Norwich City 0-0 Brighton: Player ratings as the Canaries fire another blank
Norwich remain at the foot of the Premier League and without a win all season after a 0-0 draw with Brighton at Carrow Road.
The Canaries have still scored just two goals in their eight league games, but will take some pride in a better-than-usual performance against a decent Brighton team.
It was the home side who had the first sight of goal, with Josh Sargent turning beautifully on the edge of the penalty area before driving a shot just wide of the post.
That effort on goal served as a bit of a wake up call for Brighton, rather than a catalyst for more decent play from Norwich. And the visitors, after dominating possession for a lengthy period, were perhaps unlucky to have not been award a penalty when Neal Maupay rounded Tim Krul before being clipped by the goalkeeper's outstretched leg.
Ten minutes later, Leandro Trossard almost scored one of the goals of the season so far. The Belgium international showed some seriously impressive technique to volley (full-volley at that) the ball goalward from just inside the penalty area - however Krul was on hand to tip the ball onto the crossbar.
Just as it looked like Brighton were going to grab the opener in the first half, Robert Sanchez almost gifted Sargent his first goal in the Premier League. The Brighton number one clattered his own defender outside the box, allowing Sargent to steal the ball. But, with the goal gaping, the US international under-hit his subsequent strike on goal, allowing Shane Duffy to clear before the ball crawled over the line.
The first 15 minutes of the second half were very closely contested, with both sides pressing forward in search of an opener. It nearly came for Norwich in the 63rd minute when Max Aarons slid the ball through to Teemu Pukki, however the forward's chipped finish spun wide of the right post.
Following that chance, Norwich grew in confidence and had the better of Brighton for the remaining half an hour or so, but it was Brighton who would have the last chance of the game - a chance that was spurned by Maupay. The forward was found by substitute Solly March inside the six-yard box with a low cross, but he was unable to direct his resulting strike toward the goal.
Here's how the players rated:
Norwich City player ratings
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
Tim Krul (GK) - 6/10 - Made a brilliant save to deny Trossard in the first half.
Ozan Kabak (CB) - 5/10 - Makes some really daft decisions, but has enough athletically to get away with most of them.
Grant Hanley (CB) - 6/10 - Decent in the air and led the line quite well.
Ben Gibson (CB) - 6/10 - Dealt with the threat of Leandro Trossard pretty well.
2. Midfielders & wing-backs
Max Aarons (RWB) - 6/10 - Dealt with Marc Cucurella very well and looked threatening when he went forward.
Pierre Lees-Melou (CM) - 7/10 - Put in a proper shift defensively. The best of Norwich's midfielders.
Mathias Normann (CM) - 6/10 - Looked decent when he got his foot on the ball. Really grew into the game in the last 30 minutes.
Kenny McLean (CM) - 3/10 - Surprisingly a Premier League footballer.
Dimitris Giannoulis (LWB) - 5/10 - Got the ball in some decent positions in the second half. He didn't do anything with it though.
3. Forwards
Josh Sargent (ST) - 7/10 - Norwich's liveliest attacker. He did make a complete hash of a chance at the end of the first half, but his overall play was very good.
Teemu Pukki (ST) - 5/10 - Missed a great chance to give his side the lead. Honestly, not sure he's cut out for this level.
4. Substitutes
Milot Rashica - N/A.
Adam Idah - N/A.
Brighton player ratings
5. Goalkeeper & defenders
Robert Sanchez (GK) - 4/10 - Almost cost his side at the end of the first half with a horrific mistake.
Shane Duffy (CB) - 6/10 - Brilliant in the air, but his passing was a bit wayward today.
Lewis Dunk (CB) - 6/10 - Like Duffy he did have a few shaky moments, but was also very good in the air.
Dan Burn (CB) - 7/10 - The best of the back three. Made a fantastic tackle to stop Sargent at the start of the second half.
6. Midfielders & wing-backs
Joel Veltman (RWB) - 4/10 - Most of the Brighton's play was concentrated down the left flank, so he didn't really do too much.
Pascal Gross (CM) - 4/10 - He didn't really show the quality we know he possesses.
Adam Lallana (CM) - 5/10 - Had his moments. Not enough of them though.
Jakub Moder (CM) - 5/10 - Worked hard off of the ball, but didn't do much when he got on it.
Marc Cucurella (LWB) - 3/10 - Probably his worst performance in a Brighton shirt.
7. Forwards
Neal Maupay (ST) - 5/10 - Caused problems with his runs in behind, but rarely got the ball in dangerous areas and when he did, he missed a great chance to win the game.
Leandro Trossard (ST) - 6/10 - Had a brilliant volley saved by Krul in the first half. Clearly the most talented player on the pitch - maybe pass the ball to him a bit more in the next game Brighton, eh?
8. Substitutes
Tariq Lamptey - N/A.
Solly March - N/A.
Alex Mac Allister - N/A.