Norwich City head coach makes key demand after Hull City draw
Norwich City head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull City after he demanded, “I want to see my football team back”.
The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.
The United States forward’s second-half effort was a reply to City taking a deserved 14th-minute lead through Matt Crooks’ fine finish from Lewie Coyle's cutback.
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Thorup said: “I told Kellen (Fisher) to step up in his crossing game because that was not good enough at all in the first half.
“I told Lucien (Mahovo) to do the same because that was also not good enough in the first half. I told our midfield that they need to be even better on the ball if they consider themselves as technically good midfielders.
“And I think they showed that. The delivery from Kellen was a good one. We know Josh (Sargent) will always be first in those situations if the delivery is good enough quality.
“And after what we saw from Jacob Wright, probably after a shaky start, was that he developed in the game and got better and better.
“Based on the previous two home games we’ve played (a draw and loss), my message to the boys had been ‘I want to see my football team back’, I want to see my players play the way they can play.
“I know it’s difficult because we play with new midfielders but still we have expectations that we can go away from home and control the game and I think what they did from minute 15 to the end was good.
“It was a really poor start to the game. In the first 15 minutes, we were off. You could see that first goal coming. But from minute 15-20 onwards, it was us being on top.”
The Dane also referenced the comical moment in the game when one of the MKM Stadium's resident squirrels appeared on the pitch in the build-up to the equalising goal.
"I don't think I've ever seen something like that," he told BBC Radio Norfolk. "I have squirrels in my garden over here. They're everywhere. Hopefully, he's not one of mine because otherwise, we'll have to find him and take him back home."
