Norwich City strolled into the Championship top six as they demolished basement boys Rotherham United 5-0 at Carrow Road.
Goals from Gabriel Sara (2), Jacob Sorensen, Borja Sainz and Josh Sargent secured the Canaries' sixth consecutive home win, with play-off rivals Hull's 2-2 draw with Leicester ensuring they leapfrogged the Tigers into sixth.
Sara opened the scoring with a disturbingly free header before Sorensen dispatched the Brazilian's corner with a cleverly flicked header. Sainz made it three with a trademark long-range effort, with Sargent adding a simple finish on the brink of half time.
Sara found his second with a rasping half-volley just after the break, his strike followed by a quiet 45 minutes as City saw out an important victory in their push for the Premier League.
NORWICH CITY:
Substitutes:
12. Long (GK)
5. Hanley
8. Gibbs (on for Nunez, 68)
14. van Hooijdonk (on for Sargent, 52)
16. Fassnacht (on for McLean, 52)
21. Batth (on for Gibson, 45)
35. Fisher
43. Welch
44. Aboh (on for Barnes, 81)
Head Coach: David Wagner
Bookings: Gibbs (74)
Goals: Sara (13, 47), Sorensen (21), Sainz (32), Sargent (45+1)
ROTHERHAM UNITED:
Substitutes:
26. Phillips (GK)
7. Cafu
10. Hugill (on for Eaves, 58)
12. Rinomhota (on for Wyke, 45)
16. Lindsay (on for Clucas, 85)
29. Nombe (on for Rathbone, 58)
30. Appiah (on for Morrison, 58)
38. Seriki
Manager: Leam Richardson
Bookings:
Goals:
KEY MOMENTS
2 - Nunez' free-kick is cleared to Sara, whose long-range effort is straight at Johansson.
5 - McCallum flashes a low ball across the box that Barnes fails to convert.
13 - GOAL NORWICH (Sara): Sargent combines well with Stacey before the latter whips across towards the near post. Sara has plenty of space to head home unchallenged.
17 - Sainz cuts back to Sara on the edge of the box, but he drags wide of the near post.
21 - GOAL NORWICH (Sorensen): Sara guides a corner towards the near post, which Sorensen flicks into the far corner for 2-0.
25 - Sainz slips Sargent in at a tight angle and he checks back before seeing his shot blocked.
32 - GOAL NORWICH (Sainz): Sainz controls superbly and drives forward before curling a fine strike into the bottom corner.
34 - Sargent competes with Johansson for a loose ball, but the Rotherham stopper foils him before he can chip home.
42 - Sara's flick finds Sargent through on goal and he checks back again, once more seeing his shot blocked.
45+1 - GOAL NORWICH (Sargent): The hosts counter through Stacey once more and this time he picks out Sargent at the back post. He finishes comfortably with his left foot to make it four.
Half time: Norwich City 4-0 Rotherham United
47 - GOAL NORWICH (Sara): Barnes flicks through for Sargent, whose shot is blocked straight into the path of Sara, who brilliantly angles a half-volley right into the top corner.
57 - Nunez takes aim from 25 yards but drags wide.
73 - Hugill meets Revan's cross with a firm header, but it loops just over the bar.
Full time: Norwich City 5-0 Rotherham United
PLAYER RATINGS
Gunn 7, Stacey 9, Sorensen 8, Gibson 7, McCallum 6, McLean 5, Nunez 7, Sara 9, Barnes 7, Sainz 8, Sargent 7. Subs: Batth 6, Fassnacht 6, van Hooijdonk 5, Gibbs 5, Aboh 5.
MATCH STATISTICS
Possession: 69%-31%
Shots: 18-1
On target: 8-0
Corners: 4-3
Fouls: 7-12
Added time: 3 mins/
ATTENDANCE: 26,111 (226 away)
REFEREE: Charles Breakspear
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