Norwich City 1-0 Barnsley: Emiliano Buendia winner sends Canaries four points clear
- Published
Emiliano Buendia scored his seventh league goal of the season
Norwich went four points clear at the top of the Championship as Emiliano Buendia's smart finish secured victory over Barnsley.
Kenny McLean's brilliant ball over the top found Buendia, who showed great touch to cushion a first-time volley past goalkeeper Jack Walton.
The in-form Tykes made a confident start and almost had an early lead when Luke Thomas hammered a shot against the bar from 12 yards.
But City gradually turned up the heat and deserved the win, with Walton making impressive saves to deny Teemu Pukki, Jacob Sorensen and Todd Cantwell.
Barnsley came into the match as the Championship's form horses with five wins from six games, but were without skipper Alex Mowatt, who tested positive for Covid-19, along with back-up keeper Brad Collins, while Conor Chaplin and George Miller were also self-isolating.
While Valerien Ismael's side started the better, Norwich almost went ahead when Mario Vrancic's through ball found Pukki, who stabbed a goalbound shot past the advancing Walton and Callum Brittain raced back to clear.
Norwich enjoyed their customary lion's share of possession - 73% in the first half - but it took until the second half for the chances to come.
Walton denied Pukki with his feet and then Sorensen from close range, but had no answer to Buendia's skilful finish.
Walton then saved from Cantwell when one-on-one as the hosts continued to breach Barnsley's high defensive line, but the visitors almost grabbed a last-gasp equaliser when Michal Helik turned Callum Styles' testing ball wide from close range.
Norwich's first win in three matches put them four points clear of second-placed Swansea, while Barnsley, who are winless at Carrow Road in their past 17 visits, dropped a place to ninth.
Norwich boss Daniel Farke told BBC Radio Norfolk:
"We wanted to set a sign today because the momentum in this league can change so quickly, and two games without a win perhaps someone could have thought 'Norwich is a bit nervous, let's see how they can handle a team that's in red-hot form'.
"We dominated this game - no team have been able to bypass Barnsley like we did, dominate this game completely and win the game with a clean sheet.
"The only thing was we could have won with a more impressive result because we missed, against a really good side, so many chances, and 4-0 or 5-0 would be even more impressive but I'll take the three points."
Barnsley head coach Valerien Ismael told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"The first half was excellent in our press situation and we won a lot of balls, and we could have scored with Luke Thomas, but I think our finishing, in such a game, you have to be more clinical.
"The second half we missed the pressure on the ball and Norwich played more direct in behind and we concede a goal like this and after it was a question of staying in the game.
"We did it until the end and the last situation we could have scored to reward ourselves for this fight. We are delighted about this performance."
"We need a little bit more belief to win such a top game and we have to do this for the next game against Swansea."