Norwich City 4-1 Cardiff: Match report, key moments, stats

Josh Sargent’s brace, Gabby Sara’s free kick and a late slot from Christian Fassnacht followed up the previous 4-2 home win over Watford that maintained the Canaries’ play-off push under David Wagner.

Jamilu Collins had put the Bluebirds in front in the first half but the hosts were full value for a win that stretched their unbeaten home run to 10 games in all competitions.

Sargent was passed fit after Wagner indicated at his pre-match press conference the US forward needed to prove his fitness at Friday’s final training session.

The influential forward has been managing his body since returning a long ankle lay-off.

Young development striker Ken Aboh was included in his first senior matchday squad after a prolific season for the Under-21s.

Sargent should have added to his growing tally in the third minute when he struck Nat Phillips on the line from close range after Ashley Barnes had controlled Kenny McLean’s pass superbly on his chest to take it away from Bluebirds’ keeper Ethan Horvath.

Onel Hernandez then released the overlapping Jack Stacey but Horvath was out quickly to collect in front of Sargent.

McLean sparked a superb counter from his own penalty box in the 12th minute, but Borja Sainz’s effort was blocked.

Norwich continued to dictate and from Marcelino Nunez’s quick short corner routine, Barnes headed over under pressure inside the six yard box, after Sara and Grant Hanley’s flicks.

But the first signs of Cardiff’s threat on the counter came in the 18th minute. Angus Gunn kicked away an angled cross-shot from Mahlon Romeo, after Norwich had been cut open down their left.

The hosts failed to heed that warning. A minute later Collins sneaked the wrong side of Stacey to finish from six yards out, after Gunn could only parry Rubin Colwill’s cross which hit the full back's chest.

Sara’s thumping long range hit smacked the outside of Horvath’s right-hand post with Norwich looking to respond. Then Barnes’ flick was deflected behind, after Sam McCallum kept the pressure on.

Nunez’s 25-yard free kick struck the Cardiff wall in the 29th minute but that relentless home pressure brought a leveller from Sargent in the 39th minute, when he slotted on the half-volley as he fell backwards, when Horvath could only parry McCallum’s driven cross.

Colwill’s speculative shot from outside the ball flew over before Sara was hauled down by Joe Ralls 28 yards out.

Up the stepped the Brazilian to curl a left-footer over the Cardiff wall and just inside Horvath’s left-hand post via a slight deflection.

Cardiff half-time arrival, Josh Bowler, cut inside on his left but Gunn grasped a low, curling effort. Norwich moved into clear water in the 54th minute, when Sargent doubled his tally at the second attempt after Stacey’s cross had initially struck the post.

Sara tried his luck again from a free kick but hit the wall. Sainz then started to enjoy the freedom of a Cardiff backline in retreat, driving to the edge of the box before rolling in Sargent, who tamely sidefooted at Horvath with a hat-trick begging.

Karlan Grant profited from indecision in the Norwich backline just past the hour mark, but dragged his right footed effort wide.

Sargent then turned provider for Sara to roam down the left and produce a low cross just in front of the diving Barnes at the near post.

Sainz controlled Sara’s corner but his rising sidefooted shot cleared the bar.

But Norwich put the result beyond all doubt in the 77th minute when Fassnacht's angled sidefoot finish beat Horvath, after Sydney van Hooijdonk unselfishly laid the ball off on the edge of the box.

Sara then pulled out the party piece tricks with a cheeky nutmeg on Bowler, but Kellen Fisher miscued his cross on the run.

