Norwich City 3-2 Bolton Wanderers: Canaries blushes spared by late winner

Mario Vrancic fired Norwich 1-0 ahead against Bolton shortly before half-time

Championship leaders Norwich scored a stoppage-time winner through Teemu Pukki in a five-goal thriller against Bolton.

Pukki struck in the third minute of added time after Norwich had surrendered a two-goal lead.

Mario Vrancic found the bottom corner from 20 yards shortly before half-time for the game's opening goal.

He turned provider for Marco Stiepermann to double the lead when he was played in from 12 yards out and slotted past Ben Alnwick.

Bolton responded quickly to narrow the deficit as Sammy Ameobi got on the end of Andrew Taylor's cross at the back post to finish from close range.

Their equaliser came two minutes from time as Mark Beevers got the vital touch during a scramble in the penalty box.

The hosts had the last laugh moments after Ameobi was sent off for a second bookable offence for a foul on Todd Cantwell.

Pukki profited as Bolton failed to clear a cross and Norwich completed their 12th win in 15 games.

Bolton's anguish will be compounded by the fact they have failed to win in their past 11 matches and stay second from bottom.

Norwich City boss Daniel Farke told BBC Radio Norfolk:

"We were playing such decent stuff today, so much on the front foot, and totally deserved to be in the lead. We just missed scoring the third or fourth goals to kill the game.

"We had an even younger side because we had to do without Timm Klose pretty close to the first whistle, and when you face a pretty experienced side, then sometimes something can happen in the last minutes.

"They brought all their tall players in and worked in crosses and long throws. We could find some mistakes if we were searching for them but that happens in football.

"I'm more pleased with the reaction after the equaliser because normally you lose such a game in the last five minutes."

Bolton manager Phil Parkinson:

"It hasn't been easy but I am lucky enough to have a really good group of lads who show pride in the shirt and will always give it their all out there on the pitch and you saw that again.

"It was a really good effort and I should be sitting here talking about a point at the very least.

"That was hard to take, it really was. We took a very good Norwich side, who are top of the table, right down to the wire and there's no doubt we deserved to take something out of the game."