Josh Sargent levelled the match in the second half with his ninth goal in his last 10 matches for Norwich City
Norwich City strengthened their position in the Championship play-off places with a 2-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle at Carrow Road.
The Canaries had gone behind after 10 minutes when Morgan Whittaker headed in his 19th Championship goal of the season.
Two goals in seven second-half minutes from Josh Sargent and an Ashley Phillips own-goal set up victory for David Wagner’s side, their seventh consecutive home victory.
The result sees Norwich remain in sixth, but extends their advantage on the sides outside of the play-off places to four points. Plymouth drop to 20th, but remain two points clear of the relegation zone.
Plymouth went into the game having only won twice on the road in the Championship all season.
Having beaten Middlesbrough in their last away match, they gave themselves the best possible chance of a third away league victory inside 10 minutes. Matty Sorinola crossed from the right side to find Whittaker unmarked in the penalty area, who squirmed his low header past Angus Gunn.
Norwich had dominated for much of the game, despite conceding early on. Their closest chances in the first half both came via American striker Sargent. He first saw a volley at the end of a corner blocked on to the post by Alfie Devine before a cross from Gabriel Sara evaded him. Had it found Sargent, it would have been a tap-in to equalise.
Before the break, Argyle should have doubled their lead. Whittaker played striker Ryan Hardie through on goal but, despite doing the hard part by taking the ball around Gunn, he was unable to finish from a tight angle.
Norwich’s fortunes changes in the second half when Christian Fassnacht was introduced off the bench. His corner, 10 minutes after replacing Marcelino Nunez, found the run of Sargent at the near post and the striker fired into the roof of the net for his ninth goal in his last 10 matches for the Canaries.
A corner was how the hosts levelled and another corner was how they turned the match fully around seven minutes later. Sara’s delivery found the head of Sam McCallum, whose flick-on beat goalkeeper Mike Cooper after a deflection off Tottenham-loanee centre-back Ashley Phillips.
Norwich could have made their victory more emphatic when Sara’s long range free-kick was denied by Cooper andn on the follow up, Fassnacht was unable to turn his header into an empty net.
Defeat for Plymouth continues to pile the pressure head coach Ian Foster, who has won just four of his 16 matches in charge of the Pilgrims since replacing Steven Schumacher in January.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Norwich
Formation 4-2-3-1
28Gunn
3Stacey19Sørensen6Gibson15McCallum
26Núñez23McLean
17Gomes Sara10Barnes7Sainz
9Sargent
28Gunn3Stacey19Sørensen6Gibson15McCallumSubstituted forGibbsat 90+2’minutes26NúñezSubstituted forFassnachtat 57’minutes23McLean17Gomes Sara10Barnes7SainzSubstituted forDuffyat 87’minutes9SargentSubstitutes8Gibbs12Long14van Hooijdonk16Fassnacht21Batth24Duffy25Fisher44Aboh49Serrao Montoia
Plymouth
Formation 3-4-2-1
1Cooper
26Phillips17Gibson22Galloway
29Sorinola20Randell4Houghton14Miller
10Whittaker16Devine
9Hardie
1Cooper26PhillipsSubstituted forPleguezueloat 81’minutesBooked at 82mins17Gibson22Galloway29SorinolaBooked at 30minsSubstituted forEdwardsat 64’minutes20RandellBooked at 18minsSubstituted forForshawat 71’minutesBooked at 80mins4HoughtonBooked at 70mins14MillerBooked at 35minsSubstituted forSousaat 71’minutes10Whittaker16DevineBooked at 70minsSubstituted forWaineat 81’minutes9HardieSubstitutes3Sousa5Pleguezuelo6Scarr8Edwards11Wright15Bundu21Hazard23Waine27Forshaw
Referee:James Linington
Attendance:26,622
Live Text
Match ends, Norwich City 2, Plymouth Argyle 1.
Second Half ends, Norwich City 2, Plymouth Argyle 1.
Jack Stacey (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Jordan Houghton (Plymouth Argyle).
Hand ball by Ashley Barnes (Norwich City).
Offside, Plymouth Argyle. Joe Edwards is caught offside.
Substitution, Norwich City. Liam Gibbs replaces Sam McCallum.
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Brendan Galloway.
Attempt blocked. Kenny McLean (Norwich City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ashley Barnes.
Ashley Barnes (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jordan Houghton (Plymouth Argyle).
Substitution, Norwich City. Shane Duffy replaces Borja Sainz.
Attempt blocked. Josh Sargent (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Sam McCallum.
Attempt missed. Christian Fassnacht (Norwich City) header from the centre of the box is too high following a set piece situation.
Gabriel Sara (Norwich City) hits the bar with a left footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.
Josh Sargent (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Julio Pleguezuelo (Plymouth Argyle).
Julio Pleguezuelo (Plymouth Argyle) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Borja Sainz (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Julio Pleguezuelo (Plymouth Argyle).