NORWICH CITY:

Substitutes:

12. Long (GK)

8. Gibbs 

14. van Hooijdonk (Sargent, 70)

19. Sorensen (Barnes, 70)

16. Fassnacht (Hernandez, 61)

21. Batth 

30. Giannoulis (McCallum, 60)

35. Fisher (Stacey, 81)

44. Aboh

Head Coach: David Wagner

Bookings: None

Goals: Sargent (39, 54), Sara (44), Fassnacht (77)

CARDIFF CITY:

Substitutes:

41. Turner (GK)

6. Wintle (Ralls, 59)

9. Etete (Diedhiou, 59)

14. Bowler (Wilson-Esbrand, 45)

15. Turnbull

19. Sawyers

32. Tanner (Grant, 79)

34. Colwill (Turnbull, 79)

45. Ashford

Manager: Erol Bulut

Bookings: Phillips, Goutas, Colwill

Goal: Collins (19)

KEY MOMENTS

3: Kenny McLean chip pass for Ashley Barnes to control on his chest and veer around the keeper. Reverse ball for Josh Sargent. Sidefooter from 12 yards hits Nat Phillips on the goal line.

7: Onel Hernandez releases the overlapping Jack Stacey to produce a cross on the run but Ethan Horvath claims in front of Sargent.

12: McLean superbly brings the ball out of defence before rolling in Sargent to drive forward. Stacey again on the overlap collects and his deflected cross is controlled by Borja Sainz, but his shot is blocked.

13: Marcelino Nunez works a short corner routine. Gabby Sara gets the first flick, Grant Hanley the second at the back post and Ashley Barnes heads just over the bar under pressure from inside the six yard box.

18: Angus Gunn kicks away an angled cross-shot from Mahlon Romeo, with Norwich cut open down their left defensive flank.

19: GOAL (CARDIFF) Rubin Colwill in behind down the Norwich left again. First cross blocked by Sara. Second one only parried by the diving Gunn, and Jamilu Collins sneaks behind Stacey to slot from six yards out after the full-back is unable to control his keeper's deflection.

22: Sara opens up his body and curls a shot from just outside the box that beats Horvath at full-stretch but smacks the outside of his right post.

25: Sam McCallum heads a bouncing ball back into the Cardiff box after a spell of home pressure, but Barnes’ hooked effort flicks a Bluebirds’ player on the angle of the six yard box.

29: Nunez free kick, central from 25 yards, clips the Cardiff wall and spirals behind for a corner.

39: GOAL (NORWICH) Sargent slots on the half-volley as he falls backwards six yards out after Horvath can only parry McCallum’s fearsome cross from Sara's initial clip.

41: Colwill invited to drift inside but his curler from 20 yards well over the top.

44: Joe Ralls hauls down Sara 28 yards out. Central.

44: GOAL (NORWICH) Sara steps up to curl a majestic free kick over the wall and inside the post past the despairing dive of Horvath, via a slight deflection.    

50: Josh Bowler cuts inside on his left but his low curling effort is grasped by Gunn.

54: GOAL (NORWICH) Sargent shot from Stacey’s cross hits the post from close range after a flowing move, involving Nunez and Hernandez, but the US international reacts quickly to adjust his body and slot the bouncing rebound.

59: Sara free kick from 19 yards hits the wall.

61: Sainz leads another home breakout. Drives to the box and rolls in Sargent, who pulls a sidefooted effort on his right at Horvath.

62: Karlan Grant profits from indecision in the Norwich backline, to chest down and hit on his right foot from 18 yards but ball flies off-target.

63: Sargent turns provider to invite Sara forward down the left and his low cross is just in front of the diving Barnes at the near post.

76: Sara’s corner comes all the way through to Sainz, who controls and tries to guide a rising sidefooter under the bar from 16 yards that flies over.

77: GOAL (NORWICH) Sydney van Hooijdonk opts not to shoot from the edge of the box but helps it on for Christian Fassnacht, who finishes first time with an angled sidefooter from just outside the six yard box after his initial burst sparks the counter.

89: Sara nutmegs Bowler before a ball is swept out to Kellen Fisher, but the youngster’s cross sails behind.

90: Fisher excellent diving block to thwart Bowler.

MATCH STATISTICS

Possession: 58%-42%

Shots: 23-9

On target: 8-3

Corners: 8-0

Fouls: 7-11

Added time: 3 mins / 5 mins

REFEREE: Darren Bond

ATTENDANCE: 25,902 (371 away)