Against the great escapologists of old, Norwich gave themselves genuine reason to believe a new Houdini act is possible. Nobody expects them to emulate Leicester in steaming on to win next season’s
Premier League, but survival this year no longer seems out of the question and by one measure they are ahead of schedule. Back in 2014-15, Leicester began eating into a seven-point deficit with nine games to play; Daniel Farke’s side are two matches better off and a campaign that had all but been explained away as a learning experience pulsates, at least for the next week or so, with fresh life.
They deserved this win, only the second in their last 15 top-flight outings, against opponents whose deterioration in the final half-hour was a puzzle. Norwich’s tails were already up when, 20 minutes from time, their indefatigable right-back Max Aarons stole a yard on Ben Chilwell and spotted his colleague on the opposite flank making ground rapidly. Aarons crossed perceptively, bypassing everyone in the middle and allowing Jamal Lewis to size things up on the far side of the box. Lewis controlled with his chest and then, with impeccable technique, cut across the ball to spear a raking low volley across Kasper Schmeichel and send Carrow Road into raptures.