Norwich City fans turned on David Wagner again as the Canaries wasted a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to Championship rivals Watford at Vicarage Road.
Danny Batth opened the scoring for the Norfolk side, heading Gabriel Sara’s corner beyond Ben Hamer in just the third minute of the game.
Hwang Ui-jo then doubled the lead, lobbing Hamer with a rasping shot from 25 yards. Wagner chose to start the 31-year-old despite his suspension by the South Korean national team over sexual misconduct allegations he denies.
Once-City transfer target Ismael Kone got a goal back for the hosts in the 30th minute, before Mileta Rajovic completed the comeback three minutes later.
Yaser Asprilla scored the winner for Watford in the game’s final quarter, leaving Norwich 14th and Wagner’s employment seemingly hanging by a thread once more.
WATFORD:
Substitutes:
40. Roberts (GK)
3. Sierralta (on for Sema, 90+4)
7. Ince
10. Louza
14. Healey
15. Pollock (on for Livermore, 90+4)
19. Bayo (on for Rajovic, 83)
24. Dele-Bashiru
37. Martins (on for Asprilla, 83)
Manager: Valerien Ismael
Bookings:
Goals: Kone (30), Rajovic (33), Asprilla (77)
NORWICH CITY:
Substitutes:
39. Reyes (GK)
7. Sainz (on for Fassnacht, 83)
8. Gibbs (on for Idah, 67)
10. Barnes (on for Hwang, 17)
15. McCallum
26. Nunez (on for Batth, 83)
35. Fisher (on for Stacey, 67)
42. Springett
50. Warner
Head Coach: David Wagner
Bookings: Stacey (35), Duffy (65)
Goals: Batth (3), Hwang (12)
KEY MOMENTS
3 - GOAL NORWICH (Batth): Sara’s corner finds Batth, whose firm header beats Hamer all ends up.
12 - GOAL NORWICH (Hwang): Sara seizes on a Watford error to play an early ball into Hwang, who fires home from 25 yards to double the lead.
29 - Long spills Lewis' shot to Kone, but atones for his error with a fine stop on the rebound.
30 - GOAL WATFORD (Kone): Kone fires beyond Long from the edge of the box, despite the Norwich keeper getting a touch to it.
33 - GOAL WATFORD (Rajovic): Lewis hangs the ball up in the Norwich six-yard box, and Rajovic can't miss.
41 - Idah cuts in twice and fires at goal, but Hamer beats his deflected effort away.
44 - Asprilla forces Long to tip over with his swerving strike.
Half time - Watford 2-2 Norwich City
47 - Kone works some room on the edge of the box and fires towards goal, but Long saves and holds.
54 - Giannoulis' late block denies Asprilla from close range.
77 - GOAL WATFORD (Asprilla): Long spills Hoedt's shot to Asprilla, who rounds him and fires over the line.
87 - Sainz pokes a volley goalward but Hamer tips it over.
Full time: Watford 3-2 Norwich City
PLAYER RATINGS
Long 2, Stacey 3, Duffy 3, Batth 5, Giannoulis 5, McLean 5, Sara 8, Fassnacht 3, Idah 5, Hernandez 2, Hwang 7. Subs: Barnes 3, Gibbs 3, Fisher 5, Sainz 6.
MATCH STATISTICS
Possession: 66pc-34pc
Shots: 21-12
On target: 9-5
Corners: 7-5
Fouls: 14-12
Added time: 4 mins/4 mins
REFEREE: Simon Hooper
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