Marcelino Nunez rescued a Championship point for Norwich City with an 89th-minute strike in a 1-1 draw against QPR at Carrow Road. The Canaries were heading for defeat when Ante Crnac deflected Jimmy Dunne’s header past Angus Gunn just before halftime. But Nunez stepped up to bend a curling effort late in the game, ensuring Norwich salvaged something from the fixture.
The match was significant as it preserved City’s unbeaten festive run at home, following their 2-1 Boxing Day win over Millwall. This draw also sets the stage for their upcoming matches against Coventry City and Luton Town, both of which they hope to win to solidify their position within the Championship standings.
Kenny McLean made his return to the squad after serving his four-match ban, which was retrospectively handed down for his actions during their previous encounter against QPR where Norwich suffered their heaviest defeat of the season, 3-0. Jose Cordoba also returned following his own ban from the Sunderland game, strengthening the squad as they sought revenge against the West London side this time around.
Despite the returns, Norwich struggled early on as QPR took control. The first half saw both teams creating opportunities, with Cifuentes’ side showing promise through their attacking youth, including Kieran Morgan who had impressed last season. QPR took the lead deep in injury time of the first half through Crnac's unfortunate own goal, replacing the goal originally credited to Dunne after careful review.
Norwich's second half was bolstered by aggressive attacking play, highlighted by Nunez’s increasing involvement and creativity. The team produced several chances, including one notable effort from Borja Sainz, whose shot was saved by QPR goalkeeper Paul Nardi against the near post. The Canaries kept pushing, displaying quality attacking play, but lacked the final touch on several occasions.
Norwich produced some lovely flowing moves with Shane Duffy leading from the back. Their persistence finally paid off when Nunez scored his late equalizer, capitalizing on pressure inside the QPR box.
Throughout the game, Norwich held 55% possession and outshot QPR with 19 attempts, but only managed four shots on target, reflecting their struggle to convert chances. McLean was active throughout, helping to inject some rhythm back to the team after his time away. His experience, along with Nunez's lively performance, showcased Norwich's potential going forward, raising spirits as they head to the matches against Coventry and Luton.
QPR managed to keep their defensive shape even after conceding. The away side's mix of youth and experience held strong under pressure from the home side. Despite coming close to conceding multiple times, particularly with Nardi’s miraculous save off Duffy's header, they managed to maintain composure until Nunez struck late to claim the draw.
Looking forward, as Norwich City prepares for their upcoming fixtures, the return of key players like McLean and Cordoba gives optimism to supporters. Their next match against Coventry City is anticipated to be challenging, but City will aim to build on their performance against QPR to climb higher up the Championship table.
Head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup will surely take heart from the resilience his squad showed late on, and the Canaries will look to put in consistent performances as the season progresses. The impressive attendance of 26,563 fans at Carrow Road demonstrated the club's strong community support, which they will hope to reward with positive results as they embrace the New Year.