Norwich City eased into the FA Cup fourth round with a straightforward win against Championship strugglers Peterborough United.

Elliott Bennett put the Premier League side ahead before Simeon Jackson's delightful chip doubled the lead.

Robert Snodgrass completed the scoring with a simple effort to put the Canaries into the fourth round for only the fourth time in the past 10 years.

Posh rarely threatened and are now left to concentrate on beating relegation.

Peterborough miss out again

Posh have not advanced beyond the third round of the FA Cup since 2007-08 when they were a League Two club and made it to the fourth round, losing 3-0 at home to West Bromwich Albion

Norwich and Peterborough may only be 70 miles apart - close enough to constitute a derby in the outreaches of East Anglia - but the game lacked the fizz and fire of a seasoned local rivalry.

And priorities lie elsewhere for both of these teams, with survival taking precedence over an FA Cup run.

For Posh, the emphasis is on maintaining Championship status, while the Canaries, who made eight changes from the side that lost at West Ham on New Year's Day, are more concerned with securing a third consecutive season in the Premier League.

Norwich arrived at London Road off the back of a miserable Christmas period, having lost their last four games, but Peterborough failed to test the mettle of their top-flight visitors, instead allowing them to accumulate confidence with plenty of the ball.

Posh did threaten early on - good work from George Boyd freed Joe Newell whose shot deflected into the side netting.

But the Canaries were dangerous without being expansive and former Brighton winger Bennett, who had not started a game since October, was soon on the scoresheet, collecting the ball after a determined run from Snodgrass and poking home ahead of a trio of Posh defenders.

And the Canaries were as good as in the fourth round when Jackson outpaced the Posh backline to latch on to Fox's long ball and finish with a perfectly weighted chip over onrushing keeper Bobby Olejnik.

Norwich may have expected some urgency from Darren Ferguson's side in the second half, but it never came.

The Canaries struck the killer blow when the impressive Bennett dispossessed Grant McCann and laid on a simple chance for Snodgrass, who claimed the goal as his performance deserved by slotting into the net.

City keeper Declan Rudd had only Michael Bostwick's close-range effort to worry about as Chris Hughton's men eased through the final 20 minutes to make sure their 250th FA Cup match ended in victory.

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson: "First and foremost, we've got our largest crowd of the season and I have to apologise to my own supporters for that performance because we're at home in a cup game which, for whatever reason, my players turned into a pre-season game.

"I'll have a meeting with them after this. I haven't spoken to them yet because sometimes you can say things you might end up regretting.

"It was a shocking performance. They'll expect me to pick them up again - either today or tomorrow, or Monday, and they're starting to take that for granted.

"In any game of football if your first proper tackle is after 65 minutes in a cup tie then you're going to lose."

Norwich manager Chris Hughton: "I think our approach to the game was good. Sometimes you get a feeling early on and I thought if we could score we would be OK.

"Robert Snodgrass is a good player. He's playing consistently and has been adding some goals and assists to his game and I thought he was part of an all-round good performance."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (4)

Peterborough United

  • 01 Olejnik
  • 03 Alcock (Gordon-Hutton - 34' )
  • 04 Brisley Booked
  • 19 Little
  • 06 Bostwick Booked
  • 07 Swanson (McCann - 54' )
  • 14 Rowe
  • 17 Newell
  • 18 Ferdinand
  • 20 Knight-Percival (Ajose - 46' )
  • 10 Boyd

Substitutes

  • 13 Day
  • 27 James Sage
  • 30 Michael Richens
  • 11 McCann
  • 21 Ajose
  • 22 Clarke-Harris
  • 28 Gordon-Hutton

Norwich City

  • 13 Rudd
  • 02 R Martin Booked
  • 20 Barnett
  • 23 Tierney
  • 24 R Bennett
  • 04 Johnson
  • 07 Snodgrass (Butterfield - 72' )
  • 15 Fox
  • 17 E Bennett
  • 26 Lappin
  • 10 Jackson

Substitutes

  • 31 Steer
  • 18 Garrido
  • 22 Ward
  • 12 Pilkington
  • 21 Butterfield
  • 27 Tettey
  • 37 Kane
Ref: Attwell
Att: 13,198

Match Stats

Shots

7 12

On target

2 7

Corners

4 7

Fouls

7 7

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:01 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +2:28

Kane Ferdinand fouled by Simon Lappin, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kane Ferdinand.

90:00 +1:22

Mark Little has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide right of the target.

86:33

The ball is crossed by Grant McCann, Michael Bostwick takes a shot. Save made by Declan Rudd.

86:33 Booking

Booking Caution for Russell Martin.

86:32

Foul by Russell Martin on Tommy Rowe, free kick awarded.

85:38

The assistant referee flags for offside against Simeon Jackson. Free kick taken by Robert Olejnik.

85:15

Tommy Rowe produces a cross, save by Declan Rudd.

83:00

Jaanai Gordon-Hutton crosses the ball.

75:45

Corner from left by-line crossed in by Grant McCann, Elliott Bennett manages to make a clearance.

73:26

Tommy Rowe fouled by Elliott Bennett, the ref awards a free kick. Grant McCann crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance made by Bradley Johnson. Corner taken by Grant McCann played to the near post.

71:35 Substitution

Substitution (Norwich) makes a substitution, with Jacob Butterfield coming on for Robert Snodgrass.

71:35

Jaanai Gordon-Hutton produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the bar.

69:50

Assist on the goal came from Elliott Bennett.

