London: Norwich welcomed Roy Hodgson's West Brom to Carrow Road with both sides looking to kick-start their Premier League seasons with their first win.
West Brom got off to the perfect start when just 3 minutes in a hopeful ball into the Norwich area was poked in by Peter Odemwingie. Nicky Shorey hit the ball towards the Norwich area which Ritchie De Laet tried to head home to debutant goalkeeper Declan Rudd though Odemwingie ghosted past the defender to score his first goal of the season.
Norwich almost hit-back immediately when Andrew Surman found Chris Martin in space in the West Brom area. Martin drilled the ball across the area which was met by Ben Foster, but with almost an empty goal facing Grant Holt the striker failed to find the target from just a few yards out.
Both sides were playing with the kind of confidence that suggested their current league positions were false. West Brom were looking dangerous on the break whilst Norwich passed the ball round with real purpose.
Norwich were taking more control of the game and tested Ben Foster for the first time in the 33rd minute through Elliot Bennet. The winger signed from Brighton in the summer cut inside off the left before firing goalwards from 20yards which had to be palmed away by Foster.
West Brom almost doubled their lead completely against the run of play through Odemwingie though was thwarted by a good save from Declan Rudd. Odemwingie broke clear of the Norwich defence and fired low and hard but Rudd atoned for his earlier error with a smart save with his legs.
Graham Dorrans then almost silenced the Carrow Road crowd when he was given too much space on the edge of the area, he unleashed a 25-yard strike that left Rudd helpless but was saved by the woodwork.
Norwich continued to have all the possession in the second-half but were simply unable to test Ben Foster in goal and West Brom nearly punished them through Jerome Thomas. West Brom broke with Shane Long who found Thomas on the edge of the area who tried to find the top corner though the shot went just over.
West Brom were awarded a soft penalty in the 75th minute after Steve Morison was adjudged to have brought down Steven Reid. Peter Odemwingie stepped up confidently looking to double his and his teams lead though Rudd produced an outstanding stop to keep his side intact.
Steve Morison spurned Norwich’s best chance of the game when he headed wide when unmarked from 8 yards out. The Canaries were pushing for an equaliser and when Bradley Johnson swung in a cross the whole ground expected Morison to head it home, though for the home crowd, his header went agonisingly wide.
Norwich will come away from the game hugely disappointed as they had the majority of the play for large periods of the game but were simply unable to test Ben Foster in the West Brom goal. The Baggies looked dangerous on the counter attack though Norwich simply lacked the cutting edge required to get back level.
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