Paddy Davitt delivered his Wolves verdict after Norwich City's 1-1 Premier League draw.

1. Sticking plaster

Dean Smith delivered a line recently that had more than a grain of truth. Winning games is the best sticking plaster you can apply in Norwich City’s current predicament.

By no manner of means would it cure all the ills, or address that underlying frustration. But you understood his point. He also acknowledged the anger from some fans in the build up to this game, and said the only way to address it was performances and results on the park.

In the context of five previous Premier League matches without a win, four without a goal, this will have felt like a triumph of sorts. Or at the very least blessed relief.

Teemu Pukki pounced to put Norwich in front and when Wolves replied in the midst of a surge that was reminiscent of Leicester in midweek you feared the worst. Even if Wolves had struggled for goals in their pursuit of a top six finish.

But City repelled the hosts and, in truth, Angus Gunn was not called on to any great degree. There was a cohesiveness to Smith’s new look shape. A solidity to three at the back, a counter-attacking threat led by Dimi Giannoulis and to a lesser extent Max Aarons, a creative balance from Pierre Lees-Melou and Kieran Dowell, and the predatory instincts of Pukki, who notched a landmark goal in Norwich colours.

In the final analysis a footnote to a season that failed to deliver the primary objective. But Norwich at least moved a point clear of their paltry 2019/20 Premier League points total. A nod to the past. But it is the future that matters now.

2. Build him a statue

A tongue in cheek comment on social media in the immediate aftermath of Pukki’s 11th Premier League goal of this season. More notably perhaps, in the wider historical context of his huge impact on Norwich City, a 78th goal for the Canaries to move him level with the talismanic Grant Holt, with two games to spare. That underscores the company Pukki now keeps.

For all concerned one hopes there is at least another season to marvel at his unquenchable appetite for goals, his team play and his selfless approach to leading the line; an onerous task for the most part at Premier League level, in a side where he must rely on fitful service.

Albeit he could have already had a hat-trick to his name, a second at Premier League level, when he squared up England international Conor Coady and then whipped a trademark strike through his legs to deceive John Ruddy.

City have exercised a 12 month option but there are clubs on the continent who continue to circle. You can expect speculation around Pukki to ramp up as we approach the summer transfer window.

Smith certainly wants him on board. He is a tremendous footballer and the type of character who despite his quiet exterior is a leader among the group, and an inspiration one must assume to the likes of Adam Idah and Josh Sargent.

3. Creator-in-chief vacancy

The ears pricked up when Smith deflected a question at his pre-match press call about a lack of firepower, and turned the focus instead on sourcing a player who can feed the likes of Pukki et al. When pushed, he conceded City had failed to plug that sizeable creative hole left when he pounced - in a former managerial life - to snaffle Emi Buendia and entice him to Aston Villa last summer.

That is not another swipe at Norwich’s recruitment failures, but a recognition Smith himself has seen enough among his current roster to identify an area of need in this summer’s transfer market.

No doubt those on the payroll will have seen or heard the same soundbites.

Which is why there was an interesting facet to his Wolves’ formation, with Lees-Melou and Dowell operating in a creative pivot behind the Finn.

Both have an eye for the pass and Dowell has shown, albeit infrequently, his prowess at a set piece. Safe to say Smith feels he has not seen enough end product from either. He even referenced his lack of pace in his post-match media.

But with both set to be part of the Championship tour, barring any unforeseen outside transfer interest, who Smith identifies and who Norwich can entice this summer will make for a fascinating aspect to the club's Championship refresh.

4. Winging it

A game poised at 1-1 entering the final quarter. Smith has one change left to make, after the injury departures of Billy Gilmour and the hobbling Mathias Normann. He turns to Jon Rowe. What does that tell us about two expensively-acquired wide players in Milot Rashica and Christos Tzolis?

Plenty it would appear. You can split hairs about the pounds and pence that have already left the City coffers to purchase a player who had cut a swathe at times through the Bundesliga, and one Daniel Farke claimed had the potential to be the best of his generation in his position across Europe.

There will be add on in both pieces of business. Neither at this stage look likely to be troubling City’s accountants or legal eagles to examine the small print.

Rashica is already being touted with a return to Germany, even Serie A interest. Tzolis has been bypassed by first Rowe and now Tony Springett. One was seen as for the here and now, one was perhaps viewed as a longer term project.

Both have undoubted talent. Both have flattered to deceive.

Norwich will do very well to recoup their original investment. One can easily foresee a scenario Rashica departs and Tzolis perhaps seals a loan move in the shorter term to revive his career. But it should serve as a cautionary tale ahead of another transfer window of possibilities and pitfalls.

5. Final day duel

It would appear Champions League-chasing Tottenham will not be the only team at Carrow Road next weekend with something on the line. Norwich’s point moved them a point closer Watford, who capitulated 5-1 at home to Leicester.

It may be a two horse race to avoid finishing bottom, but as Smith has made much play of recently since relegation was confirmed, that could translate into another £2m in revenue for a higher placed finish. A not inconsiderable sum for a self-funded club.

When Pukki fired City in front at Molineux they were up to the giddy heights of 19th until Rayan Ait-Nouri pinned them back.

Watford have a final day assignment at Chelsea, who will surely wish to finish a nearly season on a winning note at Stamford Bridge. Given Norwich’s vastly inferior goal difference it will take nothing less than a win over the top four contenders to secure those extra funds.

But there should be an edge on a game that matters for so many more reasons than simply finances.

Join Canaries legend, and Pink Un+ columnist, Chris Sutton, Paddy and Connor to discuss all the hot topics around Norwich City at Epic Studios, in Norwich, on May 24.

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