Norwich City 5-1 Walsall Player Ratings: Jovon Makama Strikes Hat-Trick as Championship Side Seal Easy Win | FA Cup

Norwich City produced a dominant display at Carrow Road, cruising past Walsall with a convincing 5–1 victory in the FA Cup. The home side set the tone early, overwhelming their opponents with relentless attacking pressure that effectively decided the contest inside the opening half hour.

Jovon Makama was the standout performer, delivering a sensational hat-trick before being withdrawn before the hour mark. The young forward’s sharp movement and ruthless finishing repeatedly exposed a struggling Walsall backline.

Although the visitors pulled one back through an impressive long-range strike from a substitute, it proved little more than a consolation. Norwich continued to create chances with ease, sealing a comprehensive win and advancing confidently to the next round.

Here are Sportsdununia's Norwich vs Walsall player ratings.

Key Takeaways

1. Norwich City dominated early, settling the FA Cup tie within the opening 30 minutes.
2. Jovon Makama scored a brilliant first-half hat-trick before being substituted.
3. Walsall grabbed a late consolation, but Norwich secured a comfortable 5–1 win.

Norwich City Player Ratings vs Walsall

Check out Norwich City player ratings from the Emirates FA Cup match:

Goalkeeper

Daniel Grimshaw - 6.0: Largely a spectator for most of the game, which is exactly what you want as a home keeper in a cup tie. He couldn't do a single thing about the incredible strike he conceded. Had one slightly shaky moment that led to a shot but was otherwise untroubled. A quiet and comfortable day's work.

Defenders

Jack Stacey - 7.5: A very solid and energetic performance from the right-back. He was a constant outlet, with 108 touches showing how involved he was. We noticed his passing was incredibly crisp, completing 91% of them. He also contributed two key passes and was strong in the tackle. A really dependable display.

Ruairi McConville - 7.5: Looked incredibly composed before being substituted around the hour mark. His pass completion rate of 93% was phenomenal, and he was dominant in the air. He was a calm presence at the back, ensuring nothing got past him easily. A promising performance that set the tone defensively.

José Córdoba - 7.0: A mountain of a man at the back. Had the most touches of anyone on the pitch, dictating play from deep. He made 10 recoveries and 4 interceptions, reading the game brilliantly. He was a bit clumsy once or twice, but his overall contribution was immense in snuffing out Walsall's limited attacks.

Ben Chrisene - 8.0: What stood out to us was his attacking drive from left-back. He was a menace all game, grabbing an assist and creating three chances. His willingness to get forward and take players on was a joy to watch. He had a couple of defensive lapses but his offensive output more than made up for it.

Midfielders

P. Mattsson - 8.0: The captain led by example in the heart of midfield. He was everywhere, recovering the ball 12 times and winning the majority of his duels. His passing was near-perfect, and he even tested the keeper with two shots on target. A complete midfield performance.

Jacob Wright - 8.5: From our perspective, he was the engine of the team. He was the main creative force, with 18 passes into the final third and creating three chances. His crossing was a constant threat, and he worked tirelessly off the ball. An outstanding display of midfield dominance.

Anis Slimane - 8.0: The stats say two assists, and that's what matters. He was the provider, linking up play beautifully in the final third. While he was a bit loose in possession at times, his creative spark was undeniable. He made things happen and was a key part of the attacking onslaught.

Matej Jurasek - 8.0: Kicked things off with a well-taken goal, setting the stage for the rout. He was a constant threat with his direct running and created three chances for his teammates. He looked dangerous every time he cut inside. A really sharp and effective performance.

Forwards

Jovon Makama - 10: A perfect performance. There's no other way to describe it. A hat-trick in just 59 minutes is the stuff of dreams. His finishing was just ruthless, showing incredible instinct and composure in front of goal. Walsall's defenders will be having nightmares about him. The easiest Man of the Match decision we'll make all season.

Mathias Kvistgaarden - 6.5: Worked hard and battled for everything, winning a decent number of duels. However, things didn't quite fall for him in front of goal. He got into good positions but couldn't apply the finishing touch. A tireless effort, but he was overshadowed by his strike partner's brilliance.

Substitutes

Jakov Medic - 6.5: Came on and kept things tidy at the back. Missed one good headed chance from a corner but was solid otherwise.

