Norwich City 1-0 West Bromwich Albion: Canaries beat play-off rivals

In the build-up to the game, Canaries head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup insisted that he and the Norwich squad still believed a repeat of last season’s run to the play-offs was possible.

They had Scotland’s Angus Gunn back in goal following a hamstring injury, but were without left-back Callum Doyle because of a calf problem, while West Brom made two changes with Callum Styles and Tom Fellows included in the starting XI.

The visitors were first to threaten with Gunn fumbling Karlan Grant’s shot just wide of the post and away for a corner but then getting down superbly to his right to keep out a Torbjorn Heggem header.

Norwich responded quickly with Borza Sainz putting Sargent through for their only on-target attempt of the first half, but Wildsmith saved with his legs and Ante Crnac curled the follow-up just wide.

Grant again tested Gunn with an effort from outside the box resulting in another corner which led to Holgate finding the net after the home side were unable to clear, only for an offside flag to leave the scoreline goalless at the interval.

The Canaries had the first opening after the break as Kenny McLean played in top scorer Sainz, but his shot was straight at Wildsmith, to the frustration of home supporters perhaps anticipating the Spaniard’s 19th goal of the campaign.

The flow of the game was interrupted by a series of free-kicks in the second half before John Swift flashed a shot over the Norwich bar as West Brom looked to generate some momentum going forwards.

A foul by Kyle Bartley allowed Norwich sub Marcelino Nunez to line up a free-kick but his aim was not quite good enough, but with a point each looking like the final outcome, the Chilean produced a perfectly weighted ball for Sargent to run onto and he cut inside before firing home.

West Brom face two big games next, at home to fourth placed Sunderland and away to Bristol City, who are eighth but level on points with them – while Norwich make the trip to bottom club Plymouth next Saturday before Sunderland are the next visitors to Carrow Road three days later.