Norwich 3 1 Blues

Starting XI

Four changes. Alfie Chang, Tahith Chong, George Hall and Kevin Long back in. Troy Deeney and Dion Sanderson are injured. Harlee Dean and Lukas Jutkiewicz are rested. Jordan Graham and George Friend return to the squad.

Game

The first half was all Norwich.

Kenny McLean found Idah in behind, Blues didn't clear lines and Kieran Dowell beat two being denied. An effort was blocked, a corner wasn't dealt with leading to Grant Hanley being denied and McLean firing wide. A forward pass into Idah was laid off to Marcelino Nunez who struck wide. And after Blues headed over a free-kick, Gabriel Sara found Nunez. Wide, again.

As half hour approached, Blues' young midfield appeared to have got a grip on things only to see us go one-behind. A corner was cleared and the ball landed for Nunez who struck a volley from 30 yards so sweet it left Ruddy rooted.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of us. Eight sloppy minutes later, Nunez had his second. Blues put no pressure on the ball with Chang and Juninho Bacuna left chasing three. A switch to Dimitrios Giannoulis is cut back for McLean who cross to Nunez, free as a bird to volley home. Its unsurprising he was free - Blues were 3 v 4 in the area.

It could have been worse still, Adam Idah slipped in yet again and denied by Ruddy.

Blues changed shape at half-time and brought on Lukas Jutkiewicz. It gave us a much needed foothold and a goal back. Jutkiewicz and Scott Hogan combined from a long ball to lay off to Hannibal Mejbri. His cross was cut out as far as Maxime Colin who rifled low into the corner.

Blues were doing well but struggling with the final ball. Hall went on a driving run and found Chong, only for the Dutchman to blade over. After Long was forced to clear off the line to deny McLean, Chong did well to drive forward, his cross-shot just evading Hogan at the back post.

Blues ran out of steam and lacked options to change things up. Gary Gardner headed a set-piece at Angus Gunn. And with a minute of injury time left, Norwich broke and found Christian Tzolis, who beat Colin 1 v 1 and fired into the far corner. Ruthless.

Tactics

Blues started 4-2-3-1 for the first time this season. Chang and Bacuna were central, flanked by Hall and Chong with Hannibal supporting Hogan. It matched up against Norwich's shape.

In possession, Norwich built up in what felt like a 3-1-5-1. McLean would drop in either to the left or in between the central defensive pair. Sara would show in midfield with Aarons and Giannoulis high and wide. Hernandez and Dowell would occupy the full-backs in wide but slightly inside positions with Nunez floating between a high position and, if Norwich played into Sara and back, a deeper position to take possession.

Blues were very much 4-4-2 out of possession. The attempts to press Norwich were to force the ball wide and into the feet of the full-back or Sara. Hannibal and Hogan would sit off then go. Hall and Chong were tasked with the full-back on their side, or closing in centrally to support Bacuna, who would step onto Sara. The idea was to force a challenge once the ball moved forward, or close in on the full-back when they stepped inside.

The problems for Blues were that we weren't sharp enough with the press and didn't read the danger. So Norwich could always play a pass and move forward. The number of times they managed to play triangles to escape us down either flank with 1-2's was poor. There was also a lack of defensive organisation, Chang often left isolated v two when the forward pass into the forwards came as the defence retreated. It left Chang and Bacuna with too much space to cover in the middle and led to situations such as the second goal.

In possession, it was clear Blues had little intention of being caught in dangerous areas. We didn't play from the back often and any attempts to do so were out wide and out of dangerous areas. We didn't want to be cut in silly areas if we could help it. Norwich, in truth, didn't have to do much to deny us.

Blues changed shape at half-time. Jutkiewicz came on to partner Hogan up top. Chang was flanked by Hall and Chong in the diamond with Hannibal at the tip. The press worked better, Hogan and Jutkiewicz watching the centre-backs, Hannibal stepping onto McLean and Chong to Sara. Hall then closed Giannoulis. Defensively, we finally started winning a few battles. In possession, we weren't afraid to utilise Jutkiewicz with Hogan close to him. Colin and Longelo regularly got forward on the overlap. The main source of attack was Chong and Hall driving inside, the other being nearby to support and the full-back being available out wide for the overload.

To counter this, Norwich started playing a controlled but direct game. They would work the ball into a wider area then play over the Blues press into Idah or Nunez who hold up the ball and find an option out wide to stretch Blues.

For the final few minutes, Andrew Omobamidele came on at RB and Max Aarons to RW.

Players

George Hall was probably the bright spark for Blues. Showed his pace, wanted to get at people, went on a couple of driving runs second half. Hannibal showed willing but was often alone. Jutkiewicz had a big impact from the bench.

A few players failed to do themselves justice here but Scott Hogan is one that needs to up his game. We know his strengths don't lie in the battle but the energy and confidence we saw earlier in the season has all but gone of late.

Norwich's midfield trio were excellent. McLean dictated things, Sara never seemed to lose possession and Nunez showed his quality with the goals. Idah won a few too many battles in attack against our centre-halves, especially Trusty. Aarons was excellent.

Wrapping it up...

Quite simply, we weren't good enough. This was a big chance for several players to stake claims to start in their preferred positions and they didn't do themselves justice.

My overriding feeling following this game was that if we are to stay up, we're going to need to drag out the old warhorses again. Lukas Jutkiewicz. Harlee Dean. Marc Roberts. If he can start pushing himself, Gary Gardner. It's not going to be pretty but we don't need pretty. We need leaders. People to stand up and take charge. And in a squad full of players that are wet behind the ears, it's those guys that Eustace is going to have to rely upon to get us out of this. Players that will win their battles and grind out victories. Kristian Bielik has to stand up and be counted too now.

I wouldn't be surprised to see us revert to 3-5-2 against Luton this weekend. Dean at the centre of defence. Bielik back in midfield. Jutkiewicz up top. And build around that core.

Luton, Rotherham and Wigan represent three huge matches. These players have to step up now.