Bolton Wanderers 0-4 Norwich City: Teemu Pukki double helps Canaries regain top spot

Norwich City boss Daniel Farke says moving to the top of the Championship by thrashing struggling Bolton was the "perfect response" to the Canaries' midweek defeat by Preston.

Finland international Teemu Pukki scored twice and moved to 23 league goals for the season as the Canaries cruised to victory and leapfrogged Leeds, who do not play this weekend.

"The performance was really good. It was our third game in six days and away from home against a team who got a clean sheet after beating Birmingham," Farke told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"It was the perfect response."

Pukki's brace bookended a superb display from Farke's side and the striker turned provider in between to set up Marco Stiepermann, with Emi Buendia also on the mark.

A dominant Norwich performance was marred only by Kenny McLean seeing his second-half penalty saved by Remi Matthews after Pukki was fouled by Mark Beevers.

Farke continued: "They [Bolton] are fighting against relegation and for every single point, so to score four goals and be able to return with a clean sheet is outstanding.

"I'm impressed with the response after the setback at Preston and we are all happy tonight."

Victory put Norwich two points clear of second-placed Sheffield United, who also jumped above Leeds, while Phil Parkinson's Wanderers remain three points adrift of safety in 23rd.

Pukki's double meant he has scored more league goals this season than Bolton's team combined - 23 to 21 - and moved him above Blades striker Billy Sharp as the Championship's leading scorer.

The Finn, a free transfer from Danish club Brondby in the summer, superbly turned Bolton defender Callum Connolly to fire home Norwich's early opener and find the net for the sixth game running.

Stiepermann's clever ball had sent Pukki racing away and the forward returned the favour with an intelligent cut-back for the German midfielder to steer home City's second.

Bolton had no answer to the rampant visitors as Buendia steered home McLean's lofted ball on the volley to make it 3-0 and only a string of saves from former Canaries keeper Matthews kept the score down.

Pukki cleverly dinked over the keeper for Norwich's fourth before the Canaries' penalty woes continued when the Scandinavian striker was fouled by Beevers but Matthews saved McLean's spot-kick.

Norwich, who host in-form Bristol City next Saturday, have now missed six of their seven penalties this season, leaving Farke at least one issue to ponder as his side bid to stave off the chasing pack.

Canaries keeper Tim Krul saved well from both Pawel Olkowski and Connolly as Wanderers tried in vain for a consolation and suffered a fifth league defeat in seven games ahead of next Saturday's testing trip to Leeds.

Bolton Wanderers boss Phil Parkinson told BBC Radio Manchester:

"We got beaten by an outstanding team today. Sometimes you've got to hold your hands up and they were absolutely outstanding as they have been all season.

"Some of the goals they scored were right out of the top drawer.

"We can always do better but everything has to be perfect to get a result against a team like Norwich."