Daniel Farke: Team spirit got us the equaliser

A close first-half saw Brentford have the advantage at half-time – Ivan Toney’s 27^th minute effort from a few yards the decisive moment.

City pressed for an equaliser in the second-half and had to wait until the 87^th minute when substitute Kenny McLean saw a deflected strike wrongfoot Brentford goalkeeper David Raya and roll home to give the Canaries the reward for their endeavours.

Speaking to canaries.co.uk after the game, Farke said: “Another important goal. It was important today to grind out a result and to get one point and to stay two/three points clear of Brentford and extend our unbeaten run as well.

“We forced a way back into the game in the second-half. It was a goal out of team spirit and really the will to be greedy to score that late, even after we tried to go for the game and change our base formation.

“We tried further on with many offensive minded players on the pitch to go for it. In the end, it’s a good point.”

It’s now the fourth game in succession where Farke’s team have scored in the final five minutes to get something from a match – it’s a trait that Farke says is no fluke.

“The late goals are definitely no coincidence. I think many things have to come together – definitely the fitness level has to be outstanding but also, it’s due to the way we play.

“We often exhaust the opponent by dominating possession and often the opponent has to run a lot and then you have to be patient to find a gap.

“Today was a bit more of a case of willingness and being greedy. We didn’t want to lose the game and you could feel a big team spirit today.”

Farke was forced to change his starting line-up just minutes before kick-off with left-back Xavi Quintilla have to withdraw after being injured in the pre-match warm-up.

In stepped Jacob ‘Lungi’ Sorensen for his full debut for the Canaries and, despite naturally being a central midfielder, he deputised really well.

“He had a fantastic pre-season but has then had an unlucky start to the season. He had a tough period away with his national team and was then injured and then ill.

“It was a late call, Xavi Quintilla felt something during the warm-up and I had no other natural left-back today on the bench.

“Jacob is a smart player. He hasn’t played there often but my feeling was I didn’t want to change the other options too much.

"He can fulfill what I want. He did alright and I was definitely pleased with his performance.”