Teemu Pukki scored an impressive hat-trick as Norwich City picked up their first win back in the Premier League against a laboured Newcastle United.
Pukki’s stunning volley set them on their way in the first half, lashing into the top corner after Newcastle failed to clear a Norwich corner.
The home side were buoyant in their first game at Carrow Road since returning to the Premier League and Pukki doubled their lead in the 63rd minute when he clinically finished off a neat passing move.
He then rounded off the scoring after Todd Cantwell caught the visitors’ defence cold , taking over to slot his third past a helpless Martin Dubravka.
Norwich played with pace and menace throughout and, if anything, they should have scored more.
Newcastle did get a consolation goal in second-half stoppage time through Jonjo Shelvey but this disjointed and toothless display will only ramp up the pressure on new manager Steve Bruce.
Pukki punishes Newcastle
Pukki had scored with three of his past four shots on target before this game but he was uncharacteristically profligate early on as Newcastle’s defence struggled to handle Norwich’s intricate attacking play.
First, he flashed a shot wide from 12 yards before spinning Fabian Schar and hitting a shot too close to goalkeeper Dubravka.
Newcastle failed to heed the warning signs though and the Finnish striker punished them in style on 32 minutes.
It was a delicious strike from last season’s Championship top scorer, carefully watching a loose header drop before unleashing a thunderbolt volley high into the Newcastle net.
He tormented the visiting backline and underlined his finishing abilities when he clipped a shot into the bottom corner in the second half before sliding home his third with 15 minutes left.
His tireless display even featured a potentially goal-saving challenge when he raced back to deny Joelinton a run at goalkeeper Tim Krul.
After scoring Norwich’s consolation at Anfield last week, the Finnish striker looks completely comfortable at this level.
Toothless Newcastle struggle in the sun
Newcastle manager Bruce had seen plenty of promise from his side in last week’s narrow defeat at home to Arsenal but he would have been dismayed at how they were overrun at Carrow Road.
It might have been different had they not spurned two glorious first half chances before Norwich opened the scoring.
First, debutant Emil Krafth blazed over from just six yards when picked out at the back post.
Then, Isaac Hayden carved out space on the right and whipped in a glorious cross for Joelinton. The ex-Hoffenheim man met it powerfully but sent it spinning the wrong side of Krul’s left post.
He limped off later after a heavy challenge from Grant Hanley, while Miguel Almiron – his predecessor as record signing – was virtually anonymous.
Jonjo Shelvey scored a neat consolation in injury time but Bruce has plenty of problems at the top end of the pitch before a daunting trip to Tottenham next week.
Man of the match – Teemu Pukki (Norwich)
Newcastle’s August woes – the stats
- Norwich are unbeaten in their past seven home Premier League games against Newcastle United (W5 D2 L0), since losing at Carrow Road in January 1994.
- Newcastle have won their first away league match in just two of the past 22 campaigns (W2 D8 L12), winning in 2007-08 against Bolton Wanderers and 2011-12 against Sunderland.
- They have won just two of their last 29 Premier League away games in August (D10 L17) and are winless in their last eight such matches.
- Daniel Farke is the first Norwich manager to win his opening home Premier League game in charge since Mike Walker in August 1992 – prior to today, each of the past seven managers had lost their first Norwich top-flight home game.
- The past five Newcastle managers have all lost their first away Premier League match in charge of the club – Alan Pardew, John Carver, Steve McClaren, Rafael Benitez and Steve Bruce.
- Teemu Pukki is the first Norwich player to score in his first two Premier League appearances for the club since Ashley Ward in December 1994.
What’s next?
Norwich welcome Chelsea to Carrow Road for next Saturday’s early kick-off (12:30 BST) while Newcastle travel to Tottenham on Sunday (16:30 BST).
