Norwich City lost a chaotic Championship match 4-3 to Bolton Wanderers at Carrow Road on Sunday. It was their second successive 4-3 defeat in the league, leaving them 17th in the table with nine points from eight games.
Mohamed Toure gave the hosts a perfect start, firing Norwich ahead after just five minutes. Bolton's Thierry Gale levelled three minutes later, but Ruairi McConville restored the lead in the 19th minute. Gaizka Larrazabal equalised again for the visitors just before half-time, and Sam Dalby put Bolton ahead for the first time two minutes after the restart. Jack Stacey brought Norwich level at 3-3 on the hour mark, but Atsuki Ito struck the decisive goal for Bolton in the 72nd minute.
Clement's frustration
Philippe Clement said his team conceded goals too easily in a frantic contest. "It was a frantic game - and you don't win many games of football if you concede four," the Norwich manager told reporters. Their recent form shows two wins and three losses from the last five, with the defeats coming in the last three outings.
Ito's decisive moment
The winner came from Japanese midfielder Atsuki Ito, who joined Bolton from Gent last month. His strike in the 72nd minute was his first goal in English football and completed a comeback victory for Steven Schumacher's side. The Bolton manager was pleased with the spectacle. "It was a great game for the neutral, as I thought it would be, with lots of chances created and obviously we are delighted to come away with the three points," Schumacher said. The win lifted Bolton above Norwich in the standings to 15th place with 10 points.
Norwich's defensive issues are a clear concern. They have now conceded 17 goals this season, one more than they have scored. Top scorer Mohamed Toure took his tally to four for the campaign with his early strike, but it was not enough. The team was without Ali Ahmed, who remains sidelined. Clement must now prepare his squad for a tough trip to face league leaders Swansea on 10 October.
Further reading: Sky Sports Football
