Midlands | West Brom move back into the top six

Norwich City 0 - 1 West Bromwich Albion

Josh Maja scored his first goal in nine months to lift West Brom back into the top six and deepen Norwich City’s struggles.

Author | Peter Grainger

Stadium | Carrow Road

View from the stands as West Brom defend a corner

The Albion forward, making only his third start of the year, struck in the 20th minute to put Ryan Mason’s side back on track after three games without a win.

Defeat leaves Norwich with just two victories from their opening eight matches. Liam Manning’s team sit two points above the relegation zone in 19th place.

The hosts had chances to rescue something from the game. Emiliano Marcondes went close in the first half and Harry Darling’s header drifted just wide around the hour mark, but Baggies goalkeeper Josh Griffiths produced a string of excellent saves to preserve the lead.

Despite heavy pressure late on, Albion held firm to secure a third away win of the campaign.

How the action unfolded

West Brom searching for a 2nd goal

The game sparked into life when Maja, recalled to the starting line-up in place of Aune Heggebo, combined with Sammy Iling-Junior down the right. The on-loan winger beat his man and crossed low, Norwich failed to clear, and Isaac Price fired the ball back across goal for Maja to finish at the far post.

Norwich’s best opening before the break came in stoppage time when Marcondes’ header took a deflection and was comfortably gathered by Griffiths.

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After half-time, the Canaries pushed for an equaliser. Jayson Molumby’s foul on Josh Sargent gave Marcondes a chance from 20 yards, but Griffiths parried his free-kick. A Matej Jurasek delivery soon after found Darling unmarked, only for his header to skim wide.

Griffiths produced his finest stops in the closing stages. With seven minutes left he denied Jovon Makama’s header before Chris Mepham cleared off the line from the resulting corner. Then in the 89th minute, he spread himself brilliantly to keep out Ante Crnac’s close-range strike.

Albion might have sealed the victory in stoppage time when Heggebo stretched to reach another Price cross, but his effort crept just wide.