Norwich City 1 Plymouth Argyle 0

Last updated : 14 March 2009 By Footymad Previewer
Norwich climbed out of the bottom three after breaking down a determined Plymouth defence to score the only goal of the game.

After David Mooney's header had put the Canaries in front eight minutes into the second-half, the Pilgrims did try to take the game to Norwich but rarely looked like scoring and David Marshall had little difficulty in keeping a third clean sheet in four games.

The home side kicked off looking determined to carry on where they left off against Cardiff in midweek.

Marcel Seip was soon put under pressure by Alan Gow and after seven minutes was booked for a tug on his shirt.

Wes Hoolahan's shot was blocked and Romain Larrieu saved a low shot from Sammy Clingan.

After 26 minutes, the impressive Gow looked certain to score but his shot went a foot wide as the Plymouth keeper spread himself in front of the Scot.

It was three minutes from half-time when Plymouth first threatened the Norwich goal, but David Gray put his shot wide.

At the other end, Mooney fired over when well placed.

Jon Otsemobor then put in an excellent right-wing cross which eluded everyone. This meant the Canaries went in at the break without a goal to show for all their possession.

David Carney came on at the start of the second half for the injured Hoolahan.

After a rare Plymouth attack in which Jamie Mackie saw his shot blocked, play switched to the other end and from their seventh corner of the game, Norwich finally made the breakthrough.

Clingan's left-wing flag-kick was headed back across the six-yard line by Gary Doherty and Mooney's powerful header beat Larrieu to his right despite the presence of a defender on the line.

The Pilgrims' keeper did well to keep out a well-angled drive from Lee Croft, then Otsemobor fired over after a determined run into the Plymouth penalty area.

As the visitors tried desperately to get something from the game, substitute Rory Fallon put in a snapshot that was only inches wide.

Larrieu saved Mooney's header and when Cody McDonald came on for Gow, his fierce shot cleared the bar by inches.