Teemu Bucky scored twice to keep Norwich at his impressive lately form and to stay top of the tournament by beating Blackburn.
The Finnish international raised his goal tally for the Canary Islands to 50 in the process with one goal in each half, either side of Harvey Elliot’s equalizer for Blackburn.
The first was a nice turn and shot from Alex Tite’s pass to find the bottom left corner and the second watched him intelligently diverting Amy Buendia’s shot from outside the penalty area bypassing the miserable Thomas Kaminski.
Rovers had pushed Norwich hard earlier as Sam Gallagher fired a powerful shot from the crossbar early in the second half before loaned Liverpool player Elliott scored a superb goal from a single game and hit the right wing.
Norwich are three points ahead of second-placed Bournemouth after their third straight win.
They will travel to Reading, fifth-placed, on Wednesday after losing just once in their past 14 matches.
Bucky, who was named MVP of the Season Championship in the 2018-2019 season, scored nine goals this season in 16 matches.
At first, he seemed lucky to score the winner of this match, but replays showed that he had awareness of opening his feet to steer Buendia’s engine into the far corner.
Blackburn has now not won in their previous three matches, losing at home for the first time in four games at Ewood Park.
Tony Mowbray’s team slipped to 12th before meeting Rotherham on Wednesday.
Line up
Black burning
- 1Kamensky
- 2Nyambe
- 26Lenihan
- 3Williams
- 15Douglas
- 8RothwellReplaced withBuckleyat 72 ‘Minutes
- 4JohnsonReplaced withDavenportat 72 ‘Minutes
- 10HoltbyReplaced withDowningat 72 ‘Minutes
- 16Elliott
- 7Armstrong
- 9Gallagher
Alternatives
- 5Ayala
- 6Downing
- 11Chapman
- 13pear
- 17Bell
- 18Davenport
- 21Buckley
- 25Carter
- 39Dolan
Norwich
- 33McGovern
- 2Aarons
- 6Zimmerman
- 5Hanley
- 19Longy Sorensen
- 27Titi
- 20Skip
- 17Good dayReplaced withStebermanat 90 + 3 ‘Minutes
- 8FransikReplaced withMacLeanat 66 ‘Minutes
- 24MartinReplaced withCantwellat 66 ‘Minutes
- 22goatsBooked in 84 minutesReplaced withHoogelat 89 ‘Minutes
Alternatives
- 9Hoogel
- 10Doyle
- 14Cantwell
- 18Steberman
- 23MacLean
- 44For omobams
- 50Barden
- 53Umutoy
Live text
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The match ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Norwich City 2.
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The second half ended, Blackburn Rovers 1, Norwich City 2.
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Corner, Norwich City. Against him, Ryan Nyambi.
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Your attempt has been saved. Marco Stepperman (Norwich City) shoots with his left foot from the center of the penalty area and is blocked in the middle of the goal. With the help of Jacob Longy Sorensen.
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Missed attempt. Barry Douglas (Blackburn Rovers) shot with the left foot from the center of the penalty area is too high.
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Switch, Norwich City. Marco Steperman replaces Emiliano Buendia.
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John Buckley (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Error from Jordan Hogel (Norwich City).
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Corner, Norwich City. Granted by Dara Lenihan.
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Missed attempt. Emiliano Buendia (Norwich City) shoots with his left foot from outside the penalty area high and wide to the left. With help from Todd Cantwell.
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Switch, Norwich City. Jordan Hugel replaces Timo Bucky.
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Your attempt has been saved. Todd Cantwell (Norwich City) a right-footed shot from the center of the penalty area is saved in the middle of the goal. With the help of Timo Bucky.
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Your attempt has been saved. Adam Armstrong (Blackburn Rovers) a right-footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked in the lower right corner.
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Attempt is prohibited. John Buckley (Blackburn Rovers) left-foot shot was blocked outside the penalty area.
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Rider Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Wrong by Oliver Skipp (Norwich City).
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Timo Bucky (Norwich City) received a yellow card for a bad foul.
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Ryan Nyambi (Blackburn Rovers) free kick in the defensive half.
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Wrong by Timo Bucky (Norwich City).
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Missed attempt. Rider Linihan (Blackburn Rovers) heading from the center of the penalty area misses to the left. Barry Douglas helped him cross pass after setting set pieces.