Norwich City 2-0 Bristol City: Canaries extend lead at top of the Championship
Jordan Hugill scored twice as Norwich City extended their lead at the top of the Championship with a comfortable win over Bristol City.
The hosts had a number of opportunities to open the scoring before Hugill eventually headed them into the lead after 36 minutes from Todd Cantwell’s measured cross.
Hugill bundled in a second to wrap up the win when Bristol City defender Tommy Rowe was down in the area.
The Canaries are now seven points clear of second-placed Swansea and 10 points ahead of third-placed Watford, although they have played a game more than both.
Ominously for the rest of the division, Daniel Farke’s men have five more points than they had at this stage two years ago when they won the league by five points.
Only great defending from Tomas Kalas and a superb save by Daniel Bentley from Kenny McLean’s long-range shot stopped them going in front prior to Hugill’s header.
Injury-hit Bristol City improved after the break but struggled to create any clear-cut chances against the dominant hosts.
Hugill, in for injured leading scorer Teemu Pukki, scored his fourth of the season from just a couple of feet after Max Aarons’ low ball across the face of goal bounced off Kalas.
The visitors had some cause for complaint as Rowe was down in the area after the initial ball into the box but referee James Linington deemed it not to be a head injury and allowed play to continue.
Line-ups
Norwich
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Krul
- 2Aarons
- 5Hanley
- 34Gibson
- 19Lungi Sørensen
- 20Skipp
- 23McLean
- 17Buendía
- 8VrancicSubstituted forPlachetaat 77′minutes
- 14CantwellBooked at 51minsSubstituted forDowellat 90′minutes
- 9HugillSubstituted forHernándezat 90+1′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Rupp
- 10Dowell
- 11Placheta
- 24Martin
- 25Hernández
- 27Tettey
- 44Omobamidele
- 50Barden
- 53Omotoye
Bristol City
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Bentley
- 2Hunt
- 22Kalas
- 5Mawson
- 25Rowe
- 31AdelakunSubstituted forSemenyoat 56′minutes
- 26VynerSubstituted forBakinsonat 85′minutes
- 4Nagy
- 45PalmerBooked at 51minsSubstituted forWellsat 75′minutes
- 9Diédhiou
- 7MartinSubstituted forMassengoat 85′minutes
Substitutes
- 12O’Leary
- 18Semenyo
- 19Mariappa
- 21Wells
- 23Moore
- 30Bakinson
- 33Bell
- 35Edwards
- 42Massengo
- Referee:
- James Linington
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Norwich City 2, Bristol City 0.
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Second Half ends, Norwich City 2, Bristol City 0.
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Substitution, Norwich City. Onel Hernández replaces Jordan Hugill.
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Substitution, Norwich City. Kieran Dowell replaces Todd Cantwell.
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Max Aarons (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Han-Noah Massengo (Bristol City).
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Oliver Skipp (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Nahki Wells (Bristol City).
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Substitution, Bristol City. Tyreeq Bakinson replaces Zak Vyner.
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Substitution, Bristol City. Han-Noah Massengo replaces Chris Martin.
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Offside, Norwich City. Jacob Lungi Sørensen tries a through ball, but Przemyslaw Placheta is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Todd Cantwell (Norwich City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Emiliano Buendía.
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Foul by Jordan Hugill (Norwich City).
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Tomas Kalas (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Substitution, Norwich City. Przemyslaw Placheta replaces Mario Vrancic.
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Offside, Bristol City. Nahki Wells tries a through ball, but Famara Diédhiou is caught offside.
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Goal! Norwich City 2, Bristol City 0. Jordan Hugill (Norwich City) with an attempt from very close range to the centre of the goal.
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Substitution, Bristol City. Nahki Wells replaces Kasey Palmer.
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Emiliano Buendía (Norwich City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Tommy Rowe (Bristol City).
