Ashley Barnes’ early header helped Norwich stretch their unbeaten record at Carrow Road to eight league matches
Norwich City beat Watford in a thriller at Carrow Road to move into the Championship play-off places.
The Canaries scored twice in the space of eight first-half minutes, with Ashley Barnes putting them ahead and Josh Sargent doubling their lead.
Mileta Rajovic pulled a goal back shortly before half-time and Yaser Asprilla equalised with a spectacular second-half strike, only for Norwich to respond with goals from Gabriel Sara and Christian Fassnacht.
The victory moved David Wagner’s side up to sixth in the table, above Hull City on goals scored, and extended their unbeaten home run to eight matches.
It also moved them seven points clear of Watford, whose own play-off hopes are dwindling after a run of just two wins in their past 10 games.
Relive Tuesday’s Championship action as it happenedChampionship table
Norwich dominated most of the first half and went in front when Onel Hernandez did superbly on the right and crossed for veteran striker Barnes to head over the line.
Worse followed for Watford when they failed to clear their lines and Wesley Hoedt conceded a penalty by bringing down Kenny McLean.
Ben Hamer saved Sargent’s spot-kick but the American headed in the rebound to score for the third match in a row and for a fifth consecutive home game.
Norwich seemed to be in total control but Rajovic brought the Hornets back into game by diverting Ken Sema’s mis-hit shot into the net from close range.
Asprilla then hauled Watford level in emphatic fashion. The Colombian youngster, on as a substitute, darted in from the right and sent an unstoppable 30-yard shot beyond keeper Angus Gunn.
But just as Watford were in the ascendancy, two goals in five minutes won the game for the hosts.
Barnes found Sara near the edge of the penalty area and the Brazilian fired into the far corner, before Fassnacht tucked away Jack Stacey’s right-wing cross to end Watford’s seven-match unbeaten away record in the Championship.
Line-ups
Norwich
Formation 4-2-3-1
28Gunn
3Stacey19Sørensen6Gibson30Giannoulis
17Gomes Sara23McLean
25Hernández10Barnes7Sainz
9Sargent
28Gunn3Stacey19Sørensen6Gibson30Giannoulis17Gomes SaraSubstituted forBatthat 90+4’minutes23McLean25HernándezSubstituted forFassnachtat 55’minutes10BarnesBooked at 17minsSubstituted forvan Hooijdonkat 80’minutes7SainzSubstituted forGibbsat 80’minutesBooked at 88mins9SargentBooked at 30minsSubstituted forNúñezat 56’minutesSubstitutes5Hanley8Gibbs12Long14van Hooijdonk15McCallum16Fassnacht21Batth26Núñez35Fisher
Watford
Formation 4-3-3
26Hamer
24Dele-Bashiru5Porteous4Hoedt6Lewis
11Koné8Livermore16Chakvetadze
37Martins9Rajovic12Sema
26Hamer24Dele-BashiruSubstituted forAndrewsat 83’minutes5PorteousBooked at 79mins4Hoedt6Lewis11Koné8LivermoreSubstituted forInceat 83’minutes16ChakvetadzeSubstituted forKayembeat 72’minutes37MartinsBooked at 45minsSubstituted forDennisat 61’minutes9Rajovic12SemaSubstituted forAsprillaat 61’minutesSubstitutes1Bachmann3Sierralta7Ince15Pollock18Asprilla25Dennis39Kayembe42Morris45Andrews
Referee:Stuart Attwell
Attendance:25,325
Live Text
Match ends, Norwich City 4, Watford 2.
Second Half ends, Norwich City 4, Watford 2.
Substitution, Norwich City. Danny Batth replaces Gabriel Sara.
Wesley Hoedt (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sydney van Hooijdonk (Norwich City).
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Dimitris Giannoulis.
Liam Gibbs (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Yáser Asprilla (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Liam Gibbs (Norwich City).
Attempt missed. Marcelino Núñez (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.
Foul by Edo Kayembe (Watford).
Christian Fassnacht (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Wesley Hoedt (Watford).
Sydney van Hooijdonk (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Watford. Tom Ince replaces Jake Livermore.
Substitution, Watford. Ryan Andrews replaces Tom Dele-Bashiru.
Goal! Norwich City 4, Watford 2. Christian Fassnacht (Norwich City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jack Stacey with a cross.
Ryan Porteous (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sydney van Hooijdonk (Norwich City).
Substitution, Norwich City. Sydney van Hooijdonk replaces Ashley Barnes.
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