Norwich City welcomed Sunderland to Carrow Road looking to enxtend their unbeaten Premier League run to eight games.
The Canaries dominated the first half and deservedly led 2-1 at half time.
Despite a resurgent second half performance, the Black Cats could not find an equaliser, and they remain just one point above the relegation zone.
You can read how the match unfolded below.
Good afternoon! Welcome to Sports Mole for live coverage of the Premier League. We're pitching up at Carrow Road today to see Norwich City take on Sunderland.
Firstly, team news...
Bunn; Garrido, Whittaker, R. Bennett, Garrido, Bassong; Pilkington, Johnson, Tettey, Snodgrass, Hoolahan; Holt
Mignolet; Bardsley, Rose, Kilgallon, Cuellar; Larsson, Gardner, Johnson, McClean; Sessegnon, Fletcher
The home team have been victorious in this fixture on the last six occasions, which obviously bodes well for Norwich today. Also, Sunderland have not beaten the Canaries away from home since March 1985.
Norwich are unbeaten in their last seven - their best run in the Premier League since 1994. Of course that's a little misleading, as you have to factor in time spent out of the top flight. They have claimed the scalps of Arsenal and Manchester United during their current run.
Both teams are in similar positions to where they were last year. Norwich have exactly the same points total (16), while Sunderland have amassed 13 points, two more than at this stage last season.
You can click here for a more detailed outlook on today's teams.
The teams are now making their way onto the pitch. Five minutes until kickoff at Carrow Road.
Seb Larsson is filling in for Lee Cattermole in central midfield for Sunderland. The skipper suffered a knee injury just a couple of minutes into Tuesday's fixture with QPR at the Stadium of Light. James McClean and Adam Johnson will work the flanks.
Norwich get this game underway...
Cynical drag back by Kilgallon on Holt. He'll go into the book for that. The big striker turned him well and Kilgallon knew exactly what he was doing. Free kick to Norwich from just over 30 yards out.
Johnson has the first effort in goal. He tries to bend one with his left from around 20 yards but it's nowhere near being on target.
GOAL! Norwich 1-0 Sunderland (Bassong)
Snodgrass slung a free kick into the area and Cuellar inadvertently flicked the ball on to Bassong with his hand. The Frenchman nipped in front of Mignolet to poke home the opening goal.
Norwich look decent. They've certainly started the better, while Sunderland look a bit lightweight.
Sessegnon's shot goes out for a throw in...
Snodgrass latches onto Mignolet's poor clearance and tries to make a burst into the area, but is crowded out. That's what Sunderland have lacked so far; someone to take the game by the scruff of the neck. Norwich look right up for it, while the Black Cats look like they'd rather be having their Sunday roast.
Sunderland have been woeful so far. No movement, no penetration, no imagination.
SHOT! Larsson rolls a corner to the edge of the area for Danny Rose, who strikes it first time with his left, but Bunn saves well down low.
Fletcher handles as he tries to bring the ball under control on the dge of the area with his back to goal. That's the first time he's had any decent service. He cuts a rather lonesome figure at the moment.
GOAL! Norwich 2-0 Sunderland (Pilkington)
Johnson sets Pilkington racing clear with a ball over the top, and the mindfielder cuts inside Cuellar before slotting past Mignolet. Nice finish. Sunderland now have a mountain to climb.
Gardner has a go from 20 yards out, but it goes well wide of Bunn's goal. Worth a try, though...
Plenty of glum faces in the Sunderland end. I think we've all felt that pain at some point during our time watching football...
GOAL! Norwich 2-1 Sunderland (Gardner)
Well, they're not out of it! Johnson bundled his way past a few challenges before teeing up Gardner, who swept a shot across Bunn with his left foot. It was right in the corner, but the keeper might feel that he should have saved that...
Apologies for that rather embarrassing typo. I couldn't believe that Sunderland scored and was caught up in the moment. A manual refresh will correct the problem.
Norwich 2-1 Sunderland
You can read Sports Mole's half-time report by clicking here.
Shall we delve into the statistics?
Norwich have had 55% possession. They started brightly, while Sunderland were asleep for the first 20 minutes. They've had five shots on goal, but only two on target, and they were the two goals.
Sunderland have has seven shots on goal with two of them on target. Danny Rose's shot didn't really trouble Bunn, but Gardner's went through his hands to give Sunderland hope.
The Canaries have been the better team, but the game is still alive. All to play for in the second half...
Sunderland substitution: Connor Wickham is replacing Steven Fletcher. The ex-Ipswich man gets a few boos as he runs onto the pitch.
Sunderland resume play...
Sessegnon drills a ball into Wickham but the striker can't divert it on goal. He nearly got across his marker. It's Sunderland who've started brightly in this half.
CHANCE! Larsson's corner is a poor one, but somehow makes its way to Cuellar, who was unmarked from 12 yards out. He didn't get hold of his shot, hitting it against his standing leg. It was a decent opportunity.
Sunderland are a different animal in this half. They're going forward with some purpose now. Inspiring half-time words from Martin O'Neill? Or just a simple rollicking?
SHOT! Pilkington strikes one from distance, but Mignolet beats it away.
WHAT A MISS! Gardner strikes a free kick that swerves viciously before crashing off the post. The ball falls to Kilgallon, who has an open goal to aim at... but the defender skies his shot from six yards out! A let-off for the hosts!
OFF THE LINE! Sunderland continue to threaten an equaliser! This time Gardner redirects Bunn's punch out back towards goal, but Garrido is on hand to hack clear!
CHANCE! Sunderland are piling on the pressure! Sessegnon runs through on goal after a lovely turn, but his shot is saved by Bunn! How much longer before they score?
It's been quite a reaction from Sunderland after the break. A vast improvement.
Wickham has been dropping far deeper than Fletcher was in the first half. He's linking up with the midfield nicely and it seems to have made a difference. Reports from pitchside confirm that the Scot is struggling with a slight ankle problem.
Sessegnon tries an overhead kick that goes wide of the mark. Gardner was screaming for the lay off.
Rose gallops into the area and tries to find Wickham, but Bassong puts his cross behind for a corner. That was a dangerous situation for the Canaries.
The match is finely poised. Norwich are looking to kill the game, while Sunderland are looking for a way back into it, which is making it a rather open end-to-end affair.
Wickham has the ball in the net but the linesman's flag was up early for offside.
Norwich substitution: Elliott Bennett comes on to replace Robert Snodgrass.
Hoolahan nearly tees up Holt inside the area, but the big striker can't get the ball from under his feet. His touch was heavy and Mignolet gathered it.
Holt has a half-chance as the ball is whipped into the area. It was bouncing and at an awkward height for him, causing him to blaze over the bar.
Sunderland substitution: Fraizer Campbell replaces James McClean.
Norwich substitution: Jonny Howson replaces Wes Hoolahan.
CLAIMS FOR A PENALTY! Rose goes down under Whittaker's challenge, but the referee isn't interested! It was a half-hearted appeal, really. Replays showed no contact.
There's going to be four minutes of injury time.
Rose sends a deep cross into the box that's headed back towards Sessegnon by Wickham. However, it's just slightly behind the Frenchman.
Free kick to Sunderland on the left side, just outside the area. Chance to deliver a telling cross...
Gardner takes it, but Bunn clutches the ball gratefully to his chest.
Norwich 2-1 Sunderland
The Canaries have somehow held on! Martin O'Neill will probably feel that his side did enough to earn a point, and I'd agree with him. However, it's Norwich who take the three points and they go 12th - level with Liverpool.
Written by
Michael Penkman
Michael Penkman
