Norwich City were relegated from the Premier League despite a 4-2 comeback win over Watford at Carrow Road on Wednesday evening.
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That meant beating Watford and that, in turn, would mean scoring at least one goal, something Norwich had failed to do in their four previous games. Mbokani added a fourth in the 57th after Odion Ighalo had reduced Watford’s deficit. The team is now on a two-game losing slide but are still safe from demotion back to the Championship next season as they are 10 points above the bottom three relegation area.
And that was the case on Wednesday night as 26,000 ever-loyal Norwich City fans watched their side fall through the Premier League trapdoor once more. Redmond hit the post and Dieumerci Mbokani was in the right place to tap home the rebound.
The winger played a one-two with Naismith on the right of the box but Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes won’t want to be reminded of how easily he was then beaten at his near post.
Four minutes later and Norwich were ahead. The home side’s third goal summed up the visitors’ deterioration, as Allan Nyom slipped while attempting to intercept a pass, allowing Hoolahan to send in a low cross that Craig Cathcart diverted into his own goal.
Redmond. Scored Norwich’s first goal in more than six hours and nearly six weeks, twice hit the post and laid on another goal.
Whether it was just Watford being that bad, or Norwich finally clicking, we will never know. It was the Nigerian’s first league goal since January.
Redmond and Mbokani combined and the striker stayed onside before lifting the ball over Gomes. Neil, at 34, is one of the youngest in the profession and took them up from the second tier in his first season in charge.
The omens do not look good for Norwich as the Hornets breezed past them earlier in the campaign with a 2-0 victory at Vicarage Road – with deadly strike duo Troy Deeney and Ighalo bagging a goal each.
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Stoke boss Mark Hughes failed in a move for the England Under-21 worldwide after the Canaries were relegated from the top flight in 2014, as Redmond stayed and helped the Canaries return at the first attempt – scoring in their 2-0 Championship play-off final win over Middlesbrough a year ago.
