Norwich City 0-2 Bristol City: Davitt Championship marks

Let Haydon Roberts veer inside to feed Mehmeti for the opener. But a combative streak plenty of his team mates should look to emulate. Did earn a booking when he snapped in on the excellent Mehmeti near the touchline.

Perhaps fortunate to escape an earlier yellow when he put two hands on Mehmeti as he skipped clear. Got his timing spot on to halt the former City academy graduate as he drove into the box in the seventh minute.

Calm to guide a dropping diagonal ball back to George Long. Extravagant flick under pressure found Anis Ben Slimane. Sliding challenge halted another Bristol counter to intercept a ball destined for Roberts.

Sloppy in possession too often, culminating in the giveaway that sparked the Bristol second goal. Touch unfortunate Mehmeti’s earlier strike went  through his legs as he looked to engage the attacker at the edge of his box.

One pass to Oscar Schwartau did find the target for the young Dane to win a corner. Looping header from Emi Marcondes' corner clipped the top of the bar in the closing stages.

Maybe his costly errors for Sheffield Wednesday’s second goal in midweek hit the Panamanian’s confidence. Another Norwich centre back who coughed up cheap possession on more than one occasion with wayward passing.

Bar the set for Callum Doyle to pick out Marcondes for a fifth minute header that clipped a post. Failed to sense the danger as Mehmeti dropped deeper to accept Roberts’ pass.

Another inconsistent shift. Showed his technical quality with the bend and drift on a ball in behind the Robins’ backline for the stooping Marcondes to head against Max O’Leary’s upright.

Took emergency action inside his own box to slice clear Mehmeti’s cross. Got himself much closer to Borja Sainz than on recent outings. Released the Spaniard to race clear and eventually whip a ball to the back post Slimane could not reach.

Then followed up another Sainz burst and cutback, but his cross was cleared. Should have engaged Wells a split second quicker, albeit the strike was a precision finish. Excellent goal-saving block on Mehmeti in the 81st minute.

Was out again to deflect his shot up and against the top of Long’s bar.

A third straight start of the week after months on the sidelines dropped into a makeshift central midfield. Pinpoint diagonal released Ante Crnac to cut infield but choke a left footed effort wide of the near post from 20 yards.

Fitness aspect aside, does not offer the drive or dynamism, or turnover tackle-winning ability, of a Kenny McLean.

Press-ganged into action after Thorup had originally indicated he would be out until after the international period with an on-going hamstring issue.

But the head coach conceded after this defeat Slimane looked like a player operating on reduced power. Rolled too easily by Mehmeti to open up the shooting chance for the opener. Hunted down on numerous occasions as he dwelt on the ball.

The teenager is one of the beneficiaries from a raft of missing midfield options. You can see the potential that brought him to England, but like Sorensen and Slimane far too sloppy on the ball prior to the interval.

Took up some threatening positions on the half-turn after the interval, with one driving run away from George Earthy saw him pick out Slimane, in a counter that fizzled out.

Back on the right of an attacking three after his recent audition as Josh Sargent’s replacement. His work continues to lack conviction in the final third. Cross cleared in the fifth minute,when his initial driving run led to a link up with Schwartau and Slimane.

Pulled a low left footed effort wide in the 12th minute. Took the invite from Marcondes to advance again in the 56th minute, but his 25-yarder was claimed by O’Leary.

One of the few in green and yellow to inject some sporadic quality into a fitful attacking offering.

Deployed in a ‘false nine’ role and could have got his name on the scoresheet when he ran off the back of his marker to direct Doyle’s cross against the outside of a post. Quality touch to kill Long’s raking clearance.

Then the set for Doyle and Sainz to raid. Dipping free kick claimed by O’Leary at his near post. Countered just before the hour mark to roll it onto Crnac to test the Bristol keeper. Clever first time flick so nearly released Sainz. Saw his deep corner met by Shane Duffy, who headed against the woodwork.

Must be feeling the weight of pressure to compensate for Sargent’s absence on the goal front, and the enhanced scrutiny from Championship rivals now aware of his scintillating start to the season.

Couple of link ups with Doyle almost created chances for Crnac and Slimane. Plenty of endeavour after the interval, in the manner he threw himself into skirmishes, but the spark was missing.

Jack Stacey (for Sorensen, 59)                 5

Stranded upfield by Duffy’s underhit pass for the rapier counter that brought the second visiting goal.

Ben Chrisene (for Cordoba, 59)                6

Tried to inject some forward momentum, operating on the left of a midfield four that might have given Thorup food for thought on the basis McLean and Marcelino Nunez are both expected to miss the next game at West Brom, immediately after the international period.

Amankwah Forson (for Schwartau, 76)            5

Christian Fassnacht (for Slimane, 87)                  n/a