Norwich’s miserable record of losing every home match this season continued as Bristol City came away with a hard-fought 1-0 Championship success.
A well-taken goal from Mark Sykes midway through the second half was enough to condemn the Canaries to a sixth successive reverse at Carrow Road to pile more pressure on Liam Manning, the former Robins boss.
It was a first win in five for the visitors while the hosts are now looking anxiously over their shoulders after another lacklustre display, although it might have been different but for two excellent saves from Radek Vitek in the second half.
An instantly forgettable first half produced few clear-cut chances, with two well-matched sides largely cancelling each other out.
The only save of note was made by Norwich’s Vladan Kovacevic, who blocked a powerful effort from Emil Riis after the visiting striker had been put through.
Moments earlier the Canaries carved out what turned out to be their best opening of the half, Oscar Schwartau heading a Jack Stacey cross inches wide at the back post.
Neto Borges also clipped the outside of the far post with a curling effort for the Robins but these were rare moments of excitement in a dull opening period.
Norwich upped the tempo at the start of the second half and it took an excellent stop from Vitek to prevent Emi Marcondes from converting Schwartau’s cross into the danger area.
At the other end, Kovacevic tipped a first-time effort from Zak Vyner over the bar and Harry Darling produced a superb last-ditch block to deny Anis Mehmeti.
The visitors were now in the ascendancy and it was they who finally broke the deadlock after 73 minutes.
A cross from the left from Mehmeti somehow found its way to Sykes, unmarked at the back post, and the substitute produced an emphatic side-footed finish.
Kovacevic saved well at his near post to prevent Sykes from doubling the Robins’ lead while Vitek made another good reflex stop to block Stacey’s goalbound effort.
The managers
Norwich’s Liam Manning:
“I seem to be repeating myself after every match here, we are just too nice to play against. I’ll own my performance in all this but a few of the players need to own their performances as well.
“They need to show the necessary toughness to go out there and win a game of football in a tough atmosphere like it was today. We created some good chances and didn’t take them – successful sides at this level need to be ruthless in front of goal and we weren’t.
“I don’t want us to play square and sideways all the time, I want us to attack with purpose. Overall we were just too passive – we weren’t brave enough to go out and do what was required. When you don’t score the pressure mounts.
“Then (for the goal) we give away a soft free-kick, switch off when it comes over and the ball is in the back of our net.”
Bristol City’s Gerhard Struber:
“Everyone was really disappointed after our last game against QPR and determined to bounce back.
“We had a plan coming here and it was a really good effort from the boys. The batteries were certainly low at the end after all the effort they put in.
“We worked very hard to keep Norwich out and were always dangerous on transition and could have had a few more goals. In a couple of occasions we were grateful to Radek but overall I thought we deserved to win this game. “
As for the performance of Vitek, who is on loan from Manchester United, Struber added: “He has made a couple of excellent saves.
“He’s only 21 but already looks like an excellent Championship keeper and is someone who has high potential.”