Norwich City 0-1 West Bromwich Albion: Josh Maja hits Baggies’ winner

A subdued opening was brought to life when Maja, back in Albion’s starting line-up at the expense of Aune Heggebo, found Sammy Iling-Junior on the right flank.

The on-loan winger swept past his man and sent in a low cross that was not fully cleared. Isaac Price was alive to the threat, delivering a low cross from the right that Maja converted at the far post.

Norwich’s best chance of the opening 45 minutes came during injury time when Marcondes’ header took a deflection, requiring a routine save from Griffiths.

The Canaries pressed for an equaliser after the break and a poor challenge by Jayson Molumby on Josh Sargent presented Marcondes with an opportunity to try his luck from 20 yards but his free-kick was parried away by Griffiths.

Matej Jurasek’s set-piece then found the unmarked Darling, whose header had Griffiths at full stretch, but squirmed just wide.

Griffiths was to produce an even better save than his earlier efforts in the 83rd minute when Jovon Makama stretched to get on the end of a cross, only to see his header superbly saved. The hosts went close from the resulting corner, only for Chris Mepham to clear off the line in a crowded penalty area.

The Albion keeper performed miracles again in the 89th minute when he spread himself to keep out Ante Crnac’s effort at the far post. The Norwich man must have thought he was about to score the equaliser, only to see Griffiths produce a super save at point-blank range.

Albion almost wrapped up the points with a second goal in stoppage time as substitute Heggebo stretched to send a low Price cross just wide.