Goals from Harry Darling and Josh Sargent earned the Canaries a 2-1 victory, getting them off the mark in the Championship and ending a long-term hoodoo on the road.

Portsmouth started strongly, backed by a famously raucous Fratton Park crowd in their first home league game of the season. But City soon gained a foothold, and in the sixth minute they had the lead.

Darling had all the time in the world to wander onto Marcelino Nunez’s wide free-kick, nodding into the bottom corner to silence that crowd and open his account for his new club.

Eight minutes later it was two, again from a set-piece. Darling this time turned provider, launching a throw-in into the box that Jose Cordoba flicked on and Sargent bundled over the line at the back post.

From there Pompey looked more comfortable, although the threat of a dangerous counter remained. Twice City were let down by poor touches in good positions, first by Sargent and then Jack Stacey.

There was still time for Emiliano Marcondes, Mirko Topic and Nunez to take aim before half-time, although none came particularly close to making it 3-0. 

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho’s team talk at the  will undoubtedly have been harsh, but it made little difference to the pattern of the game. The visitors remained comfortable and controlled despite the withdrawals of Nunez and Marcondes for Jacob Wright and Oscar Schwartau respectively.

The tide could well have turned in a rather fortunate spell for Norwich, however, both referee Stephen Martin’s decision not to give Topic a second yellow card and John Swift’s poor free-kick saving graces.

Away goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic would be needed several times after that, the highlight a penalty save in the 80th minute. The spot kick was clumsily given away by Kellen Fisher when he missed a loose ball and connected with Portsmouth substitute Florian Bianchini, but Kovacevic guessed where Colby Bishop was going and collected well.

That wasn’t the end of the pressure facing City though, and six minutes from time it paid off. Adrian Segecic arrowed a fine strike into the bottom corner, setting up a grandstand finish for both sides.

But Norwich were able to hang on after 11 full minutes of added time including one John Swift shot hitting the bar, relieved celebrations underlining how much the hard-earned win meant to them.

They’ll hope to add a home win when Middlesbrough visit Carrow Road next weekend, but for now Liam Manning will be delighted with what his charges produced in the end.

Substitutes:

30. Killip (GK)

11. Bianchini (on for Lang, 57)

14. Matthews

16. Le Roux

18. Kosznovsky

20. Waddingham (on for Murphy, 69)

22. Swanson (on for Williams, 69)

24. Devlin

47. Yang

Head Coach: John Mousinho

Booking: Ogilvie (90+7), Swift (90+9)

Goals: Segecic (84)

Substitutes:

32. Grimshaw (GK)

8. Gibbs

14. Chrisene

16. Wright (on for Nunez, 49)

24. Makama

27. Schlupp (on for Diallo, 74)

29. Schwartau (on for Marcondes, 45)

30. Kvistgaarden (on for Sargent, 74)

35. Fisher (on for Stacey, 65)

Head Coach: Liam Manning

Bookings: Topic (25), Cordoba (37), Darling (90+9)

Goals: Darling (6), Sargent (14)

KEY MOMENTS

6 – GOAL NORWICH (Darling): Nunez whips his free-kick onto the head of an unmarked Darling, who easily nods into the bottom corner.

7 – Crnac capitalises on a poor pass, slipping Sargent in before his effort is stopped by the legs of Schmid.

14 – GOAL NORWICH (Sargent): Darling launches into the box with a throw-in, Cordoba flicks on and Sargent bundles in at the back post to double his side’s lead.

32 – Diallo volleys Nunez’s pass back across goal, but Marcondes can’t get enough power behind it for a third headed Norwich goal.

Half-time: Portsmouth 0-2 Norwich City

47 – Stacey whips in at the end of a fluid move but Crnac doesn’t connect well with his volley.

65 – Kovacevic dives to deny Segecic from distance.

80 – PENALTY SAVED PORTSMOUTH: Fisher clumsily upends Bianchini in the box before Colby steps up. Kovacevic reads his kick and dives left to hold it.

84 – GOAL PORTSMOUTH (Segecic): Segecic lines up a strike from 25 yards out and arrows beyond Kovacevic into the bottom corner.

90+9 – Swift hits the bar with a volley from 20 yards.

Full-time: Portsmouth 1-2 Norwich City

PLAYER RATINGS

Kovacevic 9, Stacey 6, Medic 7, Darling 8, Cordoba 7, Crnac 6, Nunez 7, Topic 7, Diallo 6, Marcondes 7, Sargent 8. Subs: Schwartau 6, Wright 6, Fisher 5, Kvistgaarden 5, Schlupp 6.

MATCH STATISTICS

Possession: 58pc-42pc

Shots: 18-10

On target: 3-5

Corners: 9-0

Fouls: 6-13

Added time: 2 mins/10 mins

Referee: Stephen Martin

Attendance: 20,382 (1,911 Norwich)