On-loan-striker Hwang Ui-jo earned Norwich City a precious victory at Carrow Road.
The South Korean striker scored after 21 minutes as City laboured against one of the Championship’s strugglers.
The win gave under-pressure boss David Wagner some valuable breathing space, but it was a performance that won’t last long in the memory
Jack Stacey had almost put City in front on 13 minutes but his sidefooted effort was brilliantly cleared off the line by Steve Cook.
The goal which won it was created by Gabriel Sara, who played a lovely ball down the middle. Hwang took it well first time, keeper Asmir Begovic came out and the South Korean slipped it past him into the far corner.
NORWICH CITY
Substitutes:
39 Reyes (GK)
7 Sainz (Hernandez 78)
8 Gibbs
11 Idah (Hwang 63)
15 McCallum (Fassnacht 90)
26 Nunez
35 Fisher
42 Springett
50 Warner
Head coach: David Wagner
Bookings: Sara (77), Fassnacht (84), Barnes (90)
Goal: Hwang 21
QPR
Substitutes:
13 Archer
6 Clarke-Salter
17 Dozzell (Dixon-Bonner 63)
18 Richards
21 Larkeche
23 Kelman (Willock 82)
24 Duke-McKenna
29 Drewe (Kakay 82)
30 Armstrong (Dykes 63)
Head coach: Martí Cifuentes
Bookings: Colback (48), Willock (72), Dozzell (80)
KEY MOMENTS
7 – Hernandez on the break down the right, cuts inside, but his pass to Hwang is easily intercepted.
10 - Stacey's cross from deep on the right is perfect for Barnes but he's muscled out of it.
11 - Chair cuts in from the left looking for an opening, gets in a shot from the edge of the area but it's easy for Long.
13 - McLean crosses from left to right where Stacey meets it with sidefoot volley only to see Cook do really well to clear off the line.
15 - Sara is dispossessed by Dixon-Bonner, Chair takes over but fires over from the left of the area.
21 - GOAL NORWICH Cracking left-footed pass down the middle by Sara to the unmarked Hwang who controlled it well, waited for the keeper to come and then slotted it past him into the far corner.
26 - Dixon-Bonner puts in a good cross from the left, Duffy's header just goes over the bar. Dykes head a yard wide from the corner.
30 - Kakay fires in a shot from the edge of the area - easy for Long.
31 - Hwang gets his feet in a tangle as he tries to divert Stacey's low ball from the right goalwards.
Half-time – Norwich City 1 QPR 0
47 - Dykes lays the ball off to Paal, whose shot is parried by Long.
68 - Paal fizzes one past the far post from the left point of the area.
69 - Duffy does well to hook a loose ball over his own bar.
87 - Chair's deflected shot goes just wide of Long's left post
90 - Field, off balance, skews his shot wide of the target.
Full time – Norwich City 1 QPR 0
PLAYER RATINGS
Long 5 , Stacey 6, Duffy 5, Batth 6, Giannoulis 6, McLean 5, Sara 6, Fassnacht 5, Barnes 5, Hernandez 5, Huang 5.
MATCH STATISTICS
Possession: 38pc-62pc
Shots: 7-9
On target: 1/3
Corners: 4-7
Fouls: 18-12
Added time: 3 mins/4 mins
Referee: Stephen Martin
Attendance: 25,650
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