Football: Rick Waghorn heralds the rise of Norwich City's new attacking verve
Given that City fans the world over are in desperate need of any straw to cling to, the fact that this week's 2-0 win over Cardiff City came with three to cling to was a big, big surprise.
Alan Gow, David Mooney and Cody McDonald still have much to prove – kicking off again with the visit of Plymouth this weekend.
But on Tuesday night they attacked with such verve and precision, that you could only wonder where they had been for the last eight months.
Gow was a throw-back to another era – an age when the ball actually managed to stick to a player's foot and didn't have all the hallmarks of a hot potato.
It was one of the best attacking displays by any one individual in a Canary shirt in a long, long while. Arguably since his lordship left for the far side of the pond.
The manner in which Gow moved on and off the ball then enabled players on a similar wavelength – most notably Wes Hoolahan – to find themselves with a kindred spirit in the final third of the pitch.
What's more the on-loan Rangers striker also had more of an inclination to run at people where it would potentially hurt; he ducked in towards goals, rather twisting back away from it.
As good as Gow was, the star of the show for me was McDonald. Whoever writes the kid's script deserves a pay-rise.
Six weeks ago and the lad was erecting scaffolding on the London Underground for a living – in-between scoring goals for fun for Dartford.
Not content with bagging a decent finish in his first competitive outing for his new, full-time employers in a reserve team run-out the other night, come his full, Championship debut and McDonald was going one better with his first ever senior goal on his first-ever senior appearance.
What's more, it was quite a goal too.
He worked the offside line; showed movement and thought beyond his tender years and stayed cool, calm and collected under pressure when he first rounded the keeper and then calmly slid the ball home. How did he do it? Simple.
Right now, he knows no fear of failing.
He doesn't have that bitter experience to not only fall back on, but more to stumble over.
He's never forgotten his lines; missed his cue.
And he will. In time. But right now, this is his time – he is in the zone that says 'No fear!' and it is those kind of characters that could still define Norwich's season.
Put your money on Cody to score a goal in the derby...
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Weather for Diss
Thursday 02 September 2010
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
