the spot kick down the middle on his 300th appearance for the club.

The visitors pushed for a late winner, but Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn kept out chances from Ronald, Cullen and Jamal Lowe.

The draw sees Norwich move up to fifth place, four points ahead of Hull City in seventh, and the Canaries will be guaranteed a play-off spot if the Tigers lose against Ipswich on Saturday evening.

Norwich started the day knowing victory would move them six points clear of the chasing pack with one week left in the Championship season.

Swansea, meanwhile, had moved away from a relegation battle in recent weeks with three straight wins going into this contest.

The difference in pressure between the side was evident, as Norwich made a nervy start, Gunn making a superb save to stop Cullen scoring in the first five minutes.

Swansea's dominance eventually told, when Cullen played Paterson in down the left-hand side, and the Swans forward finished in style into the top corner.

That goal proved to be the spark Norwich needed, and within minutes of the goal it was the yellow and green shirts on the front foot.

Sara's equaliser was the highlight of the game, as he collected Christian Fassnacht's nod down behind finding the top-right corner of the net, the ball ricocheting the under-side of the crossbar on the way in.

And in first-half stoppage time the Canaries went ahead, Sara's back-post cross being met by Sargent who headed past Carl Rushworth.

Swansea improved after the break, and when Gunn sent Ronald tumbling in the 18-yard box, Grimes calmly slotted the resulting penalty straight down the middle to earn the visitors a point.

The draw is still enough for Norwich to remain in control of their destiny, but they could still need a win on the final day of the season against Birmingham to seal a play-off place.

Swansea City head coach Luke Williams told BBC Sport Wales:

"I think a draw is fair, about what we deserved.

"We created a lot of chances but we were on the receiving end of a lot of chances, I'm really happy with the performance though, don't get that twisted.

"I'm happy with some signs of consistent performances at the level we want to be a bare minimum, and this was a great test for us today.

"Jamie Paterson today gave everything for the team, at times he is like holding onto a hand-full of water, he's impossible to play against."

Line-ups

Norwich

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 28GunnBooked at 53mins
  • 3Stacey
  • 24Duffy
  • 6Gibson
  • 15McCallumBooked at 77minsSubstituted forvan Hooijdonkat 90+5'minutes
  • 26NĂșñez
  • 23McLeanBooked at 90mins
  • 16FassnachtSubstituted forRoweat 68'minutes
  • 17Gomes Sara
  • 7SainzSubstituted forBarnesat 67'minutesSubstituted forSĂžrensenat 82'minutes
  • 9Sargent

Substitutes

  • 5Hanley
  • 10Barnes
  • 12Long
  • 14van Hooijdonk
  • 19SĂžrensen
  • 21Batth
  • 27Rowe
  • 35Fisher
  • 49Serrao Montoia

Swansea

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 22Rushworth
  • 2Key
  • 5Cabango
  • 6DarlingSubstituted forWoodat 75'minutes
  • 14Tymon
  • 4Fulton
  • 8Grimes
  • 35Pereira Martins
  • 31CooperSubstituted forWalshat 82'minutes
  • 12PatersonBooked at 45minsSubstituted forLoweat 68'minutes
  • 20CullenBooked at 57minsSubstituted forYatesat 68'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Fisher
  • 9Yates
  • 10Lowe
  • 18Patino
  • 19Kukharevych
  • 23Wood
  • 28Walsh
  • 33Humphreys
  • 47Abdulai
Referee:
James Linington
Attendance:
26,429

Match Stats

Home TeamNorwichAway TeamSwansea
Possession
Home41%
Away59%
Shots
Home27
Away13
Shots on Target
Home7
Away6
Corners
Home12
Away6
Fouls
Home13
Away7

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Norwich City 2, Swansea City 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Norwich City 2, Swansea City 2.

  3. Post update

    Foul by Joshua Key (Swansea City).

  4. Post update

    Jonathan Rowe (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  5. Substitution

    Substitution, Norwich City. Sydney van Hooijdonk replaces Sam McCallum.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Jay Fulton (Swansea City).

  7. Post update

    Josh Sargent (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  8. Post update

    Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Jonathan Rowe.

  9. Post update

    Nathan Wood (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  10. Post update

    Foul by Josh Sargent (Norwich City).

  11. Post update

    Attempt missed. Marcelino NĂșñez (Norwich City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Gabriel Sara with a headed pass.

  12. Booking

    Kenny McLean (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card.

  13. Post update

    Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Sam McCallum.

  14. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Ronald (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jerry Yates.

  15. Post update

    Attempt saved. Jamal Lowe (Swansea City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

  16. Post update

    Ben Cabango (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  17. Post update

    Foul by Marcelino NĂșñez (Norwich City).

  18. Post update

    Attempt missed. Josh Sargent (Norwich City) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Gabriel Sara following a corner.

  19. Post update

    Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Josh Tymon.

  20. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Jack Stacey (Norwich City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kenny McLean.

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

127 comments

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Leicester443041086394794
2Leeds45279980413990
3Ipswich442612688563290
4Southampton452591185622384
5Norwich4521101479631673
6West Brom4520121367472072
7Hull451913136859970
8Middlesbrough45199176861766
9Coventry4417131468551364
10Preston44189175661-563
11Bristol City451711175347662
12Cardiff45195215165-1462
13Swansea451512185964-557
14Watford451317156058256
15Sunderland45168215252056
16Millwall451511194455-1156
17QPR451411204557-1253
18Stoke451411204560-1553
19Blackburn451311215874-1650
20Sheff Wed45148234268-2650
21Plymouth451212215870-1248
22Birmingham451211224965-1647
23Huddersfield45918184875-2745
24Rotherham45412293287-5524
View full Championship table

Elsewhere on the BBC