1. The magic of the FA Cup
A four-goal rout, a stark reminder of the gulf to the Premier League, and of maybe more pressing concern, the sight of key midfielder Marcelino Nunez departing in the second half with what, on first sight, looked like a fresh hamstring-related concern.
A miserable first brush with the world famous cup competition for Johannes Hoff Thorup. The Dane retained six of the starters from the previous weekend’s epic Championship comeback against Coventry to underline his desire not only to respect the cup but perhaps continue that festive league momentum.
But once Georginio Rutter had struck a first half brace the writing was on the wall. Thorup made changes at the interval, but Brad Hills’ bid to press his claims for greater inclusion saw him robbed for the match-sealing third Seagulls’ goal. Solly March’s late curler was academic.
By then, the story had tilted to Nunez and the potential ramifications for when Norwich face a daunting return to league action against Sheffield United and Leeds.
2. I’m sorry
It might not be the most scientific assessment but Kenny McLean’s anguished look as he stooped over the stricken Nunez should send a shudder through every City fan.
The Chilean has been beset by hamstring-related issues this season, that merely underlined his growing value to the cause under Thorup during his prolonged absence.
We now must await the usual and sadly familiar protocols around scan results, but the way he gingerly walked to the touchline after dropping to the turf in the second half, and out of the action, suggested another spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury beckons.
That was certainly the fear looking at McLean’s face in the immediate aftermath as he no doubt tried to comfort his midfield partner.
With Anis Ben Slimane out for another three weeks or so, and pictured pre-match with his right ankle still in a protective boot, the transfer strategy may need to be revisited.
Thorup spoke in general terms last month about the prospect of looking to add a different profile of midfielder, if not this window then more likely the summer. Certainly the bulk of City’s recruitment work appears to have focused on the top end of the pitch in this current window. But circumstances change and priorities evolve.
If Nunez and Slimane are ruled out that would stretch Thorup’s central midfield stocks very thinly.
3. Dobbin audition
A first start for Norwich’s recent loan recruit from Aston Villa, Lewis Dobbin, in the first of six games without Borja Sainz following his FA spitting ban. Sainz sat in the vicinity of the dugout with a snood pulled up around his face to keep out the cold.
-Maybe also the embarrassment from a unsavoury episode that for all the public mea culpa-crafted statement, following the FA’s decision released on Friday – and maybe even a sliver of mitigation from a spicy running battle with Chris Mepham in that fiery festive defeat at Sunderland, where the Black Cats defender appeared to be on a mission to wind up Sainz – has let his club, team mates and supporters badly down.
But that is done and now it is Thorup’s challenge to replace the Spaniard’s huge influence on his side. Even if the goal rush had dried up in recent times.
Dobbin was the first cab off the rank. There was some genuine bright moments of promise and pace in a confident start from the Canaries. His volley had Jason Steele scrambling at the back post in the 11th minute before he set up Amankwah Forson to unleash another hammer strike against a post.
There was half-chance he should have done better with in the immediate aftermath of Brighton’s opener, when he climbed above his marker but was unable to direct Oscar Schwartau’s cross on target.
With Josh Sargent now back that ensures Ante Crnac can revert to another wider option, plus if City can secure the services of Matej Jurasek and maybe another addition in that area before the end of the window, Thorup may be able to engineer some genuine competition for Sainz’s eventual return.
4. Talisman Sarge
A heavy FA Cup defeat, and those Nunez injury fears, but a glimmer of positivity for the majority of Norwich fans in attendance by the welcome sight of a return for their fit-again US international.
The warmth of the ovation from the Snake Pit corner of the ground that greeted his first-half appearance to limber up spoke volumes. Matched by his entrance in the 79th minute to replace Crnac.
Sargent is a huge figure on and off the park in this dressing room. There are obvious parallels with a lengthy injury-interrupted Championship season 12 months ago. Sargent returned from an ankle problem to harvest a stunning return of 14 goal contributions in 21 league games. That unquestionably fuelled Norwich’s top six finish, and brief play-off tilt.
What that type of return would do for this group remains open to debate between now and May. A festive surge of 10 points in 12 certainly creates the conditions for Sargent to help City push even higher.
Before his groin lay-off this time around he had nine goal contributions in 12 league games. The central striking understudies have got nowhere near such levels of productivity – Sainz excepted.
Thorup cautioned pre-match for now his master marksmen simply needs to find that edge and steer clear of any more unwanted absences. Do that and the body of evidence and the personal numbers suggest he will deliver again.
Without him, there is little prospect of Norwich sustaining a genuine play-off push.
