Norwich City 4-0 Hull: Paddy Davitt Championship marks

Did not return for the second half after what his head coach confirmed afterwards was discomfort in the rib area taking a commanding cross in the first half. Mohamed Belloumi’s rising shot cleared his bar in the 10th minute but had to react to tip over Liam Millar’s dig from the same range in the 15th minute.

Playing with such confidence. That technical quality stepping into midfield areas in an inverted role is a given now. But this shift highlighted his improving defensive work. Seemed to relish a one-on-duel duel with Millar.

Tracked the wide player’s run in the 20th minute, but produced a composed header back to Angus Gunn. Squared up by the same player in the 28th minute but stuck to his task to get a foot in.

Even deep in stoppage time he was alive to the danger as he came across from left back to slide in on Joao Pedro, who eyed a shooting chance.

Maintaining the form that has seen him take his City career to a new level under the Dane. Read Marvin Mehlem’s intentions to cut out his cross at the near post in the ninth minute. Flicked on a Marcelino Nunez corner, but no takers as the ball flashed across the Hull six yard back.

Snapped a perfect pass into Josh Sargent who back heeled for Anis Ben Slimane to raid. Triggered the flowing move for Sargent’s goal with another quick, first time pass into midfield. Jumped out of the defensive line again to block Millar’s strike.

Thorup indicated the defender might stay behind in Norfolk rather than join up with Panama for upcoming friendlies after overcoming a knee issue that forced him off against Leeds to play the full 90.

A touch sloppy in possession at times. Aimless ball into central midfield was recycled by Hull for Millar’s strike dealt with by Gunn. Pedro’s disallowed ‘goal’ from Abu Kamara’s cross was sourced in Cordoba turning the ball infield straight to a Hull player.

Shut the door early on Cody Drameh with that turn of pace into the channel. Vital touch to halt another Tigers’ counter when he diverted Lewie Coyle’s throughball. Speculative effort in the 85th minute at Ivor Pandur.

Provider with a raking diagonal ball over the top for Borja Sainz to seal the rout. Did not have it all his own way defensively with the movement and guile of Belloumi.

Switch of play with Slimane brought Nunez’s first chance saved by Pandur. Another snap into Nunez who turned and rolled in Ante Crnac but his cross was cleared at the near post.

Lovely shimmy when surrounded in his own half lost Mehlem before he over-clubbed the pass. As Thorup remarked recently, in this Norwich side not for the showreel stuff but to facilitate that overall midfield control.

Top drawer from the Chilean. Scored the first and heavily involved in the second and third build ups to the goals and the home penalty. But his all-round play brought high intensity pressing and energetic bursts woven around his accuracy from set pieces and full passing repertoire.

Slaloming run from deep, inside the opening 10 minutes, but was on the wrong wavelength with Crnac. Found by Slimane but Pandur was out quickly with a smothering stop with his legs.

Started and finished the opening goal move, when he picked out the unmarked Sainz and held his position 25 yards out to receive, touch and whip a right-footer that bent away from Pandur and appeared to pick up speed as it hit the back of the net.

No surprise he was at the heart of the flowing team move that ended with Sargent slotting from Sainz’s angled cross.

Took Crnac’s back heel in his stride to release Sargent in the 34th minute, but Slimane sidefooted wide on his right. Volleyed a cross against Coyle’s arm to earn Norwich a penalty Sargent slammed against a post. Still full of energy to offer an overlapping target for Sainz, before squaring for Sargent in the move that led to Kaide Gordon’s birthday strike.  

Quality operator. Right and left foot accuracy in his passing and already a clear understanding of his role in this side operating in tandem with Kenny McLean and Nunez. Spotter’s badge to drop a ball at the feet of Nunez for his opening chance.

Then perfectly-timed weighted roll for Sainz to compose himself and face a cross despatched by Sargent seven yards out. Went very close himself to a first Norwich goal in the 34th minute when he sidefooted wide on his right with a first time shot. Did not possess the injection of pace to get away from the Hull backline five minutes before the interval, when put clear by Sargent’s back heel.

Clear signs of improvement in terms of his involvement in the build up play. Perhaps needs that goal or assist to give him an extra shot of self-belief. Low cross blocked in the third minute but the intent was there. Was in again if Nunez had not over-hit his pass.

Drilled a ball into Sargent who fed Nunez and on to Slimane and Sainz before the American slotted. Growing confidence underlined by the cheeky back heel for Nunez to release Sargent in another flowing home move that ended with Slimane’s chance.

Jinked inside two in the 47th minute but appeared to hesitate a fraction as the shooting angle narrowed. Step over to work another shooting chance failed to fool Drameh, but Hull’s poor clearance was gathered by Nunez for the penalty award.  

Another addition to his soaring goal contribution tally, but the forward spurned another chance from the penalty spot when he dragged his low effort against the foot of Pandur’s right-hand post. Must love spearheading this attack at present with the movement, guile and quality from those in midfield and wide areas.

Instinctive pivot to rob Regan Slater and feed Sainz, who went for the audacious chip. Touch off in the build up and then arrived on cue seven yards out to finish Sainz’s cross. Turned provider again with the cut back Slimane slammed wide.

Foiled by a posse of Hull defenders in trying to work a clear shooting chance again from Nunez’s slip pass, but in the carnage that ensued Gordon pounced to roll home a third Norwich goal with the aid of a slight deflection.

Writing his own scripts now since Swansea. Knew he had spurned a big chance with Pandur to beat in the 11th minute.

But made amends 67 minutes later when confronted with the Hull keeper outside his area to control Callum Doyle’s diagonal and then lob beautifully over the stranded stopper. In between assists for Nunez and Sargent and the threaded ball for Nunez that led to Gordon’s third goal.

George Long (for Gunn, 45)                      7

Thrust into the fray for a rare slice of league action in the week he penned a new longer term Norwich deal. Maintained Gunn’s clean sheet, with the aid of his woodwork which was hit by Belloumi’s superb free kick.

Tipped away a spiralling corner arcing under his bar and then had his angles covered for Slater’s follow up. Was adamant Pedro had handled Kamara’s cross home, and led the protests heeded by the officials to disallow the late effort.

Kaide Gordon (for Crnac, 58)                    7

First league goal of his senior career on his 20th birthday. Caught the eye in the home romp against Watford and made the most of this latest cameo.

Was involved in the build up as well, when he was back inside his own half to pick out Sainz to lead the counter, and continued his run into the area for when the ball ricocheted from Sargent’s initial effort, via the dallying Charlie Hughes, to guide his finish inside the right-hand post.

Jack Stacey (for Sainz, 80)            n/a

Emiliano Marcondes (for Sargent, 81)                  n/a