Premier League: Norwich 0 Newcastle 0

12 January 2013 18:33

Norwich City and Newcastle United ended their Premier League losing streaks after playing out a 0-0 draw at Carrow Road on Saturday.

The hosts began slowly, but they soon had control of the match and should have taken the lead through Wes Hoolahan, while Gabriel Obertan forced Mark Bunn into a good save.

A similar pattern emerged after the break, but this time Newcastle created even less in attack and needed Tim Krul and the post to prevent goals from Antony Pilkington and Russell Martin, respectively.

The visitors almost created the match’s first chance in the opening 10 seconds as Vurnon Anita smashed the ball into the Norwich area from his own half and Bassong made the bizarre decision to leave it, allowing Obertan the chance to cross but his effort was poor and Mark Bunn collected.

After that slow start, Norwich began to take control in midfield, stringing together some lovely moves, while Pilkington and Hoolahan were terrorising new signing Mathieu Debuchy, but it was Newcastle who went close next as Obertan spun and shot on the edge of the area, only for Bunn to palm it away.

A counterattack gave Norwich their best opportunity as Hoolahan surged forward before playing in Jackson to his right, receiving it back and shaping to shoot, but back came James Perch to poke the ball behind.

There was still time for Norwich to get an effort on target before half-time as a Pilkington cross was met by the head of Snodgrass, but Jackson failed to get a touch on it and Krul collected with ease.

The second half followed much the same pattern as the first with Norwich looking much more dangerous in attack.

Soon, however, Snodgrass gambled on a long ball from Russell Martin and tried to spin around Fabricio Coloccini, but the Argentine got a toe in, poking the ball back to Pilkington who fired his shot over.

Martin then brought the ball under control about 30 yards out after a bizarre period of play that resembled head tennis before lashing a half-volley against Krul's post.

It was not long before Krul was forced into further action. Snodgrass cut in from the right and picked out Pilkington on the left, who in turn beat Debuchy with an excellent turn before shooting, but there was Krul to make the save.