Norwich City were beaten 2-0 by Blackburn Rovers in a frustrating Championship affair for the Canaries at Carrow Road.
It was the worst possible start for Dean Smith's side against a team who had won all 12 of the games in which they'd scored first going into the game. Tyler Morton's free-kick was aimed for Sam Gallagher but beat Angus Gunn via a Ben Gibson deflection after just four minutes.
After an extended period of anxiety City began to show their teeth midway through the half, finding openings for Isaac Hayden and Teemu Pukki but unable to find an equaliser.
They attempted to force the issue the other side of half time but struggled to create anything tangible, Josh Sargent's close-range header as close as they came in a barren and frustrating second period.
That chance came five minutes after Tyrhys Dolan had sealed the three points for Blackburn, his drive deflected beyond Gunn by Sam McCallum.
The defeat leaves the Norfolk side fifth in the Championship with only a point keeping them in the play-off places and six seperating them and Sheffield United in second.
NORWICH CITY (4-2-3-1):
Substitutes:
1. Krul (GK)
4. Omobamidele
10. Dowell
11. Idah (on for Sinani, 73)
25. Hernandez (on for Sara, 58)
26. Nunez (on for McCallum, 86)
30. Giannoulis
46. Gibbs (on for Hayden, 58)
Head Coach: Dean Smith
Bookings: McLean (57), Hanley (79), Pukki (90+1)
Goals:
Blackburn Rovers (4-2-3-1):
13. Pears (GK)
8. Szmodics (on for Dack, 58)
14. Hirst
15. Hola
19. Hedges (on for Gallagher, 65)
27. Travis
36. Wharton (on for Ayala, 58)
Head Coach: Jon Dahl Tomasson
Bookings: Ayala (28), Morton (83), Kaminski (90+1)
Goals: Gibson (OG, 4), Dolan (86)
KEY MOMENTS
3 - McLean's low cross is cleared as far as Sinani, who lifts well over the bar with his weaker right foot.
4 - GOAL BLACKBURN (Gibson OG): Morton's free-kick is deflected towards the Norwich goal by Gibson and wrong-foots Gunn.
22 - Hayden's long-range volley is goal bound but blocked well.
25 - Pukki nearly dispossesses Kaminski on his own goal line, but the Blackburn stopper manages to clear.
28 - Pukki surges through the middle of the pitch before being brought down by Ayala on the edge of the box.
29 - Sara sends the resulting free-kick into the Blackburn wall.
34 - another Morton free-kick flashes across the face of Gunn's goal with no takers.
36 - Pukki intercepts when Brereton Diaz fails to clear Sara's free-kick, but the Finn drags his shot, which is deflected wide.
37 - Hayden sends a header towards goal from the resulting corner, but it doesn't have enough power to beat Kaminski.
Half time - Norwich City 0-1 Blackburn Rovers
46 - Sargent's cross finds Pukki at the near post, but he can't flick goalward.
51 - Sinani curls a free kick straight into Kaminski's chest.
60 - Aarons pokes through for Pukki, but he takes it wide and can't find the return for the full-back.
61 - Pukki crosses low for Sargent but the American can't flick goalward.
62 - McCallum curls an effort wide from the edge of the box after Hernandez' lay-off.
66 - Buckley's volley is struck well but Gunn saves and holds.
69 - A well-worked move finds Sargent, whose centre is turned behind for a corner.
86 - GOAL BLACKBURN (Dolan): Dolan storms into the Norwich box and sees his fierce shot deflected beyond Gunn by McCallum.
89 - Dolan cuts in and sees his curling effort parried by Gunn.
90+1 - Sargent's close-range header is clawed away by Kaminski after Nunez' corner.
90+5 - Dolan should have a second but lifts over the bar on the counter.
Full time - Norwich City 0-2 Blackburn Rovers
PLAYER RATINGS
Gunn 6, Aarons 5, Hanley 4, Gibson 3, McCallum 5, Hayden 4, McLean 4, Sara 4, Sinani 4, Sargent 5, Pukki 4. Subs: Gibbs 5, Hernandez 7, Idah 5, Nunez 5.
MATCH STATISTICS
Possession: 61pc-39pc
Shots: 19-7
On target: 4-3
Corners: 6-1
Fouls: 11-18
Added-on time: 1 min/6 mins
REFEREE: Paul Tierney
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