Oscar Schwartau - 6.5: Looked lively after replacing the hat-trick hero. Set up a chance and showed some neat touches.

Tony Springett - 7.5: Made a brilliant impact off the bench. He got his goal with a composed finish late in the game. Looked sharp and eager to impress.

Errol Mundle-Smith - 6.5: Slotted into midfield and kept the ball moving. Had one shot saved.

Liam Gibbs - 7.0: Provided a lovely through ball for Springett's goal. A classy cameo appearance.

Manager

P. Clement - 8.5: Set his team up perfectly to attack and overwhelm the opposition from the start. His game plan worked to perfection. The decision to rest key players like Makama and Wright once the game was won was smart management. An almost flawless day at the office for the gaffer.

Walsall Player Ratings vs Norwich City

Let's take a look at Walsall player ratings from the Norwich City vs Walsall FA Cup game:

Goalkeeper

Myles Roberts - 5.5: A strange, almost impossible performance to rate. He let in five goals, which is a horrible number for any keeper. However, he also made seven saves, some of which were excellent stops. Without him, the scoreline could have been far uglier. He was left completely exposed by a shambolic defence.

Defenders

Aden Flint - 5.0: As the captain, he tried to organize a defence that was in complete disarray. He made nine clearances, throwing his body on the line. But ultimately, he was part of a backline that was systematically dismantled. A tough day leading a sinking ship.

Priestley Farquharson - 4.5: Really struggled to cope with the pace and movement of the Norwich forwards. He was subbed off before the hour after a difficult outing. He won just one of his four duels and looked off the pace. A day to forget for him.

Evan Weir - 4.0: A truly nightmarish afternoon. From our perspective, he was the weakest link in a very weak chain. He lost possession 18 times and made an error leading to a shot. The Norwich attackers targeted him, and he simply had no answers. A brutal experience.

Midfielders

Connor Barrett - 5.0: Found himself chasing shadows for much of the game. He was dribbled past twice and struggled to make any real impact. He tried to get involved but was mostly bypassed by Norwich's slick midfield play. He never stopped running, to his credit.

Charlie Lakin - 6.0: One of the few Walsall players who can hold their head up. He was combative in midfield, winning seven duels and making five tackles. He tried to get on the ball and keep possession under immense pressure. A tireless and battling display in a losing cause.

Brandon Comley - 5.0: Hooked at half-time after an ineffective first half. He struggled to get a foothold in the game as Norwich completely dominated the midfield battle. He made a few tackles but couldn't stem the tide.

V. Harper - 6.0: He provided the assist for Walsall's only goal, a moment of quality in an otherwise poor team performance. He worked hard defensively, making four tackles and four interceptions. He showed some fight and desire.

Jamie Jellis - 5.5: Put in a shift but struggled to influence proceedings. He won a good number of his duels but was often chasing the ball. He couldn't provide the creative spark his team desperately needed before being subbed.

Forwards

Daniel Kanu - 5.0: A very isolated and frustrating figure up front. He only had 21 touches and couldn't get into the game at all. He worked the channels but was starved of any real service. An impossible job for him on the day.

Aaron Pressley - 5.0: Similar to his strike partner, he had a thankless task. He was taken off at halftime after a first half where he was completely isolated. He battled in the air but had little opportunity to show what he could do.

Substitutes

Albert Adomah - 5.5: Came on at halftime but couldn't change the flow of the game.

Courtney Clarke - 7.0: The clear bright spot for Walsall. Came on and scored an absolute thunderbolt from distance. A moment of real magic.

Rico Browne - 5.5: Replaced Farquharson and tried to shore things up, but the damage was already done.

Alex Pattison - 5.5: Brought fresh legs into the midfield but the game was already lost.

Jamille Matt - 6.0: Looked more of a physical threat than the starters, winning a few headers.

Manager

M. Sadler - 4.5: His team looked completely unprepared for the intensity of Norwich. The tactical setup was all wrong, as his defence was left exposed time and time again. While his side was the underdog, the manner of the defeat was alarming. A very difficult day for the manager.

Man of the Match in Norwich vs Walsall

Jovon Makama of Norwich City was the best player in the FA Cup game with a perfect 10/10.

Worst Performer

Evan Weir had a nightmarish outing for Walsall FC.