Norwich City got back to winning ways with a 4-1 defeat of Watford at Carrow Road.
Goals from Callum Doyle, Borja Sainz, Marcelino Nunez and Ben Chrisene extended the Canaries' unbeaten home run to 21 games, taking their tally for the Championship season to eight points in the process.
The visitors had made a habit of conceding early this season, and they did it again in the lunchtime kick-off. Josh Sargent drew an impressive save from Daniel Bachmann in the second minute, before the Hornets goalkeeper pushed Doyle's drive into the side-netting in the third.
City's strong start continued with chances for Sargent and Kenny McLean, but Tom Cleverley's side eventually seemed to wake up midway through the first half. That resulted in a goal for Ryan Andrews, some poor defending allowing his scuffed shot to equalise after Ken Sema's cross.
Norwich were back in front before the half-time whistle, however, Sainz taking down McLean's excellent pass and coolly slotting past substitute goalkeeper Jonathan Bond.
An injury meant the referee changed at the break, but little else did on the pitch. Again the hosts were in the ascendancy in the early stages of the second period, and they made it count less than 10 minutes in.
This time it was Nunez adding his name to the scoresheet, rounding off a slick City move by placing Doyle's cutback in the far corner.
The game opened up again in the final quarter, with Watford searching for a route back into it and Johannes Hoff Thorup's side looking to counter. Chances were forthcoming for Sargent and Watford substitute Kwadwo Baah, but neither was able to take one.
Instead it was Chrisene with the final say, the substitute tapping an unlikely fourth in to turn comfortable victory into rout.
City go into next weekend's trip to Derby with a renewed sense of momentum and, most importantly, another three points.
NORWICH CITY:
12. Long (GK)
3. Stacey (on for Fisher, 78)
5. Hanley
14. Chrisene (on for Sainz, 85)
18. Forson (on for Schwartau, 63)
21. Gordon (on for Hernandez, 85)
25. Hernandez (on for Crnac, 78)
41. Forsyth
44. Myles
Head Coach: Johannes Hoff Thorup
Bookings: Fisher (75)
Goals: Doyle (3), Sainz (45+3), Nunez (54), Chrisene (89)
WATFORD:
Substitutes:
23. Bond (GK) (on for Bachmann, 13)
5. Porteous (on for Sierralta, 10)
7. Ince
10. Louza
19. Bayo (on for Veta, 68)
21. Ogbonna
34. Baah (on for Jebbison, 68)
36. Ebosele
37. Larouci (on for Sema, 68)
Head Coach: Tom Cleverley
Bookings: Jebbison (33)
Goals: Andrews (26)
KEY MOMENTS
2 - Nunez slips Sainz in and he squares for Sargent, who appears to have a tap-in but is somehow denied by Bachmann.
3 - GOAL NORWICH (Doyle): Doyle strides into midfield under little pressure from the visitors, before driving a shot goalward that Bachmann should save but only palms into the side-netting.
5 - A Watford corner is cleared only as far as Dele-Bashiru 15 yards out, but he slices a volley well over the top.
12 - McLean heads Nunez's corner wide.
19 - Sargent stoops to flick Doyle's cross just the wrong side of the near post.
26 - GOAL WATFORD (Andrews): Vata's initial effort is deflected onto the bar by Duffy, but the ball breaks for Sema to cross and Andrews converts.
29 - Schwartau carries the ball from the halfway line to the edge of the box and shoots, but Bond saves and holds.
30 - Chakvetadze finds some space on the edge of the box, sending his drive comfortably clear of the crossbar.
33 - Doyle's goal-line clearance comes off the post and falls quickly to Jebbison, who somehow misses from a yard out.
35 - Sainz turns well and finds Sargent on the edge of the box, but Bond holds his low shot.
38 - Gunn collects Jebbison's scuffed shot after some good work from the striker to find room in the box.
45+3 - GOAL NORWICH (Sainz): McLean's long pass finds Sainz through on goal. He controls well and drives towards goal, sliding beyond Bachmann with his left foot.
Half time: Norwich City 2-1 Watford
46 - Schwartau chips through for Sainz, who holds off two defenders before firing well wide.
47 - Crnac cuts in and sends a reverse shot toward the near corner, Bond diving to push wide.
48 - Duffy flicks Nunez's corner onto the roof of the net.
54 - GOAL NORWICH (Nunez): McLean finds Doyle in acres on the Norwich left. He cuts back into the box and finds Nunez striding onto it to finish with aplomb.
73 - McLean sends Sargent through on goal, but he drags wide under pressure from Porteous.
75 - Gunn rushes out to deny Baah in the Norwich box.
83 - The ball breaks for Porteous 15 yards out, but he drags just wide.
89 - GOAL NORWICH (Chrisene): City counter and Stacey finds space in the box, squaring for Chrisene to tap in.
Full time: Norwich City 4-1 Watford
PLAYER RATINGS
Gunn 7, Fisher 8, Duffy 7, Cordoba 8, Doyle 9, McLean 8, Nunez 8, Schwartau 7, Crnac 6, Sainz 7, Sargent 7. Subs: Forson 6, Stacey 7, Hernandez 6, Chrisene 7, Gordon 6.
MATCH STATISTICS
Possession: 52pc-48pc
Shots: 18-11
On target: 8-3
Corners: 3-5
Fouls: 6-8
Added time: 3 mins/6 mins
Attendance: 26,438 (1,776 Watford)
Referee: Anthony Backhouse (Daniel Middleton second half)
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