No dream debut for Carvalho as Tigers outgunned by physical Norwich

Pictures courtesy of Hull City

Hull City 1 - 2 Norwich City

Sky Bet Championship

MKM Stadium

Attendance: 24,103

By Sam Hawcroft, Hull City Correspondent

There was no dream debut for star Liverpool loanee Fábio Carvalho as the Tigers missed a chance to get back in the top six again, undone by a physical Norwich side who gave their own play-off hopes a huge boost.

As expected, City were without Adama Traoré and Jean Michael Seri, who are involved in the African Cup of Nations, and the absence of the injured Liam Delap was also a big blow.

However, the addition of Carvalho to the starting 11 ramped the pre-match excitement up to fever pitch, and this Friday night under the lights – complete with spectacular opening light show – began with so much promise.

It was clear from the off, though, that Norwich’s approach was to kick lumps out of City, and a fair few cynical fouls went unpunished before referee Andrew Kitchen finally got his book out.

The peach of the lot, though, was keeper Angus Gunn’s forearm smash on Aaron Connolly in the 12th minute.

It was a collision you could see coming for a long while – Connolly, chasing the long ball, his eyes fixated on it; Gunn desperately coming out to punch it away. But Gunn didn’t connect with the ball – his arm and knee connected fully with Connolly, poleaxing him to the ground. A nose-breaker of a challenge if ever there was one – and a red card all day long for a central defender.

The result? A free kick to Norwich… and the swift exit of Connolly, to be replaced by Billy Sharp.

The Tigers had started relatively positively, an expectant roar coming from the home stands when Carvalho got the ball inside the first minute, and in the seventh minute a looping shot from Scott Twine was deflected out, before Connolly shot wide.

Norwich’s first shot of note came in the 15th minute after a through ball from Josh Sargent found Borja Sainz in the middle of the area, but he fired high and wide.

Carvalho, advancing down the left, was then tripped by Ashley Barnes – resulting in a free kick about 25 yards out. Twine lofted it towards the keeper who punched out well, and seconds later the Canaries conceded another dangerous free kick – this time, it was Dimitrios Giannoulis bringing down Jacob Greaves.

Yet another free kick opportunity came after a foul by Kenny McLean, which prompted the referee to produce the first of six yellow cards in total.

As the half-hour approached, though, both teams became a bit bogged down in midfield – the match needed a spark to match that light show.

There nearly was one in the 30th minute when Twine was played in by Carvalho, but he just couldn’t put any bend on it and his effort drifted wide of the right post.

Three minutes later, Ozan Tufan became the latest to be tripped as he raced towards goal – but no free kick was forthcoming, to the visible anger of both him and the home fans. Then Giannoulis was booked for a foul on Coyle as tempers on the pitch, and in the stands, began to fray.

Then, to make matters worse, Norwich scored in the 36th minute.

Jonathan Rowe got away from Morton about 30 yards out, and somehow stayed on his feet, evading every man in black and amber, before releasing a powerful low shot from about 20 yards that went under Ryan Allsop into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

It was undoubtedly a classy strike, but perhaps the Tigers should have employed a bit of Norwich-style cynicism and cut him down before he had the chance to shoot…

The MKM has been known to be stunned into deathly silence on occasions such as these – but not tonight. The home fans were still seething at the referee and the Canaries’ cynical approach – and still very much roaring their team on, willing them to get their revenge.

The second half was far less physical from the Canaries – with three of them being on yellow cards (Giannoulis having been subbed), it was clear they were treading on a tightrope somewhat, which gave the Tigers a bit more space to press – and press they did, as much of the action took place in the Norwich half.

Shortly after the restart, Tufan went down in the penalty area but, despite loud appeals from the South Stand, he was booked for diving. Slater then earned a booking, too, right in front of an angry East Stand.

In the 54th minute, a shot from Sargent stung the hands of Allsop, but seconds later it was back up the other end as Tufan shot just wide.

Then a great backheel from Coyle found Morton, who played in Carvalho – but his cross rolled tamely out, nowhere near its target of Sharp.

But the Tigers pressed and pressed – and as a slot from Slater rebounded to Sharp, it took a great stop from Gunn to keep out the veteran striker’s powerful eight-yard effort.

In the 77th minute, City won three corners in succession, but nothing came of them. Shortly after, there was another – and then another… and on the 80th minute a thunderous shot from Slater was beaten away by Gunn. What a net-rippler that would have been!

With seven minutes to go, Harry Vaughan came on for Matty Jacob, seconds before Canaries sub Onel Hernandez shot well over after just having come on. It was, again, a sign that the Tigers were vulnerable to the quick counterattack, and so it proved when Norwich doubled their lead in the 88th minute.

A brilliant cross from Hernandez on the left perfectly picked out Christian Fassnacht in the six-yard area, and he bundled it past Allsop into the bottom-right corner. It was a sucker-punch that put the game out of sight for the Tigers and sparked the predictable exodus from the home stands.

They would have missed a cracker of a goal if they had – a fantastic 20-yard strike by Morton that gave the Tigers the faintest hope of an equaliser.

After a one-two with his Liverpool teammate Carvalho, Morton unleashed a brilliant left-foot shot that halved the deficit in the 92nd minute of added time. The home fans roared and roared – get it forward, get it forward!

In among the chaos, as Norwich boss David Wagner frantically windmilled on the touchline, was another chance at the North Stand end as Allsop stuck out a leg and denied Adam Idah.

However, in spite of their desperate endeavours, the Tigers just couldn’t find a second goal.

It was the season’s second controversial 2-1 reverse against Norwich, and it left a bitter taste. But while City find themselves in the middle of a worrying slump, surely Carvalho can only get better as he beds into the side.