Norwich City 4-1 Watford: First home Championship win for Johannes Thorup

Sargent’s early sliding effort from Sainz’s teasing ball across the face of goal was denied by a good save from Daniel Bachmann, but Norwich’s fast start was rewarded soon after.

Doyle picked up the ball in midfield, skipped past Giorgi Chakvetadze and blasted home from the edge of the box as Bachmann failed to keep out the effort despite getting two hands to it.

Watford’s Tom Dele-Bashiru blazed over from 12 yards after a half-cleared corner just two minutes later before the Hornets were rocked by two injuries as defender Francisco Sierralta and Bachmann both had to come off inside the first 12 minutes.

Bachmann’s replacement Jonathan Bond was almost beaten by a stooping Sargent header that went wide – and the ball was in the net when Sainz broke clear and scored, only for it to be ruled out for a tight offside decision midway through the first period.

Having weathered the early pressure, Watford levelled as Chakvetadze played in Vata who struck the upright, but the ball was gathered by Ken Sema who lofted a cross to the far post where Andrews coolly slotted between defender and goalkeeper.

Tom Cleverley’s side could not believe they were not ahead after 32 minutes when Chakvetadze’s corner was deflected onto the post by Doyle and Dan Jebbison managed to blaze the rebound wide from a yard out.

But just as both sides expected to go into the break level, Sainz showed a superb touch to latch on to Kenny McLean’s long ball and calmly finished with his left foot in the third minute of stoppage time.

Norwich kept up the pressure after the break as Bond did well to save Ante Crnac’s effort before Nunez caressed Doyle’s cross from the left into the far corner after another good ball by McLean.

Impressive Watford substitute Kwadwo Baah came closest to pulling a goal back as Chakvetadze played him through, but the 21-year-old German could not beat Angus Gunn in the Norwich goal.

The Canaries added a fourth as two substitutes linked up when Jack Stacey bore down the right and cut the ball back to Chrisene, who tapped in unmarked from close range for his first goal since his summer move from Aston Villa.