Norwich City 1 Charlton Athletic 0

Last updated : 20 December 2008 By Footymad Previewer
At a drizzle drenched Carrow Road the Canaries made heavy weather of beating the lowly Addicks and should have had more than Leroy Lita's single goal to show for the amount of possession they enjoyed throughout this rather one-sided game.

Charlton kicked off attacking the River End goal but it was Norwich who enjoyed all the early pressure, forcing two corners and a free-kick in a dangerous position inside the first six minutes.

The visitors weathered the storm and did their fair share of attacking for the next ten minutes without testing David Marshall. However, the City keeper did well to tip over a fierce volley from Addicks captain Mark Hudson in the 24th minute.

Norwich eventually got their passing game together, but were guilty of being over-elaborate in the attacking third of the field. The first half ended with Sammy Clingan's free-kick curling wide of the target.

The second half began with Lloyd Sam dragging his shot a yard wide of the target. Three minutes later Jon Otsemobor's throughball released Lita, but his shot curled just wide of a post.

Ten minutes into the half Wes Hoolahan's shot was blocked after David Bell had put in a telling low cross from the wing.

On the hour Hameur Bouazza's angled shot was saved by Marshall before Clingan found Lita with a diagonal cross from the left.

The Reading loanee controlled the ball with his chest before beating Rob Elliot to his left with a fierce left-foot shot from 12 yards.

Norwich created more chances after that and brought on new signing Carl Cort for the last 25 minutes, but were denied further goals by some desperate defending by the visitors.