Norwich City 2-0 WBA: Paddy Davitt Championship ratings

• Angus Gunn              7

Another clean sheet for the collection. Heart-in-the-mouth moment when he raced out to confront Darnell Furlong and got the benefit of the doubt when the Albion player went flying inside the Norwich penalty area.

Shuffled across his line to grasp Brandon Thomas-Asante’s glancing close range header. Then dropped on Daryl Dike’s towering header from 12 yards out before plucking another aerial effort from the prominent Baggies’ substitute.

• Jack Stacey               7

This was the raiding full back from the opening weeks of the season. Combative in his defensive work against Conor Townsend and ready to take his marker the other way. Perfectly-timed challenge in the 23rd minute sparked a counter but Josh Sargent had strayed offside. Borja Sainz stabbed over, after Stacey overlapped to link with Gabby Sara.

Clever reverse clip released Jon Rowe, who was clattered by Cedric Kipre. Turned provider to enable Kenny McLean to gallop down the Norwich right before a cross Dimi Giannoulis skied over. Inviting cross on the run in the 65th minute had not takers at the near post.

• Shane Duffy              6

Singled out by Wagner afterwards for another consistent and unfussy defensive shift. Snapped in on Okay Yokuslu in the third minute to set the tone. Perhaps could anticipate the danger quicker when Thomas-Asante profited from a deflection via McLean to test Angus Gunn.

• Ben Gibson                7

Arguably one of his best displays in green and yellow under Wagner. Robust in his defensive work, that seemed to include an interesting tactical twist at times to push into midfield when West Brom were in possession.

Excellent fourth minute clearing header at the far post with Jed Wallace rising to meet the cross. Alarming moment when he was initially rolled by Thomas-Asante, but the striker’s first touch brought the ball back into an area Gibson could stretch to hook clear on his left.

Vital stop with the same outstretched leg from Townsend’s low cross. Got his positioning spot on to head away John Swift’s cross just past the hour mark. Snapped in again on Wallce in the 84th minute.

• Dimi Giannoulis       7

Composed to square the ball into the path of Rowe to sweep home Norwich’s second. Prominent is some flowing first half moves from deep. Clever interchange with Sara released Stacey for Sainz’s effort.

Skied over himself from McLean’s burst. Needed the Scot to bail him out three minutes from the interval when he was pincered inside his own half. Excellent block with the heel to ensure Swift’s shot spiralled over the top.

Robbed again in the 52nd minute for a chance Swift rolled just wide of the far post. Swarmed over Wallace to halt a West Brom counter in the 59th minute.

• Kenny McLean ©             8

Driving force from the middle of the park. Surged forward to break up a West Brom counter and conjure a precise diagonal ball for Sargent to hare away in the channel and draw Alex Palmer. Galloped away down the right in the 34th minute after linking with Jack Stacey but Sainz drilled over.

Swinging delivery for Rowe in the 54th minute but the attacker was unable to keep his header under the bar from close range.

• Gabby Sara               7

Withdrawn from the number 10 role he operated in at Bristol Rovers in the week, before he was pushed further forward after Sargent made way. Slaloming early run past three in the 11th minute to slip the ball for Sainz who picked out Ashley Barnes before he ran into traffic. Low grass-cutter at Palmer from range.

Then a free kick into the Albion wall before a later effort from fully 35-yards nestled on the top of Palmer’s net. In between released Sara for Sainz’s first half effort. Link in the chain between Marcelino Nunez and Giannoulis for Rowe’s strike.

Still bombing on in stoppage time but miscued on his less favoured right foot from Onel Hernandez’s cutback.

• Jon Rowe     8

Scored this 12th league goal in 26 Championship appearances this season and but for Palmer’s reflexes could have had a match ball.

Two left-footed shots on target within seconds just past the half-hour mark produced top saves from the Albion keeper. But excellent tracking back in first half stoppage time to get in the way of Adam Reach’s cross, with Norwich outnumbered.

Climbed to meet a McLean cross from the left but headed over. Made no mistake with a near post dart and then adjusted his feet to slot through the despairing dive of Palmer. Squared up Furlong in the box and then a step over bought him the space to unleash a rising left footer paddled around the near post by Palmer.

• Ashley Barnes                6

Sparked the flowing team move for Rowe’s match-sealing strike. Clearly looks more comfortable paired with Sargent who wants to stretch the play and create more room in behind for his strike partner. Got bottled up by Albion defenders when he linked with Sainz. Clipped by Kipre for Sara’s free kick chance.

• Borja Sainz                6

Crudely upended by Kyle Bartley to earn the West Brom man a booking. Needed to at least hit the target in the 25th minute when he was found by Sargent following a cleverly constructed move sparked by Giannoulis and Sara. Calmly received the ball in a tight spot by the far touchline before gliding out of trouble and clipped it back to Duffy to switch the point of the attack.

• Josh Sargent                  8

A difference maker with and without the ball under Wagner. The run and timing were matched by McLean’s pinpoint ball but keeper Palmer would expect to have kept out a powerful shot. Teed up Sainz when the ball would not come down quickly enough for a shooting chance of his own from Stacey’s cross.

Subs

• Christian Fassnacht (for Sainz, 64)               4

• Marcelino Nunez (for Sargent, 64)             5