The Canaries are fast becoming one of the in-form teams in the Premier League after extending their unbeaten run to nine games in all competitions. Although in the latest chapter they beat Sunderland at Carrow Road this afternoon, they had to endure a second-half fight-back to secure all three points.
Not surprisingly Norwich began the game far more brightly than their nervous visitors who had only won 2 of their previous 13 games this season.
In only the third minute Matthew Kilgallon was booked for pulling on the shirt of Grant Holt, who had turned the centre-back as he threatened the Black Cats defence. And just five minutes later another free-kick conceded by the struggling wearsiders, led to the opening goal the home side.
Bradley Johnson flicked on Robert Snodgrass' delivery and it took a deflection off the arm of Carlos Cuellar to fall nicely for Sebastien Bassong. The ex-Newcastle defender could not miss from close-range.
The on-song Canaries continued to over-whelm a side managed by an ex-Canary hero Martin O'Neill who went on to briefly manage the Norfolk side before he fell out with then controversial chairman Robert Chase. It took his charges nearly half an hour before they even tested Mark Bunn, standing in for the injured England keeper John Ruddy.
Johnson was instrumental in City deservedly taking a 37th minute two-goal lead. He played in Anthony Pilkington behind Kilgallon and Cueller before stroking the ball past Simon Mignolet.
Although Sunderland were handed a lifeline on the stroke of half-time, when Adam Johnson from the left flank cut the ball back to Craig Gardner who caught Bunn off-guard.
HALF-TIME: City 2 Sunderland 1
Incredibly, despite a much improved performance by O'Neill's side after the break there were no further goals.
Although Connor Wickham who started the second half in place of the injured Steven Fletcher, so nearly made an immediate impact but for Ryan Bennett's goal-line clearance. Kilgallon had an even easier chance to equalise, but somehow managed to blast over with the goal at his mercy after Gardner's free kick had rebounded off the post.
Wickham did have the ball in the net with just 13 minutes remaining, but to the delight of the home crowd the ex-Ipswich strikers effort was ruled offside.
The victory moved the Canaries up one place to 12th level on points with Liverpool, but left Sunderland still only one place and one point above the relegation zone.
FULL-TIME: City 2 Sunderland 1
| Norwich | Sunderland |
| 28 Bunn | 22 Mignolet |
|
3 Whittaker |
2 Bardsley |
|
5 Bassong |
12 Kilgallon |
|
18 Garrido |
24 Cuellar |
| 24 R Bennett | 3 Rose |
|
4 Johnson |
7 Larsson *** |
|
12 Pilkington |
8 Gardner |
|
14 Hoolahan ** |
21 Johnson |
| 7 Snodgrass * | 23 McClean ** |
|
9 Holt |
28 Sessegnon |
| 27 Tettey | 26 Fletcher * |
|
Substitutes
|
|
|
13 Rudd (GK) |
20 Westwood |
| 2 R Martin | 19 Bramble |
|
8 Howson ** 88 |
14 Colback |
| 20 Barnett | 15 Vaughan *** 90 |
|
17 E Bennett * 77 |
9 Campbell ** 85 |
|
10 Jackson |
10 Wickham * 46 |
|
16 Morison |
11 McFadden |
Goals:
City: Bassong (8) ; Pilkington (37)
Sunderland: Gardner (44)
Bookings:
City: None
Sunderland: Kilgallon (3); Bardsley (60)
Referee:
Mr Phil Dowd
Attendance:
26,228