Birmingham City 1-3 Norwich City: Teemu Pukki's brace takes Canaries 10 points clear
- Published
Teemu Pukki has now hit 17 Championship goals this season - and six in the Canaries' past four games
Teemu Pukki scored twice and missed a penalty as Norwich City beat Birmingham City to go 10 points clear at the top of the Championship.
Aitor Karanka's Blues, who looked to have turned the corner with victory against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Saturday, gave a spirited display.
But, after dominating early on, they were undone on 26 minutes when Dimitrios Giannoulis and Kenny McLean linked up down the left to slip in Pukki on the left side of box and he drilled home a powerful left-foot shot from a tight angle.
Blues then not only survived Pukki's miss from a 35th-minute penalty after keeper Neil Etheridge clipped Todd Cantwell, they hit back to level just three minutes later through Ivan Sanchez.
But the hosts' luck was out when the ball broke kindly for the Finnish striker to fire Norwich back in front.
And, with Blues committed upfield chasing a second equaliser, on-loan Spurs midfielder Oliver Skipp capitalised on a three-on-one breakaway to wrap it up five minutes into injury time.
That completed the Canaries' second win at St Andrew's Trillion Trophy Stadium inside a week, having also beaten Blues' tenants Coventry City last Wednesday.
Norwich's 10th away league win this season adds to their feeling of comfort, knowing that in each of their five previous seasons when they have been promoted to the Premier League (2003-04, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2014-15 and 2018-19), their away wins column has topped double figures.
While Pukki has now hit 17 Championship goals this season - and six in the Canaries' last four games, including three at St Andrew's - he missed out on a hat-trick.
Cantwell won a penalty when he fell under Etheridge's challenge, but the Blues keeper made amends, guessing right as he moved to his left to save Pukki's effort with his legs.
Three minutes later, Sanchez levelled when his left-foot shot from the edge of the box was blocked by Norwich keeper Tim Krul but the Spaniard was sharp enough to follow up and put away the rebound.
Norwich then had luck on their side when Emi Buendia's left-foot shot deflected off home skipper Harlee Dean and teed up nicely for Pukki, who ran on to slide home.
The Canaries' injury-time clincher was even more cruel on a Blues side who are now without a home win in 12 games and have won just three of their last 32 home league matches.
August window signing Ivan Sanchez scrambled in only his second goal for Birmingham City in 32 appearances
Birmingham City head coach Aitor Karanka:
"It is the best 45 minutes we have played this season. The progression the team has made since the first game against Norwich is amazing.
"Once again this season it is the same story every single game. We've been much better than them, especially in the first half.
"They are the best team in the league by far. The table is a reflection of how good they are, 10 points clear, and in the first half we were as good, if not better than them.
"Again we have to take positive things and to keep going. I have to keep believing and trusting in these players because once again they have shown they are very good players."
Norwich City head coach Daniel Farke:
"Teemu Pukki was unplayable. They had problems controlling his movement and he created a lot. Teemu for me is the best player and the best striker in this league.
"He is selfless - it's his workload in terms of pressing and winning balls back, but also how he delivers. He is always there with a crucial goal.
"He's not the guy who scores in an easy 7-1 with a back-heeler - he is there when it counts. Three times in the last four games he has scored the first goal.
"This time he scored the first goal then again to make it 2-1 after the equaliser - he is always there when it's really necessary."