Norwich 1 West Brom 0: Albion punished at the death in poor defeat

The Baggies looked on course for a third straight draw - and remarkably a 19th of the Championship season - but had no complaints as Sargent popped up with a cool late finish for the hosts following a uninspiring second period.

Tony Mowbray's men were the better side in a bright first half but failed to punish their opposition once again.

A poor Norwich side were desperate at times, low on confidence in four games without a win, but rallied having switched to a more pragmatic back five to win with just their second home clean sheet of the season.

Albion were toothless and a potentially costly defeat meant they failed to take advantage of rivals stuttering around them in the play-off chase. Only once Sargent opened the scoring in the 92nd minute did the Baggies force a meaningful chance.

A hugely despondent away end were left licking their wounds in the Norfolk sunshine. Albion, still sixth, are by no means out of the play-off picture, but another blank leaves huge doubts about their ability to win the games required.

The Baggies remain winless on their travels since Hull in November - a single away success in 17 league games - with huge tests against stronger sides than Norwich on the horizon.

Mowbray's men settled well and the game's first two clear chances were reward for a positive first 10 minutes in which the hosts struggled to get going.

Albion's head coach has preached about more shots since his arrival and Karlan Grant heeded the message. His strike from 22 yards took a deflection at returning goalkeeper Angus Gunn, who made a meal of the strike as it trickled wide of his left post.

The resulting corner went uncleared and a left-footed cross from Tom Fellows, one of two Albion returnees, found Torbjorn Heggem whose header drew a top one-handed stop from Gunn.

It became quickly apparent the hosts were low on confidence and fragile with the ball in their own half. Confidence from the home fans was also lacking.

Johannes Thorup's men gave a timely reminder of their incisiveness, however, as Borja Sainz slipped top scorer Josh Sargent in on goal but the United States frontman was denied the one-v-one chance by an outstanding Joe Wildsmith save as the keeper spread himself and repelled the ball with his left foot. 

Ante Crnac sent the rebound wide when he might've done better.

Despite the opening it was moans and groans from the whole faithful as their side struggled to cross halfway.

The Canaries camped in their own third with Albion tasked to thread the eye of a needle. It required a pinpoint final ball which has more often than not been a downfall this term.

Jayson Molumby lashed a quickly-worked free-kick over from outside the box after John Swift's pass when the Baggies could've done with it the other way around.

A neat move involving the sharp Fellows, Swift and Alex Mowatt teed up Grant to shoot from range again. His effort arrowed towards the corner but Gunn made a parried save.

Norwich livewire Sainz lashed a few feet wide of Wildsmith's left post with the keeper relatively comfortable before the interval. Albion entered the break knowing more composure would bring a breakthrough against a very unsure home side.

Albion played well in the first half but lost their spark after the interval. Mowbray initially tried to switch Armstrong and Grant, with the former heading left.

Sighters at goal were limited to pot-shots from outside the box, as Grant and Swift fired decent effort narrowly over, but otherwise the Baggies made hard work of carving open the hosts. 

Norwich were poor but had a better opening as Sainz, while forced wide, could only shoot at Wildsmith.

A turgid second half only livened up as two young fans ran on from the home end to get a picture with Norwich favourite Sargent, only to be marched off to chants of "sign them up" from a heckling home crowd.

Albion's final ball continued to lack as Molumby and Fellows miscued from promising positions out wide. It begged for changes and Mowbray responded 12 minutes from time with Mikey Johnston and Grady Diangana. Tammer Bany and Will Lankshear following in the final 10 minutes.

Norwich were as likely as their visitors at the late stage and home sub Marcelino Nunez bent a free-kick narrowly wide of the top corner.

The Canaries' potency referenced by Mowbray in the week came as a very sharp sting in the tail in stoppage time. Swift lost the ball and Nunez's through ball was perfect for Sargent in behind Holgate.

The striker checked back inside the retreating Bartley and beat Holgate to the ball to steer a low finish into the far corner for Carrow Road bedlam.

There was still time in stoppage time for Albion to finally force a chance. A deep cross was met by Kyle Bartley but Gunn parried his save high. Diangana nodded the rebound at goal but it was somehow scrambled off the line by recovering Canary defender Ruairi McConville, who was sent on to see out the win.

Once again Albion failed to find a way through. And this time they paid the full price.

Norwich City (3-4-3): Gunn; Stacey (McConville, 90+4), Duffy, Cordoba, Fisher; Sorensen (Wright, 75), Ben Slimane (Marcondes, 55), McLean (c); Crnac (Nunez, 55), Sargent, Sainz (Schwartau, 90+4).

Subs not used: Long, Jurasek, Forson, Hernandez.

Albion (4-3-3): Wildsmith; Holgate, Bartley, Heggem, Styles; Molumby (Bany, 85), Mowatt, Swift; Fellows (Diangana, 78), Armstrong (Lankshear, 85), Grant (Johnston, 78).

Subs not used: Griffiths, Frabotta, Diakite, Price, Dike.

Attendance: 26,707 (1,875 Albion fans)

Referee: David Webb