MX23RW : Friday, July 10 06:16:17| >> :120:48792:48792:
Jul 4, 2020 at 12.30pm UK at Carrow Road
NorwichNorwich City
0-1
BrightonBrighton & Hove Albion

Lewis (38'), Cantwell (90+1')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Trossard (25')
Lamptey (88'), Gross (89')

Result: Norwich edge closer to relegation with defeat at home to Brighton

Result: Norwich edge closer to relegation with defeat at home to Brighton
© Reuters
Norwich suffered a fifth consecutive defeat to remain bottom of the table.

Daniel Farke's gamble to drop Todd Cantwell and Teemu Pukki to the bench backfired as Norwich suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Brighton.

It was another nail in the coffin of the Canaries' survival hopes, with Leandro Trossard's fourth goal of the Premier League campaign leaving the hosts seven points adrift of safety with five games to play.

Last season's Sky Bet Championship winners introduced Pukki and Cantwell with 23 minutes left, but they could not turn things around as Norwich suffered a fifth successive loss since football resumed.

Graham Potter watched Brighton complete the double over their opponents with an assured display to move on to 36 points – the same total they achieved in the 2018-19 campaign – with five games to go.

After Aaron Connolly fizzed an effort over from Aaron Mooy's free-kick for the Seagulls in the third minute, it was Norwich who took control.

But with chief creator Cantwell and top goalscorer Pukki left on the bench, the Canaries were not able to turn their early possession into clear-cut chances at Carrow Road.

Teemu Pukki was left out of the side
Teemu Pukki was left out of the side (Mike Egerton/PA)

Onel Hernandez – one of four changes made by Farke after Wednesday's 4-0 loss at Arsenal – was the hosts' most threatening player in the first half and he sliced wide after Emiliano Buendia's pass in the 19th minute.

The first drinks break of the afternoon occurred shortly after and the visitors soon went ahead when play restarted.

Norwich centre-back Timm Klose gave possession away in midfield and Brighton broke at pace with Neal Maupay playing in Mooy down the right, and he produced a fine cross into the area where Trossard stroked home from seven yards.

Leandro Trossard scores
Leandro Trossard scores (Richard Heathcote/NMC Pool Wi/PA)

Seagulls manager Potter would have been delighted with the 25th-minute breakthrough, but opposite number Farke will no doubt have been frustrated at another avoidable goal conceded by his side.

Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan was able to comfortably hold Hernandez's latest effort at the end of the half, after Yves Bissouma took some sting out of the initial shot.

It was almost 2-0 in the 50th minute when Mooy's free-kick from the left found Dan Burn and he diverted an effort just wide off his back.

Dan Burn celebrates victory at full-time
Dan Burn celebrates victory at full-time (Richard Heathcote/NMC Pool Wi/PA)

Norwich responded five minutes later but Buendia's volley was blocked before left-back Jamal Lewis produced a wonderful ball into the area, which no one could get on to.

Josip Drmic's final involvement was a side-footed effort from range that Ryan dealt with easily before the cavalry arrived for the hosts.

Farke brought on Pukki and Cantwell in the 67th minute, with young forward Adam Idah also introduced.

It was the latter who went closest out of the trio, but his deft header from Kenny McLean's free-kick in the third minute of stoppage time hit the inside of a post and was cleared.

Brighton were able to see out the final exchanges and there were big cheers from the visiting bench at full-time with another season of top flight football essentially secured.

ID:405140:
Share this article now:
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pictured on June 28, 2020
Read Next:
Saturday's Premier League predictions including Wolves vs. Arsenal
>
Latest Sports Video
Did you know...?
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.

rhs 2.0
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLiverpool34302275264992
2Manchester CityMan City34223986345269
3Chelsea341861063461760
4Leicester CityLeicester34178964323259
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd341610859332658
6Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34131384537852
7Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd34131293533251
8Arsenal34121485042850
9Tottenham HotspurSpurs341310115244849
10Burnley34147133846-849
11Everton34129134149-845
12Southampton34135164356-1344
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle341110133550-1543
14Crystal Palace34119143043-1342
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton34812143647-1136
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham3487194059-1931
17Watford34710173153-2231
18Bournemouth3477203259-2728
19Aston Villa3476213665-2927
20Norwich CityNorwich3456232663-3721

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!