Norwich City 3 Wolves 1 - Report and pictures

The Canaries were deservedly in front at the break through Steven Naismith's volley.

But Wolves, for whom debutant Andreas Weimann was a half time substitute, struck back in the 57th minute when Helder Costa scored from the penalty spot, his ninth goal of the season.

Ikeme was judged to have brought down Wes Hoolahan in the box in the 75th minute and after a melee in the box was sent off.

Matt Doherty went in goal with Wolves having used all their subs but couldn't stop the penalty - or a late Norwich third from Jonny Howson which rubbed salt into Wolves' wounds.

Analysis

Paul Lambert had won three games in a row at Carrow Road since leaving the club, all with Villa.

Wolves, meanwhile, had lost their past three visits to Norwich. Something had to give and sadly for Wolves their poor record in this part of East Anglia continued, writes Tim Spiers at Carrow Road.

On the balance of play the result was fair - Norwich created more, and better, chances.

But Wolves will feel bitterly aggrieved regarding the manner of the defeat. Carl Ikeme was sent off 15 minutes from time after fouling Wes Hoolahan in the box, an incident which caused a melee with Wolves' players believing he dived.

Ikeme got involved in the fisticuffs and it was unclear as to what offence he had been sent off for.

Either way, with all three subs used, Matt Doherty went in goal and Norwich duly scored the penalty - and a third in injury time.

However unjust the spot kick and the sending off - which will keep Ikeme out of next week's trip to Anfield if any appeal isn't forthcoming/successful - it shouldn't mask that Wolves were second best here, particularly in a very flat first half during which they just couldn't get going.

Lambert sent on three subs before the 65th minute mark (a decision he will have regretted soon after) but apart from Helder Costa's penalty they offered very little in front of goal.

The Wolves boss, so buoyed by recent performances, will hope this is the exception and not the norm

Lambert made two changes from the team that beat another one of his former clubs Villa last weekend.

Dominic Iorfa was restored to the XI in place of Conor Coady, while Jon Dadi Bodvarsson replaced Nouha Dicko up front.

Both players dropped to the bench where they were joined by new signing Andreas Weimann, who is on loan from Derby County until the end of the season.

The game kicked off in near silence at Carrow Road, bar a couple of "we want Moxey out" chants from the home supporters who have grown disgruntled with Wolves' old chief executive.

It was a subdued opening 10 minutes or so with neither team exerting any control - before Norwich broke the deadlock through Naismith.

Howson's superb effort cannoned off the bar and wasn't dealt with by Richard Stearman, who should arguably have headed behind for a corner, and Naismith took full advantage with a clean hit - the first goal Wolves had conceded in 2017.

Thereafter it was Norwich who created the better chances of the first half, thanks chiefly to the creativity of Howson and Wes Hoolahan.

Wolves' ball retention in midfield was poor, with Jack Price falling well below his recently standards, while the front four failed to create anything of note despite seeing plenty of the ball in the Norwich third.

There were also a couple of sloppy moments at the back, with no player covering himself in glory.

All in all it was a very underwhelming half. In fact the main positive was that Wolves were only 1-0 down.

It was no surprise to see Weimann sent on at half time - and even less of a surprise to see the ineffective Ivan Cavaleiro withdrawn.

The change made little difference at the start of the second period, though. Indeed Wolves were a lick of paint away from being 2-0 down when Jerome curled a beauty of a shot against the inside of the post before it, fortunately for Wolves, bounced to safety.

Wolves could have had no complaints if they were out of the game at this point. Instead on 57 minutes they drew level.

In their first meaningful attack of the half Matt Doherty was bundled over in the box and that man Helder Costa held his nerve with an unsaveable penalty.

Suddenly Wolves had the initiative. Bright Enobakhare and Nouha Dicko were sent on, David Edwards half volleyed a well-worked corner at keeper John Ruddy and Weimann lashed a 20-yarder over the top.

Wolves were winning second balls, playing through the lines, making intelligent runs. It was all a far cry from the first half.

But their momentum was quelled in the most controversial of circumstances. Ikeme was judged to have fouled Hoolahan in the box. Fisticuffs followed and Ikeme saw red, probably for the aftermath rather than the foul. Wolves' players were absolutely furious with Hoolahan and the referee, saying it was a dive, but their prolonged arguments were to no avail.

With all three subs used, Doherty took the gloves but couldn't save Brady's penalty.

Wolves' initial response was positive but Norwich soon pegged them back and it was thanks to some excellent last ditch blocks that the score stayed down, or indeed that gloveman Doherty wasn't tested for the final 15 minutes until Norwich's third goal in injury time.

The Irishman could do little about that, with Howson's shot deflected past him to sum up Wolves' day.

Key moments

13 - GOAL - Jonny Howson lets fly from 25 yards, a superb strike that cannons off the bar. Richard Stearman, facing his goal, heads the ball behind him and Steven Naismith fires a volley into the corner from 15 yards.

27 - Howson plays through the Wolves defence, Cameron Jerome beats the offside trap before cutting back to Howson whose shot is well saved by Ikeme.

42 - Dangerman Wes Hoolahan plays low into the box and Jacob Murphy's shot looks goalbound before Stearman denies him with a superb diving block.

54 - Matt Doherty gifts the ball to Hoolahan - his pass ricochets to Jerome whose curling 20 yard effort smacks off the inside of the post and rolls across the six yard box, but to safety.

57 - GOAL - Good work from Jon Dadi Bodvarsson in the box - Matt Doherty takes over and is pushed in the back by Ivo Pinto. Up steps Helder Costa to fire a perfect penalty into the top corner.

75 - RED CARD AND GOAL - Norwich are back in front in controversial circumstances. Hoolahan, running to the right of the goal in the six yard box, is brought down by Ikeme. The Wolves players think it's a dive and are enraged - there's pushing and shoving in the box before Ikeme is sent off. Doherty takes the gloves and is beaten by Robbie Brady's penalty.

91 - GOAL - A Norwich corner is cleared to Howson whose first-time effort from the edge of the box deflects past Doherty.

Teams

Norwich (4-2-3-1): Ruddy; Pinto, Martin (c), Klose, Brady; Tettey, Howson; Jacob Murphy (Josh Murphy, 81), Hoolahan (Pritchard, 81), Naismith; Jerome (Lafferty, 87). Subs: McGovern, Bassong, Bennett, Godfrey, Pritchard, Murphy.

Goals: Naismith (13), Brady (pen, 75), Howson (91)

Wolves (4-2-3-1): Ikeme; Iorfa, Batth (c), Stearman, Doherty; Price, Edwards; Costa, Mason (Enobakhare, 58), Cavaleiro (Weimann, 45); Bodvarsson (Dicko, 66). Subs: Burgoyne, Coady, Saville, Evans.

Goal: Costa (pen, 57)

Red card: Ikeme (75)

Attendance: 26,303

Referee: David Coote

Position in the table

18th (32 points from 27 matches)