Norwich City roared back into the Championship play-off race with what David Wagner labelled a ‘belting’ 2-0 win over promotion rivals West Brom.

City cut the gap to the fifth-placed Baggies to just four points, and will travel to fourth-placed Leeds - who beat Preston 2-1 on Sunday with a 94th minute penalty - buoyed by a confident Carrow Road victory.

Josh Sargent and Jon Rowe struck in either half to serve notice the Canaries are back on the up, with just two defeats in 12 in all competitions.

“I know this group, they're good characters, and they believe and we in this dressing room, 100pc, believe that we are a competitor in this league,” said Wagner. “What does it mean at the end of the season? I have no idea. But this is the belief and the feeling which we all together have.

“We are competitive in this division. We know it's still a long, long season and we have a lot of work to do. But with the competitiveness which we have in the group now, and with obviously the confidence which comes with results and performances, we are in a good place.

“Hull was in and around the play-off spots as well, who we beat a week ago away from home. We said beforehand West Brom is obviously an important game, but the next game will be important as well. But it was different, it felt different.”

Wagner admitted the manner of his side’s victory – the first over any team in this season’s top five – was a statement of intent.

“This is exactly the game we needed to keep improving our confidence, to make sure that everybody keeps believing – which we have always done inside the dressing room to be fair,” he said. “But hopefully those who had bigger doubts maybe can see that if we have everyone on board, which already we’ve seen in training, the quality is on another level.

“What the players showed was outstanding. Considering that we played on Wednesday in a difficult FA Cup tie, and they were able to lay on the sofa it made it even bigger. It was a super football match from both teams.

"Tactically good. Defensively, good energy, good aggression. Offensively, good. I'm over the moon that the players have shown this in a game where, we said this before to them, it's a belter isn't it?

"This run is much better than maybe the 10 games before. Yes. For me, it's always important to know the reasons why we had this very difficult period and try to stay calm. I know the reasons why we maybe now have better momentum, but we still need to stay calm."