Norwich City Vs Sheffield Wednesday: Canaries beat relegated Owls

In the norwich city vs sheffield wednesday fixture at Carrow Road, Norwich City defeated the already-relegated Owls 2-0. The Canaries climbed a place to 17th and are eight points clear of the drop zone after goals from Mathias Kvistgaarden and Paris Maghoma.

Toure injury and early moments

The home side started sluggishly and suffered a setback in only the sixth minute when Australia international Mohamed Toure went down clutching his groin as he chased a long ball from Jack Stacey and had to go off. Toure had scored five goals in four games since arriving in the transfer window, and supporters were left hoping his injury was not serious. One account described the departure as happening inside the opening 10 minutes with a suspected groin injury.

First-half goals and key plays

Mathias Kvistgaarden and Paris Maghoma provided the two first-half goals, separated by seven first-half minutes. Kvistgaarden replaced the injured Toure and first saw a left-foot effort from Kenny McLean's perfectly-weighted through ball ruled out for a run that began fractionally early. After Seny Dieng kept out Ali Ahmed's point-blank effort following a good move down the right, Kvistgaarden headed a loose ball against the bar before nodding the rebound over the line.

Maghoma, marking his first league start, struck with a powerful left-foot shot after creating space for himself with a slick turn and beat Dieng with a low finish; he then curled another effort just beyond the far post moments later. Paris Maghoma's previous goal for Norwich had been scored in the FA Cup.

Norwich City Vs Sheffield Wednesday reaction

Philippe Clement praised his players' dominance: "We knew Sheffield Wednesday were a team that had lost a lot of games - but a lot, I think, by only one goal difference. We knew it was a massive game and we could not underestimate them and we had by far the most chances, most possession, two good goals, could have been more, so a lot of pleasing things. " Clement also confirmed he had made four changes in response to Saturday's home defeat by Birmingham City and noted the team had created numerous chances.

Kovacevic on clean sheet

Goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic kept his fifth clean sheet of the Championship campaign in the 2-0 victory. "It's a perfect evening for everybody here, a great win and a great night, " Kovacevic said. "We keep a clean sheet, two goals. We could have scored at least one more to finish the game earlier, but we're happy with 2-0. " He added: "When you start as we did, score one and then a second, it's really important for the team. Then they need to push more, and that creates a lot of space for us in the build-up. So, that was really important. "

Kovacevic stressed a measured approach: "Now we are eight points clear, but we go game by game. I don't watch the table every time and scroll to find where we are at the moment, but we go game by game. Now it's a tough match against Leicester City, and that's it. We need to go match by match, and every game we need to give everything. " He also reflected on defensive progress: "It's really important for us, and I think defensively now we did today and the previous game, and I hope in the future, a very good job. I think defensively now we are much, much better than we were. That's really important for the team. "

Kovacevic noted his changing role: "Now I have to save one or two per game, so if I save, we can win the games. But every time the opponent creates something, even Sheffield Wednesday today, every game you have to expect something. " Since Boxing Day, Norwich have won all five matches against sides below them in the EFL Championship table — Charlton, West Brom, Blackburn, Oxford United and Sheffield Wednesday — conceding just five shots on target in the process.

Second half and substitutes

The second half was lower in intensity. Wednesday stirred after the break when Jamal Lowe fed Charlie McNeill on the right of the box, but a superb diving block by Kellen Fisher deflected his shot just wide. Seny Dieng also palmed away a fierce 25-yarder from Jacob Wright as Norwich resumed normal service. Philippe Clement surprised by taking off Kvistgaarden and sending on Jakov Medic, normally a centre-back, to lead the line up front. The Croatian may not have the nimblest feet but offered a physical presence and a focal point as the Canaries looked for a third. Regular substitutions disrupted the flow, and it was Wednesday who came closest when Joe Emery nodded wide from a free-kick when he should have done better.

Table position and next fixtures

The victory ended Sheffield Wednesday's run with an 11th successive defeat and lifted Norwich up a place to 17th in the table, eight points clear of the drop zone. Norwich have 12 games remaining in the campaign. Wednesday will be at home to Southampton on Saturday, while Norwich travel to take on Leicester City.

All match events — from the early Toure injury and Kvistgaarden's headed goal to Maghoma's first league-start strike, Kovacevic's fifth clean sheet and the late Medic substitution — combined to secure a 2-0 win for Norwich at Carrow Road.