Mohamed Toure’s debut goal helped Norwich City beat Blackburn Rovers to continue their revival under Philippe Clement and climb further away from the Championship drop zone.
The relegation showdown at Carrow Road was a no-score bore until Anis Ben Slimane broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute with the game’s first shot on target.
Slimane’s fourth goal in five games broke Blackburn’s stubborn resistance and Toure added a second six minutes later after great work by fellow substitute Oscar Schwartau.
Norwich’s fourth win in five league games took them four points clear of the bottom three ahead of the afternoon kick-offs, while Blackburn, under caretaker boss Damien Johnson, are out of the relegation places on goal difference.
The Canaries have been transformed under former Rangers boss Clement and the Belgian coach has presided over eight wins and three draws from his 16 league games in charge.
Clement has also cured Norwich’s home sickness and they have won five of their eight league games at Carrow Road after failing to win a single one under previous boss Ryan Manning in the first three months of the season.
Neither side managed an effort on target in a wretched first half, with Norwich’s Ruairi McConville heading over and Jacob Wright seeing a shot headed clear by Blackburn’s Hayden Carter.
The hosts weren’t helped when 13-goal top scorer Jovon Makama went off injured after the break to be replaced by Australia striker Toure, a £2.6m signing from Danish side Randers, who came on for his debut.
Schwartau sparked the game into life, and after his 25-yard drive came off the post, Slimane was on hand to finish from 12 yards out.
Finally, Norwich played with some confidence and Schwartau capitalised on a Blackburn slip to force a save from Blackburn goalkeeper Balazs Toth and Toure volleyed the loose ball into the empty net.
Norwich will hope Toure can kick on with American striker Josh Sargent remains exiled to the Under-21 after his fall-out with the club over a move back to the MLS with Toronto FC.