Wes Hoolahan key to Norwich’s first win

Norwich 3 Bournemouth 1: Alex Neil lavished praise on Wes Hoolahan after his man-of-the-match in a performance that lifts his side into the top half of the Premier League.

Hoolahan created the opening goal for Cameron Jerome before scoring the second himself just seven minutes into the second half. The game was wrapped up when Matt Jarvis struck on his debut, with Steve Cook grabbing a consolation for the visitors.

The win gives Neil his first home league victory but it was the performance of playmaker Hoolahan that had the Scot purring after the game.

“Fantastic,” he said when asked to sum up the 33-year-old’s contribution, “He is capable of that. He isn’t going to always have days when he has that much influence but when he does he is a joy to watch. He is a special player and he has been great since I came here.

“I like creative players – Nathan Redmond has probably played his best football over the last six months, that type of player has a place in my team but they have to put the work-rate in as well.”

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe was left bemoaning his side’s poorest performance in 18 months and pointed to a poor defensive display as the cause of the defeat.

“Without a shadow of a doubt,” he said when asked if that was the Cherries’ worst performance in their short Premier League history.

“Definitely this season and, reflecting back on last season I don’t think we performed like that at throughout the season.