Match ends, Bristol City 0, Norwich City 1.
Bristol CityBristol City0NorwichNorwich City1
James Maddison scored the only goal as Norwich beat promotion-chasing Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
The Robins saw far more of the ball throughout the game but struggled to break down the visitors' defence.
Josh Murphy had a shot cleared off the line as Norwich threatened on the break, while Josh Brownhill hit the post for the hosts in the second half.
But soon after, Maddison scored the decisive goal against the run of play, firing in from Mario Vrancic's pass.
Maddison's late effort extended Bristol City's miserable run against their opponents, having now failed to win in the past six meetings between the two sides.
And Lee Johnson's side, beaten narrowly by Premier League leaders Manchester City in the EFL Cup semi-final first leg on Tuesday, are now winless in five games in all competitions.
However, they remain only five points outside the automatic promotion places and four points clear of seventh-placed Leeds.
Norwich are 13th in the table, but they are unbeaten in five games, a run which included a goalless draw with Chelsea in the FA Cup third round.
The Canaries are now six points adrift of the play-off places and a comfortable 13 points above the bottom three.
Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson said:
"The ball is not quite breaking for us in the opposition box at the moment and that was an unbelievable save.
"I always feared this period of games and perhaps we are victims of our cup success. The Manchester City game in midweek took a huge amount of energy out of the players.
"We did OK today, but perhaps lacked a physical presence up front. Unfortunately, due to injury, that is not an option I have at the moment."
Norwich head coach Daniel Farke said:
"We had a really thin squad today, but we had a special plan for this game and I have to congratulate my players because it worked perfectly.
"It was a tough week for us, with two players leaving and some injuries.
"This ranks up there with the best results we have had while I have been in charge."
Line-ups
Bristol City
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Fielding
- 5Wright
- 4Flint
- 6BakerBooked at 64mins
- 3Bryan
- 21Pack
- 7Smith
- 8Brownhill
- 12WalshSubstituted forKentat 69'minutes
- 20PatersonSubstituted forTaylorat 76'minutes
- 14ReidSubstituted forMagnussonat 89'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Taylor
- 15Steele
- 18Woodrow
- 19Eliasson
- 23Magnusson
- 26Vyner
- 40Kent
Norwich
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Gunn
- 31Hanley
- 6Zimmermann
- 15Klose
- 2PintoBooked at 90mins
- 27TetteyBooked at 57mins
- 8Vrancic
- 26LewisBooked at 42mins
- 23MaddisonBooked at 25minsSubstituted forReedat 90+2'minutes
- 9OliveiraBooked at 83minsSubstituted forRaggettat 90+5'minutes
- 11MurphySubstituted forStiepermannat 89'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Husband
- 4Reed
- 14Hoolahan
- 18Stiepermann
- 20Raggett
- 33McGovern
- 36Cantwell
- Referee:
- Simon Hooper
- Attendance:
- 21,282
Match Stats
Home TeamBristol CityAway TeamNorwich
- Possession
- Home64%
- Away36%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away3
- Corners
- Home8
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bristol City 0, Norwich City 1.
Post update
Foul by Nathan Baker (Bristol City).
Post update
Sean Raggett (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Marlon Pack (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Josh Brownhill.
Booking
Ivo Pinto (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Nathan Baker (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Harrison Reed (Norwich City).
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Sean Raggett replaces Nélson Oliveira.
Post update
Hand ball by Christoph Zimmermann (Norwich City).
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Harrison Reed replaces James Maddison.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ryan Kent (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Josh Brownhill.
Post update
Attempt saved. Josh Brownhill (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Nathan Baker.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Matty Taylor (Bristol City) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Aden Flint.
Post update
Bailey Wright (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Marco Stiepermann (Norwich City).
Post update
Foul by Marlon Pack (Bristol City).
Post update
James Maddison (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol City. Hördur Bjorgvin Magnusson replaces Bobby Reid.
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Marco Stiepermann replaces Josh Murphy.
