Norwich City 0-2 Blackburn Rovers: Dean Smith under pressure as Rovers beat Canaries
Dean Smith #DeanSmith
Norwich have won the title in their past two Championship seasons but are now losing touch with the automatic promotion places
Disgruntled Norwich City fans called for manager Dean Smith’s dismissal after witnessing their side lose at home to fellow Championship promotion hopefuls Blackburn Rovers.
Ben Gibson’s own goal and a Tyrhys Dolan strike condemned the Canaries to defeat as Rovers returned to third place in the table.
Gibson diverted Tyler Morton’s free-kick into his own net after just four minutes at Carrow Road.
Dolan hit a late deflected second to seal his side’s first win at Norwich since 1999.
While Smith named an unchanged line-up the visitors brought six fresh faces into their starting XI, including Sam Gallagher and former Canaries defender Daniel Ayala.
Rovers’ reshuffled side wasted no time in seizing the initiative, as Morton floated a ball towards Gallagher and it deflected off the unfortunate Gibson, deceiving goalkeeper Angus Gunn.
The early goal rocked Norwich and they struggled to get into the game, rarely testing Thomas Kaminski – who comfortably kept out Isaac Hayden’s header from a corner.
Gabriel Sara and Danel Sinani both blazed wide from distance, but the Canaries produced little to excite their supporters, who chanted their displeasure at Smith and booed the team as they left the field at the end of each half.
Smith made attacking changes in the second half, with Onel Hernandez and Adam Idah both coming on as Norwich began to carve out openings.
The pair combined for a flowing move, but Idah’s first touch let him down, while Josh Sargent was foiled by Adam Wharton’s timely interception.
Blackburn wrapped up the points four minutes from time as Sammie Szmodics and Ben Brereton Diaz linked up to release Dolan, who cut inside and unleashed a shot that deflected past Gunn at his near post.
Kaminski denied Sargent a consolation goal from a header in added time as Rovers closed out the win to move within two points of the automatic promotion places, while Norwich slip to fifth and have now won just one of their past seven home league games.
Line-ups Norwich
Formation 4-2-3-1
28Gunn
2Aarons5Hanley6Gibson15McCallum
8Hayden23McLean
21Sinani17Gomes Sara24Sargent
22Pukki
Substitutes
Blackburn
Formation 3-4-2-1
1Kaminski
4Ayala5Hyam3Pickering
11Rankin-Costello6Morton21Buckley23Dack
10Dolan22Brereton
9Gallagher
Substitutes
Live Text
Match ends, Norwich City 0, Blackburn Rovers 2.
90’+7′
Second Half ends, Norwich City 0, Blackburn Rovers 2.
90’+7′
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Max Aarons.
90’+6′
Ben Gibson (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90’+5′
Foul by Ben Gibson (Norwich City).
90’+5′
Sammie Szmodics (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90’+5′
Attempt missed. Tyrhys Dolan (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high following a fast break.
90’+4′
Liam Gibbs (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90’+4′
Foul by Ryan Hedges (Blackburn Rovers).
90’+1′
Attempt blocked. Josh Sargent (Norwich City) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Onel Hernández.
90’+1′
Attempt saved. Josh Sargent (Norwich City) header from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Adam Idah.
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Attempt missed. Adam Idah (Norwich City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Marcelino Núñez with a cross following a corner.
90’+1′
Thomas Kaminski (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card.
90’+1′
Teemu Pukki (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card.
90′
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Dominic Hyam.
90′
Attempt blocked. Teemu Pukki (Norwich City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
89′
Attempt saved. Tyrhys Dolan (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ryan Hedges.
88′
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Thomas Kaminski.
87′
Substitution, Norwich City. Marcelino Núñez replaces Sam McCallum.
86′
Goal! Norwich City 0, Blackburn Rovers 2. Tyrhys Dolan (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ben Brereton.