Paddy Davitt rates Johannes Hoff Thorup’s Norwich City, who traded blows with West Brom in an entertaining 2-2 Championship draw.

Angus Gunn            7

Back after seven games out injured and Norwich City have missed his reassuring presence. Beaten by two close range strikes when those in front had to do better. Dealt with West Brom from longer range. Got behind a well-struck Karlan Grant strike in the 36th minute.

Beaten by the same player in the closing stages of the opening period, but Grant was adjudged to have handled the ball. Smart stop at his near post to keep out Tom Fellows’ angled lash. Bailed out Callum Doyle, when he dealt with Mikey Johnston’s rising effort.

Sprawling stop to thwart Jed Wallace, although the substitute was flagged offside. Booming clearance set Onel Hernandez away for a big late chance.

Jack Stacey            7

Bar failing to pressure Josh Maja for West Brom’s equaliser a performance hailed by Thorup in his post-match media. Given he has had to defer to Kellen Fisher in recent weeks.

Trademark overlapping run brought an assist with a first time pick for Emi Marcondes to adjust his body to slot. On the charge again in the 30th minute before a set for Amankwah Forson, who curled wide.

Stuck to his defensive task in an aggressive start to the second half from Albion, when he held up Grant with well-timed sliding tackles.

Shane Duffy            7

No pressure on the Grant cross from a short corner routine from his team mates, but let Mason Holgate get the run to flick home for the opener.

Made amends with the raking slide rule ball for Jack Stacey to hare away for the leveller. Held firm aerially with Fellows and Grant looking to deliver at every opportunity in general play, and a series of home corners.

Callum Doyle                     7

Looked more assured operating at centre back after being exposed too often in recent games. Failed to get enough distance on a near post headed clearance that dropped invitingly for Johnston, who skied over on the volley.

But stepped into the attacking third before squaring for Marcondes to link with Borja Sainz in the move that led to Torbjorn Heggem’s own goal. Wayward ball straight to Johnston in the 53rd minute, but Gunn dealt with the danger.

Pinpoint accuracy again released Sainz in the 59th minute to race the length of the West Brom half before checking back and dragging tamely at Alex Palmer.

Kellen Fisher           7

Switched to the left to deal with the threat of Fellows. Another signal of the trust placed in him by Thorup. But struggled in the first half with the highly-rated wide player’s ability to go inside, or on the outside, at pace.

Notably for Maja’s 43rd minute opener, when he veered past Fisher to get to the byline. More even contest after the interval, with Fellows much less of a threat.

Jacob Sorensen      6

Another long shift in the absence of Kenny McLean and Marcelino Nunez as he ticks up the game minutes following his delayed start to the season through injury.

Got himself into an early advanced position in the eighth minute, when the Dane’s cross was sliced by Holgate to Sainz, who drilled a shot at Palmer.

Anis Ben Slimane       6

Departed late on with what Thorup indicated afterwards was cramp. Maybe still haunted a touch by his failure to halt Ben Doak in the 3-3 Middlesbrough home draw but made no mistake when he took a booking for upending Jayson Molumby to halt a Baggies’ counter.

Good awareness to spin and pivot out of trouble and release Kellen Fisher late on.

Emi Marcondes                 8

High quality finish for the City equaliser in how he had to adjust his falling body to divert Stacey’s cross home with the tip of his right boot. Also injected the thrust into the build up with Sainz that brought Norwich’s second.

Generally a bright spark in his intelligent movement and aggressive edge also required in the physical side of Championship combat.

Amankwah Forson                      6

Thorup labelled it a ‘reset’ for the youngster after some difficult moments since a bright start to his City career. Deployed in an attacking role on the right of a three but operated in a narrower channel to let Stacey roam on the overlap.

Earned a pat from Shane Duffy when he threw himself in the way of a Grant goalbound shot that deflected past Gunn’s near post.

Excellent manipulation of the ball from Stacey to set the ball away from his marker, and curl a left footer from 18 yards that had Palmer beaten but arced wide. Sidefooted at Palmer from the same range when Sainz squared.

Ante Crnac             5

Another try leading the line but the same theme as previous auditions in the Josh Sargent role. Yet to muster a recorded shot on target in three recent appearances as the attacking spearhead.

But general play is lacking a physical edge to tussle with centre backs and offer City a platform to get up to the pitch. Hooked for Hernandez, who did offer some urgency in and out of possession and pace in behind.

Borja Sainz             7

Dancing feet harassed Heggem into poking a ball past Palmer as Sainz sized up the target. But fashioned a number of shooting opportunities. Tried his luck from 20 yards in the 18th minute and then sidefooted at Palmer from closer range.

Surrounded by four Albion defenders, but his shot ricocheted off Molumby for a corner. Selflessly rolled in Forson to test the home keeper.

Latched onto Doyle’s gorgeous angled pass after the break and the drag back opened up the goal but his shot lacked venom. Another slaloming run in the 80th minute before a right footed effort flew just over with Palmer at full-stretch.

Subs

Liam Gibbs (for Forson, 64)                   5

Picked his moment to thread the ball through for Hernandez, who was not on the same wavelength as Sainz.

Onel Hernandez (for Crnac, 64)             6

Food for thought for Thorup ahead of Plymouth’s midweek visit. Replaced Crnac centrally and raced clear in the 83rd minute but Heggem produced a last-ditch sliding tackle as he prepared to shoot. Minutes earlier cut a low cross behind Sainz.

Oscar Schwartau (for Sorensen, 81)                 n/a

Kaide Gordon (for Slimane, 90)              n/a