Amankwah Forson stuns Frank Lampard’s Coventry City

On Saturday 4th January, Coventry City travelled to Carrow Road hoping to kickstart what had proved a mixed opening two months under new manager Frank Lampard against Norwich City.

The hosts started the brighter of the two sides looking to maintain their recent upturn in
form, Championship top scorer Borja Sainz and Emiliano Marcondes twice coming close in the opening exchanges.

Right back Milan van Ewijk capitalised on a loose ball from Callum Doyle, before continuing his advance into the box to fire home a volley unmarked from close range

It was Coventry, though, who opened the scoring rather against the run of play midway through the first half. Right back Milan van Ewijk capitalised on a loose ball from former Sky Blues loanee and pantomime villain of the August reverse fixture Callum Doyle, before continuing his advance into the box to fire home a volley unmarked from close range.

Norwich failed to trouble Coventry ‘keeper Oliver Dovin for the remainder of the half, referee James Bell’s whistle noticeably being accompanied by jeers from a frustrated home crowd, soon though obscured by the encouragement of an always impressive travelling contingent.

Chilean international Marcelino Nunez then finally capitalised on a barrage of Norwich corners with Kenny McLean’s header meeting the crossbar

To the reassurance of the home fans, however, Norwich began the second period in a similar
fashion to the first, Dovin again twice thwarting Marcondes and Sainz seeing his resultant
effort cleared off the line. Chilean international Marcelino Nunez then finally capitalised on a barrage of Norwich corners with Kenny McLean’s header meeting the crossbar, yet it seemed
Coventry would hold on for only a third league away win of the season as the game neared
stoppage time.

Sainz found substitute Amankwah Forson who curled a fantastic effort into the top corner from twenty yards for his maiden Norwich goal

The home persistence was not to be denied, though. In the first of four minutes of stoppage time, Sainz found substitute Amankwah Forson who curled a fantastic effort into the top corner from twenty yards for his maiden Norwich goal.

In what has gone largely unnoticed among the Norwich faithful, loanee Kaide Gordon, widely tipped for a January return to parent club Liverpool having struggled for minutes in Norfolk, rushed to return the ball to the centre circle signalling that Norwich, and indeed
Forson, were not done yet.

Onel Hernandez bullied the Coventry defender off the ball and charged into the box, eventually feeding Forson who slammed a deflected effort beyond Dovin

Two minutes later the home crowd, myself included, could scarcely believe our eyes. Marcondes fed a ball into the channel that looked for all the world it was to be comfortably intercepted by Joel Latibeaudiere, in turn bringing the game to a close, yet Onel Hernandez bullied the Coventry defender off the ball and charged into the box, eventually feeding Forson who slammed a deflected effort beyond Dovin.

And, if anything, such a climax sums up why I and billions across the globe love football: the
ninety minutes of frustration immediately usurped by four minutes of jubilation; and the
knowledge this feeling will be relived, at some point, in the future. The travelling support can only take this as consolation.

For Coventry, defeat prolonged their mixed start to life under Lampard, some fans already questioning whether the Chelsea legend was the correct choice to replace departed club legend Mark Robins at the helm. Both Norwich and Coventry commence FA Cup action this coming weekend, the Sky Blues hosting Sheffield Wednesday hoping to replicate their fairytale run to Wembley last season.