English Premiership
Pilkington double inspires win
2011-10-15 19:03
Norwich - Norwich midfielder Anthony Pilkington scored twice as the Canaries beat fellow Premier League new-boys Swansea 3-1 at Carrow Road on Saturday.
Pilkington, a 2 million signing from Huddersfield in the close-season, opened the scoring after just 50 seconds before Russell Martin doubled Norwich's lead soon after with a 12-yard header.
Danny Graham pulled one back for Swansea, but Pilkington sealed the win for Paul Lambert's team just after the hour to keep Norwich in an impressive ninth place in their first season back in the top-flight.
Swansea, promoted via the Championship play-offs last season, displayed little of the fight that saw them beat Stoke two weeks ago and could have few complaints about the result.
Norwich were ahead within a minute as Wales striker Steve Morison knocked down Elliott Bennett's cross at the back post to find Pilkington, who fired past Michel Vorm from close range.
Morison caused Swansea problems all afternoon and Garry Monk was perhaps fortunate to receive just a booking when he pulled back the former Millwall star as he broke through the away defence.
Swansea couldn't get into the game and they found themselves 2-0 down in the ninth minute when Martin headed home unmarked from 12 yards after getting on the end of David Fox's pinpoint cross.
Their two-goal cushion lasted less than two minutes as Swansea raced up the other end to pull one back with their first real chance of the game.
Scott Sinclair skipped between Bennett and Fox and stuck a leg out to hook the ball across the box to Graham, who powered home from six yards for his second in two games.
Swansea started to play more confidently and Angel Rangel came close to equalising with a powerful 30-yard shot that flew just over.
Morison then battled his way past three Swansea defenders before laying the ball off to Pilkington, but he hammered in to the side netting from an acute angle.
Vorm then athletically tipped wide a Morison shot as the big striker kept bullying the away defence.
Swansea ended the first half the stronger side and they thought they should have had a penalty when Nathan Dyer went down after what looked to be a legitimate challenge from Bradley Johnson, but the referee waved played on.
But Norwich regained control of the match after half-time. In the 63rd minute the ball fell to Bradley Johnson in the box after Swansea failed to clear a corner and he laid a calm pass in to the path of Pilkington, who poked home from eight yards.
Stephen Dobbie wasted Swansea's last serious opportunity to get back in the game when he miscued his shot after Graham had beaten two Norwich defenders to sneak into the box.