Goals from Teemu Pukki and Emi Buendia ensured Norwich City three points against a Coventry City side who continue to flirt with the relegation zone.

Pukki and Buendia both netted and assisted one another as the Canaries extended their lead at the top of the Sky Bet Championship table to four points, as fellow challengers Brentford failed to pick up a point away to QPR.

The Sky Blues had just 35% of the possession, allowing Norwich to attack and sitting back, something which wouldn’t be recommended against the divisions fourth highest scorers.

Teams

Coventry City: Wilson; Rose, McFadzean, Hyam, Costa, Allen, James, Shipley, O’Hare, Hamer, Walker.

Norwich City: Krul; Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, Giannoulis, Skipp, McLean, Buendia, Vrancic, Cantwell, Pukki.

Story of the match

It was the league leaders who had the opening chance of the encounter, as some nice build-up play involving Todd Cantwell and Mario Vrancic ended up with Pukki, who selflessly squared the ball to Cantwell but it clipped his heels and the danger was averted. 

It was the Sky Blues who created the next chance, as Julien Dacosta had a teasing cross met by the head of Tyler Walker, but his header evaded the target.

Coventry continued to ponder an opener, as Walker once again searched for his goal but this time Tim Krul kept him out.

But despite the pressure from Coventry, it was Norwich who opened the scoring in the Midlands, courtesy of Pukki. An intelligent, enticing through ball from Buendia was controlled by the Finnish forward, before he comfortably disposed of the ball into the bottom left corner.

The Canaries looked to immediately double the lead, but some clever work from Buendia and Vrancic ended with Dimitris Giannlouis, but he could only power over the bar.

Buendia once again spelt trouble for Coventry, as his cross was spilled by Ben Wilson but Pukki's follow up effort was miraculously cleared off of the line.

On the verge of half-time, it was roles reversal. This time Pukki dispossessed Kyle McFadzean and kindly rolled the ball into the path of Buendia, who could poach the ball into the back of the net, leaving Wilson helpless and furious with his defence- in Norwich's jubilance. 

Into the second half, and the Sky Blues looked to spur a comeback, as Callum O'Hare latched onto a Dacosta pass but his strike was thwarted by the legs of Krul.

Coventry once again came close to blistering the Norwich goal, as the ball fell kindly to Gustavo Hamer but he couldn't find the target.

Heading towards the closing stages, and Cantwell switched play to Max Aarons, who cut inside of his man and his whipped shot was well held by Wilson.

Mark Robins' men had their final glimmer of a comeback cancelled out, as Viktor Gyokeres' strike sailed over the bar and the referee called the game to a close.

Takeaways

A game which showed Norwich's true class, a very professional performance playing away to Coventry, who are a very difficult team to breakdown on their day. 

The front four of Vrancic, Pukki, Cantwell and Buendia were brilliant, the build-up play they were creating, the work between Buendia and Pukki to link up in scoring goals was phenomenal. It's clear that Norwich, who kept onto their most prized assets since relegation, still possess some of the most dangerous players in the division.

Standout player

​​​​​​​Pukki and Buendia are immediate candidates, but Cantwell and Oliver Skipp also deserved plaudits for their excellent performance, even if it doesn't include a goal contribution. The fluid counter-attacking was brilliant, with the frontline leading this in outstanding fashion.

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