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3 weeks ago
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Burnley recovered from the shock of conceding a goal after just 64 seconds to reclaim third place in the Championship by beating Norwich with a 2-1 comeback victory at Carrow Road, while Watford won by the same score at home to West Brom.
The Norwich defender José Cordoba headed home his first goal in English football to give his side a dream start, but the visitors hit back in impressive fashion after the break to take home maximum points. The substitute Zian Flemming’s brilliant long-range strike levelled it for the Clarets midway through the second period and another emphatic finish from Josh Brownhill settled the issued eight minutes later.
Norwich got their noses in front early after their opponents had conceded a cheap corner while attempting to play out from the back. Marcelino Núñez’s delivery was spot on and Cordoba took advantage of the space that was afforded to him to head powerfully past James Trafford.
Burnley were in the ascendancy after the break and they got back on level terms after 68 minutes with a spectacular goal from Flemming. A free-kick midway inside the Norwich half was tapped to Flemming who, realising he had space to run into, took several purposeful steps forward before finding the top corner from all of 35 yards.
The Clarets were ahead eight minutes later following another sharp finish from inside the box. This time a loose header from young Kellen Fisher fell nicely for Brownhill, who cracked the ball home from a narrow angle to turn the game on its head.
Norwich carved out an excellent chance to equalise deep into injury time but Emiliano Marcondes fired wide from just outside the six-yard box.
Two sweetly taken goals by Vakoun Bayo gave Watford a 2-1 victory over West Brom at Vicarage Road that lifted Tom Cleverley’s side back into playoff contention. The Ivory Coast striker glanced home a first-half header before superb control on his chest ended with a shot on the swivel early in the second period.
The victory lifted Watford above their opponents and into seventh place in the Championship, behind Middlesbrough only on goal difference, while West Brom saw a 12-game unbeaten run come to an end.
In the 35th minute Bayo neatly converted a clipped cross from Rocco Vata, who had earlier struck the West Brom bar with a rising drive. The visitors created few opportunities, although Jayson Molumby will have cursed when his goal-bound shot was blocked by his teammate Tom Fellows.
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Bayo’s second goal, eight minutes into the second half, was glorious. He took another Vata cross on his chest before sweeping home in a single movement.
West Brom looked beaten at that point but restored hope when Molumby side-footed home after a Mikey Johnston shot had been blocked by Ryan Porteous. Suddenly they regained hope and roused their travelling supporters as the game swayed from one end to the other.
Kwadwo Baah saw a shot blocked by Baggies skipper Kyle Bartley before Daniel Bachmann was needed to preserve Watford’s victory, punching away a Darnell Furlong header in stoppage time.
