We take a look at Norwich City’s results on Halloween.
Norwich City’s first ever fixture on Halloween ended in victory. On October 311925, the Canaries took on Exeter City in Division Three and Bert Gosnell’s men came out 1-0 winners.
Norwich have since won four more times on Halloween, including recent victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Bolton Wanderers. In 2012, Chris Hughton’s Norwich side reached the quarter-finals of the Capital Cup with a dramatic fightback against Spurs.
Gareth Bale had put the Andre Villas-Boas’ side into a 65th-minute lead but the Canaries hung on and were rewarded when Jan Vertonghen’s own goal pulled them level. With four minutes to spare, Simeon Jackson popped up with the winner to treat Norwich supporters to a final-eight clash against Aston Villa.
Two years later, Cameron Jerome gave Bolton’s defence nightmares as he netted a brace to give Norwich a much needed win at Carrow Road. The striker scored two headers before Lee Chung-yong fired a late consolation goal for Bolton. The win saw Neil Adams’ side leapfrog Wolves, Bournemouth and Middlesbrough into third in the Championship.
Norwich’s most recent Halloween fixture is one which may haunt many supporters. Yaya Toure’s late penalty agonisingly snatched a point away from Alex Neil’s tenacious side. Joe Hart appeared to have gifted Norwich a point when he fumbled Cameron Jerome’s effort, but Russell Martin’s red card and the corresponding penalty meant they came home empty handed.
Norwich’s other two defeats on 31 October were more in emphatic. They lost 3-0 to Coventry City in 1936 and 5-2 against Southend United in 1953.
The most frequent result for Norwich on Halloween has been the draw, with half of these fixtures ending level. Between 1979 and 2006, the Canaries drew six games in a row on this date – against West Brom (1979), Bolton (1981), Aldershot (1984), QPR (1987), Middlesbrough (1992) and Colchester United (2006).
With five wins, eight draws and only three defeats; Halloween is not a date Norwich supporters should fear.
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