Norwich boss happy to excuse Koroma’s grave miss

On-loan Gambian striker to Norwich City, Omar Koroma, had missed an opportunity to make a spectacular introduction to English football on Saturday - but received a protective arm around him from his manager Glenn Roeder.

Norwich City endured a miserable start to their Coca Cola Championship campaign after two second half goals condemned them to defeat at Coventry.

Koroma came on as a substitute just after the hour mark and within minutes found himself with a glorious opportunity to equalise, having perfectly judged David Marshall's long punt forward. But as former Hawks forward bore down on goal, he made his first mistake - putting the ball in the air rather than keeping it on the floor - allowing Coventry's new goalkeeper Kieran Westwood to get a hand to the ball and claw it away.

"He is very disappointed with himself because he did well to break on to the chance," Roeder told club the website.

"I have sat with him in the dressing room and we have viewed it and I said the only place the goalkeeper has got a chance of making a save is if you keep the ball high because he was standing up big, and that's what he does, he saves with his hands.

"Anything along the grass either side of his legs he can't save, even if it trickles in it doesn't matter. They are chances you die for, but he is a young lad and he has only just come on. I make one or two excuses for him - he's 18. It's quite frustrating because we have had him for a week or two now and he's had a few chances like that in practice games and he has finished every one."