Norwich City 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday: Max Aarons sends Canaries top as they earn comeback win
- Published
Josh Martin's goal was the teenager's first senior goal for Norwich
Max Aarons scored his first goal in almost two years as Norwich City regained top spot in the Championship with a late comeback win over Sheffield Wednesday at Carrow Road.
The Canaries had been trailing after Josh Windass - back in Wednesday's line-up after suspension - headed home Adam Reach's cross on the hour.
But the home side turned the match around in the last 10 minutes, with teenage substitute Josh Martin grabbing his first senior goal before full-back Aarons fired in the winner.
The result pushed Wednesday back to the foot of the table and leaves them still searching for their first win since Tony Pulis took charge.
Norwich made a promising start, with Jacob Sorensen finding space inside the box to force an early stop from Joe Wildsmith before the visitors scrambled Teemu Pukki's follow-up behind.
But Wednesday went close soon afterwards as Julian Borner's flick-on was headed off the line by Marco Stiepermann, while Barry Bannan tested Norwich goalkeeper Michael McGovern with a half-volley.
The Canaries struggled to find their rhythm, although they went close early in the second half when skipper Grant Hanley's header sailed just wide from Emi Buendia's corner.
However, Windass marked his return to the Wednesday side by putting them ahead, stealing between two defenders to meet a deep cross from Reach and register his third goal of the season.
The visitors had two penalty appeals waved away after untidy challenges on Kadeem Harris by Hanley and Stiepermann, with the latter making way for Martin 12 minutes from time.
The 19-year-old midfielder made an immediate impact, collecting a return pass from Mario Vrancic to stab home Norwich's equaliser just three minutes after his arrival.
Vrancic was involved again as the Canaries completed their comeback in the 84th minute, setting up Aarons to drill his shot past Wildsmith from close range.
Norwich head coach Daniel Farke told BBC Radio Norfolk:
"It was great to at least have 2,000 yellow shirts here. I celebrated with our supporters because they also played their part during difficult periods in the game, they were unbelievably noisy.
"I'm proud of my lads, they were able to not just score the equaliser but turn the game completely. We're the first team in ages that was able to score more than one goal against Sheffield Wednesday.
"We have turned several games and won many late points - it's a bit in our DNA as a team to fight until the end. To find a way to win this game is fantastic and there's no doubt we deserved to win it."
Sheffield Wednesday manager Tony Pulis told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"I think we should have scored a couple more goals, we had the chances.
"Two major things - the team's got used to losing and got used to not grinding it out when they have to. I don't think we ground it out today - we played some good stuff.
"But when that time comes and the pressure starts, people have got to be a lot more composed on the ball. They get paid not only to defend, but to be resilient and strong in possession of the ball. When we did do that, we caused them problems."