Josh Sargent and the Canaries faced off against Manchester City, while Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson opened six-point gap atop the Championship.
Norwich 0 – 4 Manchester City
Josh Sargent went 87 minutes for Norwich as the Canaries did not make it out of the coalmine in their comprehensive defeat by the Premier League leaders.
As usual, Zack Steffen watched from the bench as City’s backup keeper.
City started their intent just five minutes in by hitting the far post with a curling effort from Bernardo Silva, while Norwich’s clearest chance came in the 18th minute off of a corner.
Sargent rose highest to meet the ball, but was unable to turn it goalward, with Grant Hanley unable to beat Ederson on the follow up header after Norwich kept the ball alive.
City broke the deadlock through Raheem Sterling in the 31st minute, as Max Aarons missed a routine clearance. The ball fell to the England international on the edge of the box, where he curled in a beautiful shot to the far post that was a worthy game winner.
A flurry of chances saw the first half end with just the one-goal advantage for the visitors, but City doubled their lead just three minutes into the second half through Phil Foden. Sterling added a second goal to his tally in the 70th minute after a clever short corner routine found him completely unmarked for a tap in header.
Sterling then scored City’s fourth goal, completing his hattrick, on a 90th minute penalty kick. The initial shot was saved, but Sterling followed his shot up and scored the subsequent tap in.
Up next for Norwich is a Saturday game against Liverpool, while City take on Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday in the Champions League. Zach Steffen did not feature against Norwich and will likely not be involved on Tuesday.
Watch the game highlights here:
Hull City 0 – 1 Fulham
Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson went the distance as Fulham opened a six-point gap atop the Championship.
The lone goal started when Robinson spread the ball out wide, and the subsequent header was met by Aleksander Mitrovic as his header glanced toward the far post from just inside the box.
The goal sees Mitrovic already tie the highest ever goal scoring tally in the Championship with 17 games to play.
Ream and Robinson take on Huddersfield on Saturday.
Watch the game highlights here:
Middlesbrough 4 – 1 Derby County
Folorin Balogun had an assist in Middlesbrough’s thumping of Derby County.
The scoring started when Isaiah Jones’ cross was turned into the Derby net by defender Lee Buchanan for an own goal in the 15th minute. Derby would level the scoring in the 39th minute through Max Bird, a fantastic volley from 25 yards out.
Jones registered an assist in the 44th minute as he found Aaron Connolly with his back to goal; a quick swivel and shot saw a deflection on its way in for the game winner.
Boro would add more more goal before the break, this time through Matt Crooks, as Jones provided his third assist of the night for a Crooks tap in, right in front of an empty net.
Balogun had his own chance in the second half, but was thwarted by the Derby goalkeeper. However, he was able to notch his assist in the 89th minute for the final goal after an incredible bit of trickery.
The American-born striker picked the ball off of a Derby defender before a skillful behind-the-back pass found Duncan Watmore alone in front of an empty net for a tap-in.
Boro, now sixth in the Championship, travel to Bristol City on Saturday.
Watch the game highlights here:
Notes
Ethan Horvath was on the bench for ten-man Nottingham Forest’s 2-2 draw and Alex Mighten saw the last eight minutes on the field. Forest starting GK Brice Samba’s red card means Horvath will likely get his shot Friday against Bournemouth, and for the remainder of Samba’s suspension.
Duane Holmes was not in the matchday squad for Huddersfield as they drew 0-0 to Sheffield United.
Matthew Olosunde was not on the bench for Preston North End’s 1-0 win over Peterborough United.
Lyden Gooch was injured and did not feature in Sunderlands 1-1 draw away at AFC Wimbledon.
