Norwich City 1 Manchester City 6

Last updated : 14 April 2012 By Mark Burchett

A Carlos Tevez hat-trick condemned the Canaries to defeat as Manchester City went one better than the 5-1 scoreline at the Etihad Stadium earlier in the season!

Although the scoreline more than flattered Manchester City as the Canaries, in their first season back in the Premiership, more than equaled their illustrious visitors for long periods of the game. Tevez delightfully opened the scoring in the 18th minute with Sergio Aguero putting them firmly in the driving seat nine minutes later.

At half-time instead of trying to limit the damage the visitors were causing, so typical of Paul Lambert he didn't bring on defensive minded players but brought on two attacking midfielders. The changes brought immediate rewards with Andrew Surman pulling a goal back that then had the Blues rocking for a 15 minute period.

Roberto Manchini's introduction of midfielder Yaya Toure was a calming and turning influence. It was his shot that John Ruddy failed to deal with in the 73rd minute that allowed Tevez to restore their two-goal lead. Further goals from Aguero, Tevez and substitute Adam Johnson exagerated Manchester City's dominance.

Lambert not surprisingly, had kept faith with the same side that had acquitted themselves so well in winning at Spurs on Easter Monday. For the blue half of Manchester Mancini was able to include Toure on the bench after missing the recent win at West Bromwich Albion, but was still without the suspended Mario Balotelli.

In bright spring sunshine, it was a lively start to the game with both sides in attacking mood. The visitors were first to test John Ruddy in the Canaries goal, with David Silva's shot held by the keeper, while both Johnny Howson and Elliott Bennett forced the visiting keeper Joe Hart into saves.

The Canaries continued their strong start with Bennett's 13th minute corner which was headed clear but only as far as Bradley Johnson who with one touch saw his shot deflected out by Joleon Lescott for another corner. From that Holt's goal-bound header was cleared off the line by the busy Lescott!

In between that pressure, Carlos Tevez was harshly booked for a dive after Ryan Bennett's challenge inside the area was adjudged by referee Chris Foy to be fair, when in fact the defender had caught the Argentinian's foot, even if he did then subsequently make too much of it.

For all their early pressure the Canaries fell behind in the 18th minute when Elliot Ward's short pass was easily intercepted by David Silva. After a quick exchange of passes with Tevez down the right, the tricky Argentinian beat Ruddy at his near post as the ball moved wickedly in the air.

Then another piece of magic from Mancini's men put them firmly in the driving seat with a sweeping move from the back. Tevez this time played provider setting up Aguero who expertly squeezed his right foot volley in between Ruddy and his right post.

In the 35th minute Russell Martin finally made some headway deep down the right hand side and his centre found Grant Holt who turned sharply, but his shot was straight at Hart, who claimed the ball at the second attempt.

It was a far from dirty game, but Nasri became the second Manchester City to be booked before half-time. Referee Chris Foy had played the advantage when Elliott Bennett was impeded by the Frenchman and sensibly waited until there was a break in play.

HALF-TIME: City 0 Man City 2

The City boss took decisive action at the start of the second period, bringing on Andrew Surman and Wes Hoolahan for Pilkington and Johnson respectively to change the dynamics of his midfield and within six minutes it paid dividends.

Adam Drury made one of his typical runs down the left and although Gael Clichy cleared the City left-back's cross, it was only as far as Martin. He delivered the ball back into the centre and again Manchester City could only half-clear as Joe Hart's punch under pressure from Aaron Wilbraham fell to Surman. The skilful midfielder brought down the ball down on his chest and beat Hart with a crisp right-foot volley.

This gave the home crowd something to cheer about and the volume inside Carrow Road increased immeasurably. With both full-backs pushing forward at every available opportunity the visitors struggled to get control of the ball and were forced into defending the home sides pressure.

They got a reprieve when Ryan Bennett became the first home player to be booked for holding back Tevez as he looked to move towards the Canaries penalty area. The free-kick was taken short by Nasri and when the ball was played into the centre, Zabaleta stole in behind Drury and looked odds on to score but Ruddy stood tall to block his shot.

Then in the 63rd minute came the moment when the game turned fully in favour of the visitors with Toure coming on for his ex-Arsenal team mate Nasri.

To their credit City continued to try and create chances with sub' Hoolahan in particular, having some joy. In the 67th minute, the Irishman went on a mazy run through the Blues defence before sliding the ball out to the left where Wilbraham tried to angle his shot across the goal but it rebounded off Gareth Barry.

With a quarter of an hour remaining the visitors effectively sealed the win with two goals within 90 seconds, to kill off any possible Canary comeback.

The City keeper could have done better with Yaya Toure's shot, allowing the ball to bounce back into the danger area. Tevez beat Ryan Bennett in the air to head home his second of the match.

Then Toure fed Aguero on the left with the Argentinian, on the edge of the area, stroking the ball past the despairing dive of the City keeper.

Moments before he was substituted, Tevez put the icing on the cake to make it 5-1. The Argentinian capitalised on below-par Ryan Bennett's short backpass to comfortably round the exposed Ruddy and roll the ball into the empty net!

In the four extra minutes substitute Adam Johnson was on hand to slot home Clichy's cross from the left.

It could have been even more embarrassing for Norwich as in the closing stages of the game, substitute Adam Johnson had struck the bar and Aguero denied his hat-trick as he hit Ruddy's far post!

If you exclude the 11 goals Manchester City have put past the Canaries this season, their goal difference would be zero, which for a newly promoted side is very respectable. The home fans knew they had witnesed their side giving it their all and it was pleasing to see them applaud them off the pitch at the end.

FULL-TIME: City 1 Man City 6