However, the performance on the night was not one of a group of players whose heads had dropped, despite an early setback.
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Despite guiding Watford to safety on their return to the top flight, and in his own maiden Premier League campaign, Flores’ position has come under scrutiny and there have been suggestions he may leave at the end of the season following just four league wins in 2016. Newcastle, of course, were demoted by that as well.
A Craig Cathcart own goal and a double to Dieumerci Mbokani was enough for Norwich to take the spoils. With just five goals each.
“However, we have two very important games to play”. Deeney flicked that on, strike partner Odion Ighalo pounced and although goalkeeper John Ruddy was able to parry Deeney arrived to side-foot the loose ball into the empty net. Nathan Redmond played a one-two with Steven Naismith inside the area and then fired a shot through Heurelho Gomes to equalise. This time he cut in from the left and slotted past Gomes on to the far upright. Watford defenders appealed to the officials for offside but replays showed Mbokani was onside. The Carrow Road crowd started to sense events might just turn in their team’s favour after all, but news from Sunderland quashed any giddiness.
The 22-year-old is widely expected to leave Carrow Road this summer following the Canaries relegation to the Championship.
He added: “We want a team that is hungry to go straight back up next season so there are a whole variety of things we have to look at and consider”.
The second half began in much the same way as the first, but this time Deeney turned provider as he beat Russell Martin and crossed for Ighalo to slam the ball into the net.
As a result, the gap was down to just one point – with Sunderland now upwardly mobile and Norwich staring at the abyss. Redmond, temporarily unplayable, hit the post again.
Norwich City right-back Ivo Pinto has vowed his side will not give up in their fight against relegation, but accepts their chances of staying in the Premier League are slim. Not that the Scot is being made the scapegoat however; some supporters made a point of singing his name as well.
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Lowly teams Watford FC (12-17-8, 44 points) and Sunderland AFC (9-17-11, 38 points) are going in opposite directions in the last few matchdays of the 2015-2016 Premier League season.
