Burnley's mistakes were punished ruthlessly by fast wingers and a speedy striker. Ben Lee breaks down Norwich City's 4-1 Championship home win.
Ben is a City season ticket holder and author of the NCFC Analysis social media account, who unpicks games with an analytical report highlighting tactical strengths and weaknesses.
Ben gives his take on a Carrow Road statement of intent.
Norwich versus Burnley: Ruthless in transition
Score: 4 – 1
Possession (%): 37 – 63
Shots: 20 – 16
xG: 2.30 – 1.38
· First five minutes.
· Build-up success.
· Pressing analysis.
· Wingers and counters.
Following Norwich’s league defeat at the Den, Philippe Clement made four changes, as McConville, Stacey, Mattsson, and Musaba came into City’s 4-2-3-1 lineup. Clement’s compatriot Nicky Hayen set his Burnley side up in a fluid 4-1-4-1 shape.
This felt like a big game for Norwich as they sought to gain their first points of the season against a strong side. And City’s endeavour started well as they capitalised on a defensive error to take the lead within two minutes.
Just a few minutes later, Norwich doubled their lead. In the build-up to this second goal, Burnley set up with a single pivot and two number tens.
In response, the hosts pressed high from their 4-2-3-1, with McLean (23) tackling Hannibal (28) as he dropped from the half-space to receive out wide.
Norwich were ruthless in the following transition, as McLean (23) found Musaba (49), who played across to Brooks (11) making a good run to convert at the far post.
Burnley’s slow start wasn’t helped by their initially passive high press, often allowing Norwich to play out and advance from goal kicks.
In these moments, City played out through their 4-2-3-1 while Satpayev (12) advanced from the visitor’s 4-1-4-1 to press from the front. This allowed Cordoba (33) to advance before targeting Schwartau (29) as he moved to receive a pass between the lines.
Later in the first half, Burnley adjusted their press by moving Hannibal (28) closer to City’s left centre-back, while their holding midfielder jumped to press Mattsson (7).
But the visitors failed to back up this pressure, leaving Schwartau (29) free to receive a brilliant line-breaking pass from McConville (15).
In Norwich’s open play build-up phases, Burnley’s 4-1-4-1 shape was clear, with their centre-forward pressing the ball-side centre-back while the winger pressed out wide.
When Clement’s men played from the left to the right, however, Flemming (19) was drawn to press the goalkeeper, which encouraged the left-winger to press from the front, leaving Stacey (3) free to receive out wide.
In higher build-up phases, Norwich were able to find a similar escape route when Stacey (3) advanced beyond the left-winger to receive in space beyond the initial press.
When Norwich advanced into settled possession, one of the centre-midfielders often dropped into a back three, allowing a centre-back to advance out wide. In these phases, City frequently targeted their attackers as they made runs in behind.
In one instance halfway through the first half, with the hosts creating a back three, Hannibal (28) stepped forwards to press from the front, leaving Mattsson (7) free to receive on the half turn before playing in behind for Toure (21).
Clement’s men also aimed diagonal passes across to the full-backs overlapping out wide, while Brooks (11) often dropped to offer a passing option infield.
Similarly, in Burnley’s deep build-up, Ramsey (21) often dropped alongside Laurent (29). With Norwich in a 4-1-3-2, Cordoba (33) backed up the press in the last line by following Flemming (19) if he dropped to receive a direct pass.
But in open play, the hosts made a few small errors in their press, which allowed Burnley too much of the ball. In one instance, for example, Schwartau (29) jumped to press the goalkeeper, leaving the right centre-back free behind him.
Once the visitors advanced, City dropped into a 4-4-2 mid-block, but they often failed to prevent passes to Laurent (29) between the centre-forwards, particularly in the first half.
On one occasion this drew McLean (23) to press, which isolated Norwich’s captain in a 2v1 and left Ramsey (21) free to receive in space behind him.
But a recurring lack of movement from Burnley in the last line meant Ramsey (21) played backwards instead of being able to target runners in behind.
On another occasion, the visitor’s left centre-back was totally free to advance towards the halfway line before playing across to the right-winger, who was in space thanks to better movement from Hannibal (28) as he dragged Chrisene (14) infield.
When they advanced into settled possession, Ramsey (21) and Hannibal (28) occupied the half spaces between the lines of Norwich’s 4-4-2 mid-block.
But the visitors typically moved into a 3-2-5, often with Roberts (14) inverting into a double pivot while Walker (2) moved inside to create a back three.
In response, Brooks (11) followed Burnley’s left-back infield, while Musaba (49) stayed deeper to prevent passes to Hannibal (28). But this gave the visitors a first-line 3v2, allowing their right-back to advance with the ball.
Laurent (29) was often given far too much space to receive centrally behind the first line of pressure. But in the second half, Norwich did a better job of preventing these passes.
They did so by ‘pendulum pressing’: where one player marks the pivot while the other presses, before they swap roles when the ball is played across to the other side.
In the end, however, it was Norwich’s fast start that decided the game on Saturday, with Burnley unable to find a way back into the contest.
Clement’s men allowed their visitors too much time in possession, but in this case, it actually played into City’s hands.
Indeed, in transitions, the Clarets’ mistakes were punished ruthlessly by fast wingers and a speedy striker – who, together, add an exciting element to Clement’s Canaries.
You can read all Ben's previous analysis of Norwich City games via his social media accounts.
Web: NCFC Analysis
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