Josh Sargent’s bizarre equaliser had cancelled out the opener from Camiel Neghli, but a goal from substitute Macauley Langstaff ensured that the Liam Manning era got off to a sour start for the Canaries.

City started strongly, a deafening home crowd and relentless press giving them the upper hand early on. They couldn’t convert it into chances until the 10th minute, though, when debutant Mirko Topic’s curler was blocked well by Japhet Tanganga.

Jacob Wright then took aim when he stepped up for a free-kick 25 yards out, but his powerful effort was too central to seriously worry Steven Benda in the Millwall goal. Amankwah Forson had a similar opportunity and sent over the bar.

The next flashpoint came shortly before half time, Jake Cooper and Jakov Medic involved in a collision that resulted in the former’s yellow card. He could perhaps consider himself lucky given a foul on Sargent early on that many felt warranted a booking.

The visitors had largely been devoid of chances, but they found one in the 45th minute. Jeffrey Schlupp’s poor clearance fell to Neghli to half-volley, giving new Norwich goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic the chance to impress his new public on debut.

He couldn’t repeat the feat the other side of half time, however, when poor defending allowed Neghli the time and space to fire another shot in. This time it beat Kovacevic, sending the near-2,000 away fans into raptures.

But their joy didn’t last long. Just four minutes later Sargent was the beneficiary of some diligent running and an error from Benda, whose clearance looped over his head via the American’s block and a kind bounce.

It should have been 2-1 to Alex Neil’s side on the hour mark, Miahilo Ivanovic outsmarting Medic and cutting back for Femi Azeez. Somehow he lifted over the bar with an empty goal gaping and under no real challenge.

By then the game had opened up to basketball proportions, but neither side was able to take advantage. Mathias Kvistgaarden and Marcelino Nunez both had efforts from the bench, the first finding Benda’s body and the second the River End.

But Millwall bided their time, and when things calmed down they struck. Langstaff seemingly had acres when he galloped onto Alfie Doughty’s ball through, coolly slotting past Kovacevic for a late winner.

Norwich have the chance to bounce back quickly when they travel to face Watford in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, with a Championship game against Portsmouth following in a week’s time.

Substitutes:

32. Grimshaw (GK)

8. Gibbs

14. Chrisene (on for Schlupp, 70)

19. Diallo

24. Makama (on for Crnac, 84)

26. Nunez (on for Topic, 69)

29. Schwartau

30. Kvistgaarden (on for Forson, 60)

35. Fisher (on for Stacey, 84)

Head Coach: Liam Manning

Bookings: Wright (89)

Goals: Sargent (55)

Substitutes:

15. Crocombe (GK)

3. Sturge

17. Langstaff (on for Coburn, 80)

18. Leonard (on for Doughty, 90+3)

21. Luongo (on for Mitchell, 90+3)

22. Emakhu (on for Azeez, 89)

25. Cundle (on for Neghli, 80)

27. Grant

31. Bangura-Williams

Head Coach: Alex Neil

Bookings: Tanganga (35), Cooper (41), Mitchell (87), Crama (90+7)

Goals: Neghli (51), Langstaff (83)

KEY MOMENTS

10 – Schlupp’s volley is blocked into Topic’s path, but his curler is blocked well by Tanganga.

21 – Wright curls a free-kick over the wall but it’s too central to worry Benda.

30 – Topic drags an ambitious left-footed strike wide from 25 yards.

37 – Forson curls his free-kick over the bar.

45 – Schlupp’s poor clearance falls for Camiel Neghli to half-volley but Kovacevic is equal to it.

Half-time: Norwich City 0-0 Millwall

51 – GOAL MILLWALL (Neghli): Crama’s cross drifts all the way across the box to an unmarked Neghli at the back post, and he volleys home smartly.

55 – GOAL NORWICH (Sargent): Sargent charges down Benda’s clearance, which bounces off him, into the ground and over the Millwall keeper to level the scores.

60 – Ivanovic beats Medic and cuts back for Azeez, who has an empty goal to slot into but somehow lifts over the bar.

65 – Kvistgaarden gets on the end of Sargent’s diverted cross but can’t beat Benda on the volley.

78 – Nunez curls a poor free-kick wide of the far post from an ideal distance.

83 – GOAL MILLWALL (Langstaff): Doughty slides a ball through for Langstaff, who has plenty of room to slot through Kovacevic’s legs.

Full-time: Norwich City 1-2 Millwall

PLAYER RATINGS

Kovacevic 6, Medic 5, Darling 6, Cordoba 6, Stacey 8, Wright 6, Topic 6, Schlupp 7, Forson 6, Crnac 5, Sargent 8. Subs: Kvistgaarden 7, Nunez 6, Chrisene 6.

MATCH STATISTICS

Possession: 59pc-41pc

Shots: 15-15

On target: 3-3

Corners: 6-5

Fouls: 4-15

Added time: 1 min/5 mins

Attendance: 26,546 (1,949 Millwall)