Norwich City beat Cardiff 2-0 thanks to goals from Gabriel Sara and Marquinhos, extending their winning home run to three games.

The visitors started strongly at Carrow Road, with ex-Ipswich man Connor Wickham seeing his shot blocked well by Ben Gibson from inside the box.

The Norfolk side were comparatively impotent, with their best early chances - both long range efforts - sent well wide by Brazilians Sara and Marquinhos.

The pair well and truly made up for it, however, with the former first finishing the latter's tee-up before Marquinhos found a goal of his own.

That strike, coolly dispatching Onel Hernandez's low cross, sent the hosts into the break happy, and they emerged from half-time in the same form they'd entered it with.

Marcelino Nunez played Adam Idah through and he should have made it three after rounding Ryan Allsop, but skied under pressure from Mark McGuinness.

Sabri Lamouchi's side had a half-chance through Ryan Wintle when he stole the ball from Nunez, but the hosts comfortably held onto a vital win for their play-off hopes.

NORWICH CITY (4-2-3-1):

The Pink Un: Norwich City's starting line-up for their Championship game against Cardiff City.Norwich City's starting line-up for their Championship game against Cardiff City. (Image: Newsquest)

Substitutes:

1. Krul (GK)

4. Omobamidele (on for Sorensen, 85)

18. Tzolis (on for Hernandez, 73)

22. Pukki (on for Marquinhos, 60)

30. Giannoulis (on for Aarons, 73)

46. Gibbs (on for Idah, 85)

47. Kamara

Head Coach: David Wagner

Bookings: Nunez (90)

Goals: Sara (33), Marquinhos (37)

CARDIFF CITY (3-5-2):

The Pink Un: Cardiff City's starting line-up for their Championship game against Norwich City.Cardiff City's starting line-up for their Championship game against Norwich City. (Image: Newsquest)

Substitutes:

21. Alnwick (GK)

9. Etete (on for Wickham, 45)

10. Ojo

20. Whyte

26. Simpson

35. Rinomhota (on for Romeo, 45)

48. Kaba (on for Ralls, 45)

Manager: Sabri Lamouchi

Bookings: Kipre (83)

Goals:

KEY MOMENTS

4 - The ball falls for Wickham in the Norwich area after Aarons' tackle, but Gibson blocks the Cardiff striker's shot well.

8 - Wickham's half-volley is deflected wide for a Cardiff corner.

14 - Aarons gifts the ball to Philogene in the Norwich half, but Gunn collects his tame shot.

20 - Sara's shot flies well wide from distance.

23 - Marquinhos tries a similarly ambitios shot but drags it well wide.

28 - Marquinhos attempts to curl into the far corner from the edge of the box, but it's deflected into Allsop's arms.

33 - GOAL NORWICH (Sara): Marquinhos tees up Sara and he shoots from 20 yards, with Allsop's hand failing to stop the effort as it finds the bottom corner.

37 - GOAL NORWICH (Marquinhos): Hernandez gets to the byline and flashes across the box for his opposite winger to finish.

45+1 - Nunez lashes a deflected shot just over the bar after Sorensen finds him on the edge of the box.

Half time - Norwich City 2-0 Cardiff City

49 - Nunez plays Idah through on goal and he rounds the keeper before skying under pressure from McGuinness.

55 - Sara sends a perfectly-weighted ball to Hernandez, whose volley clips the outside of the post.

58 - Norwich play the ball patiently around the box before finding McLean, who shoots well over.

65 - Wintle steals the ball from Nunez and shoots from the edge of the box, but drags his effort wide.

75 - McLean sends Giannoulis through and he squares for Pukki, but the Finn's shot is stopped by Allsop from close range.

81 - Gunn tips Ng's goal-bound free-kick over the bar.

88 - Gibbs sends Pukki through and he chips over both Allsop and the crossbar.

90+2 - Philogene shoots from the edge of the box, but hits the outside of Gunn's post.

Full time - Norwich City 2-0 Cardiff City

PLAYER RATINGS

Gunn 7, Aarons 7, Hanley 7, Gibson 8, Sorensen 6, McLean 7, Sara 8, Marquinhos 7, Nunez 7, Hernandez 7, Idah 6. Substitutes: Pukki 6, Tzolis 6, Giannoulis 6, Omobamidele 6.

MATCH STATISTICS

Possession: 66pc-34pc

Shots: 13-8

On target: 4-2

Corners: 2-5

Fouls: 11-7

Injury time: 2 mins/3 mins
REFEREE: James Linington