Smith unhappy with PL and reveals what Norwich must do to turn things around
Dean Smith felt his Norwich side were second best in most areas after defeat to Crystal Palace but questioned whether the match should have gone ahead.
The Canaries remain rock bottom of the Premier League standings after a 3-0 humbling at Selhurst Park. All three goals came in the first 45 minutes as Odsonne Edouard gave the Eagles an eighth-minute lead. He netted from the spot after Kenny McLean fouled Will Hughes in the area.
Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jeffrey Schlupp bagged towards the end of the first half and there was no way back for Norwich. The result means the East Anglians have taken only 10 points from their first 19 games.
They were favourites to go straight back down to the Championship before a ball had been kicked this term. And that has not changed despite Smith replacing Daniel Farke in the dugout.
The former Aston Villa chief was downbeat after the match and felt things could have been different.
“I’m disappointed today with the manner of the goals we conceded,” he told BBC Match of the Day. “We could have made a fight of it today, but the goals we conceded in the 38th and 42nd minute took the game away from us.
“Will [Hughes] has won himself a penalty rather than earned it – I have no complaints about it, that’s what happens in a game. I just felt we were too passive in our own penalty box, which caused their goals today.”
Smith takes thinly-veiled dig at Premier League
There have been calls for the Premier League to be put on hold as Covid-19 continues to surge through the country. Many games have been called off while a few clubs continue to put out sides.
And Smith made reference to the situation while revealing why his men were second best.
“We have a young squad. We lacked game management. They’ve got the more senior players in their squad and you could see that,” he added. “Physically they probably won 60 per cent of their duels. You have to do that sometimes just to earn the right to play.
“I didn’t have a lot of choice with the team and the subs today. If that’s what the Premier League want, so be it.
“We should never be asked in the current climate to put players through that [two games in three days]. Players will keep topping up the injury list.
“We had three who dropped out yesterday. Max Aarons, Teemu Pukki and Todd Cantwell all pulled out. It’s a really hard time, not just for ourselves but for everyone at the moment.”
READ MORE: Smith explains what Norwich need to improve to prove his job isn’t ‘impossible’
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