Best of the bunch: Norwood stands out in an average week for the loan stars
Robbie Brady paid the price for his tired display against Forest last week after finding himself on the bench for the first time this season in Hull’s 2-0 defeat at the hands of West Ham. Brady did come on with half an hour to play as the Tigers pushed men forward in a bid to get back into the game, but good defending by Julien Faubert and more top saves from Green denied them a deserved share of the spoils.
Scott Wootton was injured but Ryan Tunnicliffe played 66 minutes in Peterborough’s stunning 3-2 win over Derby in which they were trailing 2-0 after 32 minutes. The 18-year-old came up against another youngster in Derby’s Jeff Hendrick, 19, which made for an exciting battle in the middle of the park. Both brought energy and verve to the game which to -and-froed throughout the afternoon making for an amazing spectacle. Tunners was involved in a neat passing move which led to Posh’s first by Paul Taylor but wasn’t on the pitch for the injury time winner in true Ferguson fashion on the day Fergie Snr had Old Trafford’s North Stand named after him.
With Sam Johnstone still out injured, Oliver Norwood was our sole loan star on show at Bournemouth as the seasiders ran out with a 2-0 victory. Norwood put in a decent shift for The Iron and as Alan Neil’s men came out in search of an equaliser, with a tantalising Norwood cross just needing a touch from Mark Duffy to find the net but the centre-half let the chance pass him by. Overall, it was a frustrating day for Norwood whose teammates were lackadaisical in defence and wasteful up front.
Danny Drinkwater endured a difficult afternoon in Barnsley’s 2-0 loss to Gus Poyet’s high-flying Brighton. Drinkwater, 21, was bewildered in midfield as The Seagulls scored either side of half-time to condemn The Tykes to their third loss in the last four games. Barnsley had their chances, notably when David Perkins was denied by the bar.To Barnsley’s credit they continued to attack, but Greer cleared Ricardo Vaz Te’s effort off line, Harper saved from Butterfield and the tireless Taricco blocked Matty Done’s shot as the hosts held out.
Ritchie De Laet was an unused substitute as Gabriel Agbonlahor ran Norwich ragged in Aston Villa’s 3-2 win over the Canaries. The Englishman scored twice and assisted Darren Bent’s goal after Norwich went ahead from Anthony Pilkington’s superb free-kick. Steve Morison set up a nervy finish when he headed home from close range but it wasn’t to be for Paul Lambert’s side and the Scot may want to recall De Laet to shore-up his leaky defence now as a rejuvenated Arsenal travel to Carrow Road after the international break.
Joshua King failed to make the 18-man-squad in Borussia M’gladbach’s 2-1 win over Hertha Berlin as the Bundesliga’s overachievers jumped up to fourth in the table.
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