by Mark Denham

Snapshot

Cardiff fell by two goals to nil at Carrow Road on Tuesday evening as they slipped to fifth in the Championship table. Norwich dominated much of a what was a scrappy game and took the lead shortly after half time through David Mooney after an error by Dimi Konstantopoulos. Most of the Bluebirds' attacking threat centred around substitutes Quincy and Chris Burke, though it was the home side who would score for a second time when substitute Cody McDonald rounded Konstantopoulos in injury time to secure the points.

Starting Line-ups:

Norwich City: Marshall, Otsemobor, Shackell, Doherty, Bertrand, Croft, Clingan, Russell, Hoolahan, Gow, Mooney. Subs: Nelson, Carney, Lappin, Leijer, McDonald.

Cardiff City: Konstantopoulos, Blake, Capaldi, R.Johnson, Gyepes, Whittingham, Parry, Rae, Ledley, E.Johnson, Chopra. Subs: Purse, McPhail, Burke, Owusu-Abeyie, McCormack.

Chronological Report:

Norwich City kicked off at Carrow Road but the Bluebirds gained possession and took the game to Norwich early on when Paul Parry ran strongly at former Liverpool man Jon Otsemobor. Cardiff started the game the better side with Eddie Johnson looking particularly sharp in attack, though Alan Gow's left footed effort from just outside the area on nine minutes was the first real chance of the game.

Gow's effort stirred the home-side somewhat, although the Cardiff defence coped well with any threat in the opening exchanges. Norwich gained confidence after a shaky start however, and during the opening twenty minutes were the team looking the most likely to get the first goal. Gow, Hoolahan and David Mooney looked particularly threatening as City looked vulnerable down the flanks.

Darcy Blake was forced to leave the field through injury after half an hour and with no natural full-back on the bench, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie took the Welsh U21 international's place; Paul Parry slotted in to Blake's vacated position with the on-loan Ghanaian taking up the left-midfield role.

Substitution Cardiff City: Quincy Owusu-Abeyie for Darcy Blake (31 mins).

The introduction of Quincy seemed to help the Bluebirds' cause as although Norwich maintained their early pressure, City began to look more dangerous on the break as they began to string passes together. The Bluebirds' best possession came in the last five minutes of the first half, a spell during which Gavin Rae and Peter Whittingham each had good chances to give City the lead which would have arguably been against the run of play on reflection of the first half as a whole.

Half Time: Norwich City 0-0 Cardiff City

Substitution Norwich City: Adrian Leijer for Jason Shackell (45 mins).

Norwich came racing out of the blocks in the second half and following some great build up play and cross by Lee Croft, Hoolahan missed a free header in front of goal, thus squandering a great chance to give the Canaries the lead. Norwich did take the lead four minutes later though when a Dimi Konstantopoulos error gifted Mooney with the easiest of chances to slot home after a long ball down field flummoxed the Greek 'keeper who mis-kicked horribly.

GOAL: NORWICH CITY 1-0 CARDIFF CITY (Mooney, 49).

David Marshall denied Eddie Johnson superbly from the following attack, though Norwich managed to curb City's renewed enthusiasm in front of goal as they stabilised their lead.

Substitution Cardiff City: Chris Burke for Peter Whittingham (58 mins).

Burke's introduction along with Owusu-Abeyie's in the first half ensured that the Bluebirds had genuine pace on both flanks that would be a likely outlet for any equaliser that may come. Quincy in particular started to show plenty of attacking threat, getting to the by-lines time and again though failing to deliver that killer ball.

Substitution Norwich City: Cody McDonald for David Mooney (75 mins).

The game became one of very few chances going in to the last quarter of an hour, with the Bluebirds being overrun in midfield in particular. David Marshall saw relatively little action in front of him, though the only perceived Cardiff threat continued to come from Burke and Quincy down the flanks.

Substitution Norwich City: Lee Croft for David Carney (85 mins).

Michael Chopra had a free-kick on the edge of the Norwich area with three minutes remaining though the striker's effort drifted weakly wide from a promising position. Ross McCormack came on to replace Tony Capaldi with three minutes of normal time remaining as City looked to throw all they could with seconds ticking away to find a crucial equalising goal.

Substitution Cardiff City: Ross McCormack for Tony Capaldi (87 mins).

Gavin Rae had a great opportunity to equalise as the ninetieth minute approached, though the Scot failed to trouble the 'keeper who had had a relatively quiet game. The fourth official showed that four minutes of additional time would give the travelling south Wales contingent hope, though in the first minute of that stoppage time, Cody McDonald scored to settle the game for the Canaries after being played through by Alan Gow. Both of Norwich's goals had been real gifts and City were forced to pay for not offering more of an attacking threat.

GOAL: NORWICH CITY 2-0 CARDIFF CITY (McDonald, 90+1).

FULL TIME: NORWICH CITY 2-0 CARDIFF CITY