Norwich 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday: Martin and Aarons strike in comeback win as Canaries move top

Thanks to being in Tier Two of the Government’s Covid tier system, Norwich welcomed 2,000 fans back to Carrow Road for this clash against Sheffield Wednesday. 

And after grinding out an undeserved three points, the Canaries look a good bet to head back to tier one – of English football – at the first time of asking.

Two quick-fire goals from Josh Martin and Max Aarons in the last 10 minutes earned the three points for Daniel Farke’s men and sent them back to the top of the table, at the expense of a valiant Wednesday side who took the lead through Josh Windass.

Norwich re-took the lead the Championship lead with a victory over Sheffield Wednesday

The Canaries struck back through Josh Martin and Max Aarons to score a vital three points 

Fans returned to Carrow Road for the first time since March and the Canaries delivered 

Majority shareholder and TV star Delia Smith was on the pitch before the match, warming up a loud and expectant crowd. There was no calls of ‘Where are you?’ or ‘Let’s be having you!’ as she infamously once directed at the stands. But Delia might have wanted to ask the 11 in yellow on the pitch where they were.

Farke’s players simply did not turn up for the first 80 minutes of this match. Or more so, they were restricted by a Wednesday side who were searching for a first win under Tony Pulis.

In his fifth match in charge, Pulis’ blueprint started to show. The Owls were well-drilled at the back, dangerous on the counter-attack and a big threat on set-pieces – there were even a couple of long-throws for good measure.

Julian Borner had the best chance of the early stages. The Wednesday centre half got on the end of one of Barry Bannan’s inswinging corners and flicked his header at goal, only for Marco Stiepermann to clear off the line.

Josh Windass (right) opened the scoring with a header on his return from a three-game ban

Norwich were allowed little space and struggled to create chances. Their talisman Teemu Pukki returned after a two-game absence but he was limited to a diet of scraps.

The second half started in similar fashion and, just after the hour mark, Wednesday were ahead. Windass took advantage of statuesque defending from Norwich and had a free header in the box after a perfect cross from Adam Reach. Windass made no mistake and thumped it home.

Wednesday were then denied two penalty shouts, as Kadeem Harris broke free twice. Referee Jarred Gillett, potentially swayed by the fans, turned away both appeals.

Norwich still created little and it seemed that the 2,000 Canaries were going to be trumped by a mere two Wednesday fans in attendance. The ‘Worksop Owls’, armed with a Wednesday flag and cans of beer, booked out a room in the Holiday Inn which overlooks the pitch.

Josh Martin kicked-off his side’s comeback in the 81st minute after a classy Mario Vrancic pass

Max Aarons then bagged the winner three minutes later after a lacklustre hosts performance 

Norwich boss Daniel Farke was able to welcome fans back to Carrow Road with a victory 

And they were toasting to a great performance. That was until the last 10 minutes, when all of Wednesday’s efforts were undone. First, 19-year-old Josh Martin latched on the end of a threaded through ball from Mario Vrancic and poked past Joe Wildsmith. 

It was the teenager’s first touch after coming off the bench and it was his first goal in senior football.

Then, three minutes later, Vrancic played in Max Aarons who evaded a couple of challenges and fired in for 2-1.

Farke was the last man on the pitch and joined in as Norwich fans serenaded him with a chorus of ‘Farkelife’ – to the tune of Blur’s Parklife – and ‘We are top of the league’.

How he will have missed that. His side were far from their best but the top sides grind out wins regardless of performance. This Tier Two city will dream of an instant return to the top tier.