City shoot down Canaries

City romped to their second away win of the season in stunning fashion, blowing Norwich's unbeaten home form to pieces this afternoon.

Goals from Robbie Blake (2), Eoin Jess and Mark Bower destroyed the Canaries who were constantly thwarted by the goalkeeping gymnastics of Aidan Davison.

Peter Atherton played his first City game for nine months as Jim Jefferies was forced into one change from the team that came within four minutes of winning at Crewe last week.

Atherton, who last appeared in the 3-0 home defeat to Aston Villa on February 3, replaced Robert Molenaar in the centre of defence. The Dutchman fell ill on the journey down to East Anglia yesterday and was ruled out with flu.

Aidan Davison continued in goal with Gary Walsh not even able to travel following his car crash on Wednesday. Youngster Jon Worsnop was the substitute keeper.

Left back Adam Drury, a former Peterborough team-mate of Matt Etherington, was out of the Norwich side with a twisted ankle. Craig Fleming took his place for the Canaries, who would go top with a win.

Etherington won a corner off Steen Nedergaard in the first minute but Norwich cleared any danger and then the on-loan winger was pulled back for a foul.

Atherton's first touch of the season was to put the ball out of play as dangerous Frenchman Marc Libbra threatened to break.

Some neat City passing won a free-kick midway inside Norwich territory after seven minutes. Wayne Jacobs picked out Andy Myers coming in and his header was blocked by Mackay. Myers had another go with a shot from outside the box which ballooned wide.

Paul McVeigh forced a Norwich corner off Stuart McCall a minute later and the home side nearly scored. Iwan Roberts met it with a powerful downward header but Davison produced a superb save with his right hand virtually on the line before Libbra flicked the rebound wide.

Stuart McCall was bowled over by Craig Fleming in the Norwich box but referee Steve Tomlin was unimpressed by the penalty shouts. They won a throw-in right on the corner spot and Gunnar Halle's throw was half-cleared by Fleming to Gary Locke who took a touch before firing wide.

The Bantams had made an encouraging start against a team who had won seven of their eight home games so far and it nearly got better as Eoin Jess teed up Etherington for a cross-shot which flew too high.

But the threat was there at the other end and Libbra showed some fast feet to win a corner from Myers but Roberts pushed illegally as he jumped for the header.

City's much-maligned defence were putting in plenty of work against the Libbra and Roberts partnership with Atherton showing no obvious signs of ring-rust from his lengthy absence

City won three successive corners in the 26th minute as they started to dictate the pace and the small pocket of away fans could be heard for the first time.

Norwich were not looking like a team steaming towards the top of the table although Roberts caused a brief murmur of panic when he quickly closed down Davison from a back pass.

Tod was relishing his fierce battle with Mackay and showed neat skills to set up Etherington for a cross which needed two home defenders to clear.

But City were grateful to another reflex stop from Davison for denying Norwich a 34th minute opener. Roberts released Libbra on the right angle of the box and he danced round Myers before whipping in a left-footer which Davison athletically tipped wide.

Norwich made more progress down the left side through successive City fouls but Jacobs got on the end of Paul McVeigh's free-kick inside the box and then Myers whacked clear through a sea of yellow shirts.

Five minutes before the break, McVeigh swapped passes with Libbra before finding Roberts unmarked charging into the Bantams box. The ex-Huddersfield hitman took it first time with a side foot but Davison smothered with his body and Mark Rivers chipped the loose ball on to the top of the bar as the keeper back-pedalled.

That escape became even more significant a minute later as City grabbed the lead.

Myers was the provider with with a deep cross from the left byline and in-form JESS rose magnificently to head wide of Robert Green.

It was the Scot's tenth goal of the season and only the third Norwich had let in at Carrow Road. It was the first time the Canaries had been behind at home.

And in a flash City had doubled their lead with a spectacular individual effort by Robbie Blake.

McCall won the ball and fed Blake with his back to goal on the edge of the Norwich area.

There seemed no danger as he was confronted by Fleming, Nedergaard and Mackay but BLAKE jinked his way round all three before drilling a shot across Green and into the far corner of the net.

HT: Norwich 0 City 2

A booming kick out by Green gave Libbra the chance to probe City straight away on the resumption but Myers, who was having an impressive match, cut out his cross as Roberts lurked.

A great ball by Blake sent Etherington scampering clear and Nedergaard back-tracked to give away another corner, City's seventh, which Green punched away.

But it was Davison who continued to the real goalkeeping hero as he produced his fourth big save to keep out a Roberts header from Phil Mulryne's right-wing cross, parrying the ball before Halle finished the job at the expense of a corner.

Play was stopped as Atherton lay on the floor having seemed to fall awkwardly. The sad sight followed of the defender being taken away on a stretcher.

Mark Bower took his place as Norwich immediately threatened again but Roberts drove across goal when he should have at least hit the target.

Etherington continued to enjoy himself on the left and dinked another cross on to the top of the Norwich net.

Norwich boss Nigel Worthington made his first change of the afternoon after 56 minutes, replacing Rivers with Alex Notman.

As the home side increased the pressure, Myers beat Libbra to a cross and volleyed over his own bar for a corner which City survived.

McCall set off on a driving run and laid the ball off to Jess who dug out a 20-yard shot straight at Green. But City's attack were causing Norwich huge problems and Blake added to the home side's woe in the 63rd minute when he won a penalty after being sent tumbling by Green.

The keeper guessed correctly and dived to his left but the kick by BLAKE went under his body and City were amazingly three ahead.

Norwich needed an immediate response to prevent a whitewash - and got it as City were caught playing offside.

Substitute Notman chipped the ball over the away defence and McVEIGH volleyed it past Davison from ten yards out.

With the crowd roaring them on, Norwich attacked again but Davison safely pouched Darren Kenton's header.

Norwich were turning up the heat and McVeigh weaved his way round Halle in the 72nd minute to get a clear sight of goal. But he couldn't repeat his scoring efforts and drove straight at the relieved Davison.

Locke picked up the game's first booking four minutes later but the free-kick was scrambled out of a packed City penalty area by Halle.

The Bantams had every player back as Norwich won two successive corners and then another after an unsuccessful shout for handball.

Halle cleared it eventually and then popped up at the other end in a swift counter-attack but he pulled it back too deep for Tod from the byline.

Immediately Roberts was in again at the other end - and again Davison was there to foil him. From the corner the ball flashed back into the six-yard box where Mackay's free header flew wide.

With two minutes left BOWER, who had just been booked, chose the perfect moment to score his first senior goal for City.

Locke's low cross was cut out by Mackay but his clearance cannoned against the young centre-half and past the helpless Green.