A Teemu Pukki brace and goals from Marco Stiepermann and Emiliano Buendia see Wanderers defeated at the University of Bolton Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Team News
Phil Parkinson made two changes to his starting eleven that went up against Birmingham City in the Sky Bet Championship on Tuesday.
Marc Wilson and Gary O’Neil miss out due to injury, with Josh Vela and Luke Murphy coming into replace them.
First Half
Clayton Donaldson nearly provided the first goal of the game, as he rose highest to a Craig Noone cross that was just out of reach to guide it towards goal.
Norwich responded with a chance of their own, as Emiliano Buendia took range from distance and stung the gloves of his former teammate, Remi Matthews.
Eight minutes in and Norwich took the lead, as Teemu Pukki beat Craig Noone with a clever bit of trickery before wrong footing Matthews and opening the scoring for the Canaries.
Josh Magennis nearly created a chance just after the 20 minute mark, as he bullied his defender off the ball before hitting a cross into the area that was expertly cleared by Norwich.
The visitors doubled their lead on the 25 minute, as Pukki pulled back the ball to the edge of the area for Marco Stiepermann to slot home into the bottom right corner.
Daniel Farke’s men nearly had a third shortly after, as Onel Hernandez picked out Pukki on the six yard line, but the Finnish striker was unable to connect with the football as it sailed across the box.
Pawel Olkowski came close to grabbing a goal for the Whites just past the half hour mark, as a powerfully struck effort from the edge of the Norwich box peppered the gloves of Tim Krul.
Norwich took a three goal lead on the 35 minute as a looping ball into the Wanderers box found Buendia, who had managed to wriggle away from his marker to calmly find the back of the net.
Hernandez was a strong save away from adding to Norwich’s lead, as he swivelled away from his defender to fire on goal.
Matthews was more than equal to this effort, as he diverted the ball away from goal.
Norwich were oozing confidence going into the break, as a Buendia lay off to Stiepermann allowed the German to have a crack at goal, but Matthews did well to tip the effort over the crossbar.
Wanderers forward Clayton Donaldson had a chance to get one back for Phil Parkinson’s men, but his volley didn’t trouble the Canaries’ goal.
Second Half
Wanderers started brighter in the second period, as a Magennis header finds Connolly, who provides an aerial effort on target but Krul saved well.
Norwich responded with Hernandez, as he was played in goal before unleashing a venomous effort at Matthews, who saved it well with his legs.
Pukki continued to threaten the Trotters goal, as he fired at goal from a tough angle as Matthews turned away the ball from goal.
Norwich made it four on the 56 minute, as a looping through ball to Pukki was finished off expertly by the frontman, with a chipped effort over Matthews and into the back of the net.
Second half substitute Sammy Ameobi came close just after the hour mark, as he drifted inside with the ball before shooting at goal from distance and just missing the target.
Almost immediately after this chance, Norwich won a penalty as Mark Beevers fouled Pukki in the area.
Kenny McLean ran up to take the penalty and Matthews saved the spot kick, diving to his left and halting the ball’s progress with his trailing legs.
Joe Williams came close moments after, as the ball fell to the midfielder who curled his effort at Tim Krul’s goal, with the Dutchman able to clutch the ball to his chest.
The Everton loanee was in the thick of it with 18 minutes to spare, as a played in Luke Murphy on the edge of the Norwich area.
Murphy shot at goal, but the attempt curled wide of the far post.
Jamal Lewis crossed the ball into Buendia with ten minutes to go, but the Argentinian’s first time effort petered wide of the Wanderers goal.
Four minutes from time and Pukki nearly added to his tally for the day, as a well struck effort at goal was gathered by Matthews easily as the referee called for full time minutes later.
Full Time
Wanderers XI: Matthews, Lowe, Beevers, Vela (J. Williams 45), Donaldson (Ameobi 45), Noone (Buckley 88), Murphy, Olkowski, Connolly, Magennis, Wheater (C)
Unused substitutes: B. Williams, Little, Pritchard, Hall.