Norwich 3-1 Bristol City

By Michael Da Silva

Norwich moved up to second in the Championship after two late goals secured a 3-1 win over Bristol City.

Grant Holt gave Norwich the perfect start when he scored from the penalty spot after Wes Hoolahan was tripped by Liam Fontaine inside the first minute.

Albert Adomah levelled for Bristol City after a slick counter-attack move.

But in the 89th minute Henri Lansbury latched on to Hoolahan's through ball to give Norwich the lead and Andrew Surman sealed the win in injury time.

The match exploded into life when, after just 44 seconds, referee Carl Boyeson awarded the home side a penalty following Fontaine's naïve challenge on Hoolahan.

Holt dispatched an unstoppable penalty into the top left corner to score his 16th goal of the season and give Norwich an early lead.

The goal unsettled Bristol City, who were on the back foot for much of the first half.

Norwich were looking lively in attack and the energetic Simeone Jackson created an opening with a wonderful touch to bring down an awkward high ball, but shot wide.

David James was kept busy but, 10 minutes before the end of the half, the former England goalkeeper was involved in a misunderstanding with his defenders, a mistake for which the visitors should have been punished.

Russell Martin's low cross from the right evaded the Bristol City defence and, with James committed, Jackson couldn't make a connection at the near post and Hoolahan was unable to reach the ball at the far post.

But while Norwich were imposing in attack, with Andrew Crofts a constant menace, they were less than impressive at the back, and Bristol City, looking for their fifth successive win in the Championship, enjoyed a period of sustained pressure.

Their best chance fell to Adomah, who bent his run to escape the Norwich offside trap and unleash a left footed effort, but John Ruddy did well to narrow the angle and pull off a fine one-handed save at his near post.

A more adventurous Bristol City took to the field in the second half and, just five minutes after the restart, Ruddy pulled off another excellent save from Adomah, who drove forward from midfield before unleashing a powerful goalbound effort from 25 yards.

Jackson was at the centre of Norwich's attacks throughout and, in the 55th minute, he leaped highest to head Hoolahan's cross from the right just over the bar.

Moments later Steve Caulker, on loan from Tottenham, made a timely block to deny Crofts, who collected Surman's intelligent reverse pass before his low shot from 12 yards was intercepted.

Crofts was involved a few minutes later when he let fly with a sweetly hit left-footed volley from 25 yards which James watched fly over his own bar.

But Norwich were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal when Adomah scored a 65th-minute equaliser against the run of play.

Norwich lost the ball in Bristol territory and the visitors hit them on the break to score a classy equaliser.

Substitute Jamal Campbell-Ryce carried the ball 40 yards and, with the Norwich defence backing off, Campbell-Ryce released Adomah with a perfectly weighted pass which Adomah tucked under the advancing Ruddy.

While it was harsh on a Norwich side that had been far the better team, Bristol were resolute in defence and Canaries boss Paul Lambert cut a frustrated figure on the touchline.

Bristol, who were looking to avenge their 3-0 defeat at Ashton Gate in October, had James to thank in the 76th minute when his brave save from Crofts denied an increasingly desperate Norwich.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes, the inventive Hoolahan crafted another chance for the home side, picking out Holt's diagonal run into the box.

But as Holt attempted to header the cross, Bristol's Jordan Spence did just enough to put the striker off.

Norwich continued to press and got their reward when the influential Hoolahan played in substitute Lansbury, who got behind the Bristol City defence to finish well beyond James.

With normal time running out, Bristol City looked for a second equaliser but Surman made sure of the win for Norwich when he cut in from the wing and slotted the ball through the legs of James.

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