The Man in The Shed

24^th August – Young guns

Sitting down on a Saturday lunchtime, nice sunny day, I had to feel optimistic as I tuned into BT Sport.

Norwich had certainly taken the Championship by storm last season and despite taking a hammering at Anfield they were being applauded for their style of play. And Pukki was their new hero – proving that Championship strikers really can make an impact in the top flight.

Our teamsheet showed a last minute change with Pedro feeling a hamstring in the warm-up and being replaced by Barkley.

A perfect start – Abraham scoring within five minutes ! I’d barely composed myself and we’d conceded ! Where was our midfield ? Barkley was still struggling to realise that he was actually playing and not warming the bench.

A very open game and after 15 minutes we’re ahead again. Mount proving that he really has what it takes in this league. I for one and everyone else, including the commentators, were convinced that there were more goals in the game.

Sure enough, that man Pukki equalised after half an hour although I felt that Kepa could have done better. Without Kanté we were looking wide open.

Half time and time to re-group. Well the weather seemed to have given both sets of players the holiday feeling with lots of free gifts being exchanged. If our defence looked like soft butter last season it looked like melted butter right now.

And why was Kepa wearing black in 30 degrees ?

My mind wandered to considering how much we needed Rüdiger back. If and when he returned to the team who would partner him ? Neither Christensen or Zouma had staked a strong case so far and Tomori was still to make an appearance.

Was Kanté the only way to shore things up at the back ?

The second half kicked off in the same frantic fashion as the first.  The first 15 were all Chelsea. Barkley was finally up to speed and Emerson was seeing more of the ball. A Chelsea break and Abraham scores again. Championship strikers eh.

Could we hold the lead this time ? A Norwich corner is headed against the bar. We score again but VAR says no.

Into the last five minutes and it is all Norwich. Alonso on for Mount who had been stamped on.

Full time and a first league win of the season. That will do wonders for team confidence.

All the goals scored by young Englishmen. Barkley still showing good and bad in equal measure and the defence looks terribly vulnerable.

We move on. A home game against another promoted team which  is very winnable.