With each side in contrasting form, it became glaringly clear that Burnley were the side coming in off the back of a 13-game unbeaten run in the league, against a Norwich City side without a win in five, as chances for Nathan Tella and Anass Zaroury flashed just past the upright. Norwich struggled to gain any foothold on proceedings, with providing a threat going forward proving a real struggle up against Vincent Kompany’s dominant Clarets - something summed up by the fact that the Canaries didn’t register a single shot in the first half.
Whatever was said at HT seemed to work, however, as Norwich soon had the best chance that either side had managed up to that point through Todd Cantwell, who was denied the opener from close-range by Jóhann Guðmundsson’s superb sliding block. Considering the fact that Burnley have scored the joint-most goals between HT and the 60th minute (6), Norwich boss Dean Smith would have been pleased with his side’s response after the break, turning the game into an even affair in which either side could take all three points.
As for Burnley, after such a dominant spell initially, the hosts may have felt slightly concerned by their inability to make it count when it mattered most, as their first 0-0 draw of the season closed in at Turf Moor. As the top goalscorers in the Championship this season, though, a goal was always likely. And, when Grant Hanley was penalised for his handball inside the area, Jay Rodriguez stepped up to convert from the spot in emphatic fashion, with just eight minutes remaining.
Having conceded the late penalty, Norwich stayed seventh, allowing Burnley to make it seven wins in their last eight home games against the Canaries, putting them two points clear at the top of the Championship, for now, at the very least.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Anass Zaroury (Burnley)
