Even the Finn’s good scoring streak didn’t save Dean Smith from being fired.
Dean Smith was sacked by Norwich. PDO
Teemu Pukki scored against Luton. The championship series can be watched on Elisa Viihde Viaplay and v Sport channels.
Boxing Day’s round of matches in England’s second tier of the Championship was tough for Norwich. The Canaries lost to the underdog Luton Town 2–1, which again widened the gap to the top of the series.
Teemu Pukki equalized 1–1 with his eighth hit of the season, but Luton, who persevered for the last ten minutes with less than a man, scored the winning goal in the very last moments.
Norwich manager Dean Smith didn’t stay after the game to greet the visiting fans, but went straight to the locker room. The gesture could give an indication of the coach’s fate, because now several media sources have reported on Smith’s firing.
Smith has coached at Norwich for only 13 months. He rose German Daniel Farken place last season, but failed to keep the team in the Premier League. Norwich, which is striving to return to the main league, is the favorite for success in the Championship, so its current league ranking does not fully meet the expectations of the supporters and the club owners. Having lost three of their last four series games, Norwich is in fifth place.
Norwich are 12 points clear of league leaders Burnley and Sheffield United. In the championship series, places 3–6 play a playoff series at the end of spring, the winner of which advances to the Premier League.
The news about Smith’s firing included, among other things the Athletic.