A hapless Norwich City side were on the end of their fourth consecutive away defeat as they were beaten by Swansea in South Wales.
Bashir Humphreys’ late strike earned the win for the home side, after Gabriel Sara had cancelled out Jamal Lowe’s opener.
City’s 340 travelling fans went into the game full of optimism, after a 2-0 win over Birmingham on Saturday appeared to get their season back on track.
The game got off to a disastrous start for the visitors, however, who found themselves behind of their own doing.
Shane Duffy’s poor pass found Adam Forshaw compromised, and before the Irishman could get back in position, Matt Grimes had found Lowe for the opener.
That left the Swans hungry for more, and they came close when Jamie Paterson ran onto a half-volley on the edge of the box. Luckily for the lackadaisical Canaries, he drove over Angus Gunn’s crossbar.
But 10 minutes into their nightmare, David Wagner’s side appeared to wake up. Jack Stacey drove forward in their first real attack, but saw his exchange with Hwang Ui-Jo fruitless. Kenny McLean then attempted to equalise with a well-hit long-range effort, but saw it blocked by Harry Darling.
It wasn’t long before the hosts were back on top, Ben Gibson’s rash 18th-minute challenge earning him a yellow card and Charlie Patino a shot that was firmly blocked by Duffy.
As has often been the case since his signing, however, Sara had the answers for a Norwich team in need. His diving header was the undeserved equaliser Dimitris Giannoulis’ fine cross warranted, after Rowe’s blocked shot fell to the Greek.
His opposite full-back then had the chance to give City the lead, Stacey bursting forward and driving a firm effort goalward that Carl Rushworth tipped over.
Swans number nine Jerry Yates then had two good chances to re-establish the lead. First he headed Josh Key’s centre wide, before flicking Grimes’ cross agonisingly in the same direction.
The opening period ended like a basketball match, and the second half began in the same way. Sara overhit his pass with Hwang galloping into space in the 48th minute, before Patino did the same with Yates on the charge.
But Norwich quickly exerted control on the game in an eery Swansea.com Stadium, Rowe forcing a Key booking before inexplicably heading Sara’s corner wide.
The young winger was at the heart of everything that threatened the Welsh side. His final contribution before being moved into a central role was to dart past Key and flash across the face of goal, with soon-to-be-substituted Tony Springett failing to make a connection.
He was replaced by Onel Hernandez, who by the 70th minute found himself in a goalscoring position. Stacey’s clever cutback put the Cuban in space on the edge of the box, but his low shot was straight at Rushworth.
Liam Cullen responded by cutting in and curling towards the City goal, but Gunn comfortably stooped to collect his attempt.
In keeping with the rest of the game, Norwich immediately created chances at the other end. Substitute Przemyslaw Placheta saw his shot blocked, before Duffy’s header was saved well from the resulting corner.
Swansea thought they’d found a crucial goal when Yates had the ball in the net after an impressive Gunn save, but the assistant referee’s flag brought an end to those celebrations.
Wagner was hoping Adam Idah would be his vital goalscorer when he replaced Hwang with the Irishman in the 58th minute, and he had a golden chance to be that man. Placheta’s cross found him nearly on the goal line, but he couldn’t adjust quickly enough to nod home.
Michael Duff’s side were then inches from scoring again when Lowe’s deflected cross found Yates at the back post, but his header was blocked on the line by a retreating Duffy.
Idah couldn’t do the same, however, heading up into his own net after a goalmouth scramble led to Humphrey’s sweetly-struck volley.
Norwich threw crosses into the box as they attempted to find a late equaliser, but a sturdy Swansea defence stayed strong and held on for a valuable three points against lacklustre opposition.
The Norfolk side have the chance to make amends for the loss when they travel to face Coventry City on Saturday, before the second international break of the season.
SWANSEA CITY:
Substitutes:
1. Fisher (GK)
4. Fulton (on for Fulton, 72)
14. Tymon (on for Cabango, 64)
19. Kuharevich (on for Yates, 89)
26. Naughton
28. Walsh
30. Ashby
31. Cooper (on for Cullen, 72)
45. Congreve
Head Coach: Michael Duff
Bookings: Lowe (48), Key (52), Cullen (55), Cooper (76)
Goals: Lowe (3), Humphreys (83)
NORWICH CITY:
Substitutes:
12. Long (GK)
8. Gibbs
11. Idah (on for Hwang, 58)
15. McCallum
16. Fassnacht (on for Rowe, 78)
20. Placheta (on for Forshaw, 58)
21. Batth
25. Hernandez (on for Springett, 58)
35. Fisher
Head Coach: David Wagner
Bookings: Gibson (18), Rowe (61)
Goals: Sara (22)
KEY MOMENTS
3 – GOAL SWANSEA (Lowe): Duffy’s poor pass leaves Forshaw stretching for the ball before Grimes steals possession and finds Lowe for a simple finish.
22 – GOAL NORWICH (Sara): Rowe’s cross is blocked into Giannoulis’ path, and the Greek’s cross is converted by Sara’s diving header.
24 – Stacey breaks forward and shoots, but his drive is tipped over by Rushworth.
37 – Yates’ agonisingly close flick spins just wide of the far post.
Half time – Swansea City 1-1 Norwich City
55 – Rowe heads Sara’s corner inexplicably wide.
57 – Rowe flashes across goal and Springett arrives at the far post but can’t make a connection with the ball.
81 – Lowe’s deflected cross finds Yates at the back post, and his header is blocked on the line by Duffy.
83 – GOAL SWANSEA (Humphreys): A goalmouth scramble falls to Humphreys, whose volley can’t be stopped by Idah on the line.
Full time - Swansea City 2-1 Norwich City
PLAYER RATINGS
Gunn 5, Stacey 6, Duffy 4, Gibson 4, Giannoulis 5, Forshaw 6, McLean 5, Springett 6, Sara 5, Rowe 7, Hwang 5. Subs: Idah 4, Placheta 4, Hernandez 5, Fassnacht 5.
MATCH STATISTICS
Possession: 55pc-45pc
Shots: 23-14
On target: 7-5
Corners: 8-7
Fouls: 12-12
Added time: 2 mins/6 mins
ATTENDANCE:
REFEREE: Tom Nield
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