Norwich City 0-2 Hull City: Match report and player ratings

The Tigers became the seventh consecutive away side to win in NR1, plunging the Canaries into further misery and opening the points gap to 21st to four points, with Southampton and Sheffield United still to play.

Norwich should have had the lead within five minutes when Jovon Makama stole the ball and whipped a dangerous cross in for Josh Sargent, but the American lifted over with his left foot and on the stretch.

The returning Shane Duffy then forced Ivor Pandur to tip over when he drove his header into the ground, central defensive colleague Ruairi McConville next to go close as the hosts started well.

That strong start quietened the discontent there was going into the game, a planned tennis ball protest amounting to five balls from the River End while Manning's men continued to push for the opener. Jeffrey Schlupp went closest after 32 minutes, curling onto the bar when Oscar Schwartau found him in the box.

The Dane then had a chance of his own after Sargent's shot ricocheted into his path, somehow dragging a bobbling effort wide when through on goal.

That was the last chance of the opening period, City's familiar lack of ruthlessness keeping the scores level. The usual script from there is to fail to cope with a half-time change from the opposition, and that's exactly what happened.

Hull went to a back three by bringing Semi Ajayi on, and within four minutes they were ahead. Matt Crooks' simple midfield header got Joe Gelhardt through on goal, and he had the simple task of sliding under Vladan Kovacevic for 1-0.

It took 17 minutes for Norwich to respond in any way, a smart move getting Schwartau in on goal once more. His second gilt-edged effort was even tamer than his first, planted straight at Pandur.

Crooks should have made it two with just over 15 minutes left, Duffy's error allowing him in. Kovacevic's intervention kept the scoreline as it was, but there still only looked like being one winner.

The hosts' attempts at drawing level were weak, the end result as predictable as it was miserable. Substitute Darko Gyabi tapped in to add to the misery, initiaing a chorus of furious chants.

Owner Mark Attanasio may have backed Manning in his Norfolk appearance, but something needs to change if his club are to avoid a painful trip to League One.

Substitutes:

32. Grimshaw (GK)

5. Medic

10. Jurasek

11. Marcondes

16. Wright

18. Forson (on for Makama, 79)

22. Topic (on for Mattsson, 71)

30. Kvistgaarden (on for Schwartau, 71)

46. Mundle-Smith (on for Fisher, 79)

Head Coach: Liam Manning

Bookings: Schlupp (28)

Substitutes:

12. Phillips (GK)

6. Ajayi (on for Hadziahmetovic, 45)

11. Akintola

18. Drameh (on for Gelhardt, 84)

24. Gyabi (on for Ndala, 72)

39. Destan (on for Joseph, 84)

40. Brown

48. Okike

58. McCarthy

Manager: Sergej Jakirovic

Bookings: Crooks (74), Joseph (78)

Goals: Gelhardt (49), Gyabi (87)

KEY MOMENTS

5 - Makama steals the ball high up and whips across for Sargent, who lifts over from two yards on the stretch.

14 - McLean drifts a corner onto Duffy's head and he heads into the ground, forcing Pandur to tip over.

15 - McConville is next to make contact with a corner. He should score but his connection with it is poor.

24 - The visitors seize on Duffy's poor pass and find Ndala in the box. It's blocked well.

32 - Schwartau finds Schlupp in the box and he curls onto the corner of the framework.

37 - Sargent charges half the length of the pitch and his shot ricochets to Schwartau, who drags a bobbling shot wide.

Half-time: Norwich City 0-0 Hull City

49 - GOAL HULL (Gelhardt): Crooks' header gets Gelhardt in and he slides to roll the ball under Kovacevic.

66 - Norwich move the ball well for the first time in the second half and get Schwartau in. His shot is straight at Pandur.

74 - Duffy's error allows Crooks in, but he can't beat Kovacevic.

87 - GOAL HULL (Gyabi): Gyabi has his shot saved by Kovacevic, who can't stop him bundling home on the rebound.

Full-time: Norwich City 0-2 Hull City

PLAYER RATINGS

Kovacevic 6, McConville 4, Duffy 5, Darling 4, Fisher 5, Mattsson 6, McLean 6, Schlupp 7, Makama 6, Schwartau 4, Sargent 5. Subs: Topic 5, Kvistgaarden 5, Forson 5, Mundle-Smith 5.

MATCH STATISTICS

Possession: 59pc-41pc

Expected goals: 2.41-1.36

Shots: 14-9

On target: 3-4

Corners: 5-4

Fouls: 8-12

Added time: 1 min/5 mins

Attendance: 25,724 (730 Hull)

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