69:50 Goal scored

Goal - Robert Snodgrass - Peterboro 0 - 3 Norwich A goal is scored by Robert Snodgrass from deep inside the penalty area low into the middle of the goal. Peterborough 0-3 Norwich.

66:37

Tommy Rowe produces a right-footed shot from long distance which goes wide right of the goal.

66:37

Tommy Rowe produces a right-footed shot from long range which goes wide right of the goal.

65:02

David Fox restarts play with the free kick.

65:02 Booking

Booking Shaun Brisley booked.

64:54

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Simeon Jackson by Shaun Brisley.

63:40

Corner taken by Simon Lappin from the right by-line played to the near post, George Boyd makes a clearance.

61:11

Bradley Johnson produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the target.

61:11

Shot from just outside the area by Bradley Johnson misses to the left of the target.

59:18

The ball is delivered by Simon Lappin, Tommy Rowe manages to make a clearance.

58:51

Unfair challenge on Robert Snodgrass by Tommy Rowe results in a free kick. David Fox restarts play with the free kick.

57:15

Nick Ajose produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the target.

55:50

Elliott Bennett takes a shot. Save made by Robert Olejnik. Centre by Russell Martin, save by Robert Olejnik.

55:29

Nick Ajose concedes a free kick for a foul on Bradley Johnson. David Fox takes the direct free kick.

53:26 Substitution

Substitution Danny Swanson leaves the field to be replaced by Grant McCann.

52:00

Elliott Bennett delivers the ball.

50:57

Robert Snodgrass sends in a cross, Shaun Brisley makes a clearance.

50:25

Robert Snodgrass sends in a cross, clearance made by Shaun Brisley.

49:08

The ball is swung over by Russell Martin, Robert Snodgrass has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.

47:57

Marc Tierney sends in a cross.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Nick Ajose comes on in place of Nathaniel Knight-Percival.

45:00 +2:55 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

45:00 +2:00

Free kick awarded for a foul by Joe Newell on Robert Snodgrass. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Robert Snodgrass, Robert Olejnik makes a save.

45:00 +0:58

Mark Little produces a cross.

42:06

Jaanai Gordon-Hutton concedes a free kick for a foul on Bradley Johnson. Direct free kick taken by Declan Rudd.

40:36

David Fox provided the assist for the goal.

40:36 Goal scored

Goal - Simeon Jackson - Peterboro 0 - 2 Norwich Simeon Jackson finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the area low into the middle of the goal. Peterborough 0-2 Norwich.

36:48

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nathaniel Knight-Percival by Elliott Bennett. Nathaniel Knight-Percival takes the direct free kick.

33:34

Michael Bostwick takes the free kick.

33:34 Substitution

Substitution Jaanai Gordon-Hutton is brought on as a substitute for Craig Alcock.

33:34

Elliott Bennett concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Bostwick.

29:08

Assist on the goal came from Robert Snodgrass.

29:08 Goal scored

Goal - Elliott Bennett - Peterboro 0 - 1 Norwich Elliott Bennett finds the back of the net with a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Peterborough 0-1 Norwich.

31:32

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Robert Snodgrass, Shaun Brisley makes a clearance. Robert Snodgrass takes the inswinging corner, Michael Bostwick makes a clearance.

29:08

Robert Snodgrass provided the assist for the goal.

29:08 Goal scored

Goal - Simeon Jackson - Peterboro 0 - 1 Norwich Simeon Jackson finds the net with a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Peterborough 0-1 Norwich.

28:04

The ball is swung over by Russell Martin, clearance by Craig Alcock.

26:43

Simeon Jackson is caught offside. Free kick taken by Robert Olejnik.

23:56

Elliott Bennett delivers the ball, blocked by Michael Bostwick. Robert Snodgrass decides to take a short corner. The ball is delivered by David Fox, Shaun Brisley manages to make a clearance.

20:16

The ball is delivered by Elliott Bennett, Nathaniel Knight-Percival manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken by Robert Snodgrass, Header from close range by Russell Martin clears the bar.

19:16

Elliott Bennett takes a shot. Save by Robert Olejnik. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Robert Snodgrass from the right by-line, clearance by Shaun Brisley.

17:20

Simon Lappin challenges Mark Little unfairly and gives away a free kick. Craig Alcock takes the free kick.

15:48

Free kick taken by Marc Tierney.

15:48 Booking

Booking Michael Bostwick is cautioned.

15:43

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Simeon Jackson by Michael Bostwick.

15:10

Elliott Bennett gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nathaniel Knight-Percival. Direct free kick taken by Nathaniel Knight-Percival.

12:39

Centre by Elliott Bennett.

10:39

Free kick awarded for a foul by Craig Alcock on Simeon Jackson. Robert Snodgrass sends in a cross, Header from deep inside the penalty area by Bradley Johnson goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

7:21

Outswinging corner taken by Robert Snodgrass, Leon Barnett produces a header from inside the area that goes over the crossbar.

7:08

Robert Snodgrass takes a shot. Blocked by Michael Bostwick.

4:58

Marc Tierney crosses the ball.

3:32

Effort on goal by George Boyd from just inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

2:31

Joe Newell takes a shot. Blocked by Ryan Bennett. Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by George Boyd, clearance by Bradley Johnson. Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Danny Swanson.

1:14

The ball is delivered by Simeon Jackson. Marc Tierney delivers the ball, Nathaniel Knight-Percival makes a clearance.

0:00

The game begins.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association