Norwich City 0-1 Blackburn Rovers: David Wagner's first game ends in FA Cup defeat
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Wagner's Norwich knocked out by Blackburn
David Wagner's first match in charge of Norwich City ended in defeat as the Canaries were knocked out of the FA Cup by Blackburn Rovers at Carrow Road.
Jack Vale gave the visitors the lead in the all-Championship third-round tie just after the half-hour mark following a mix-up in the Norwich defence.
Rovers goalkeeper Aynsley Pears denied Onel Hernandez, Max Aarons and Jordan Hugill as Norwich sought an equaliser.
Danel Sinani then had a shot deflected wide in injury time as Rovers held on.
Jon Dahl Tomasson's side will take on either League One strugglers Forest Green Rovers or fellow Championship club Birmingham City in the fourth round, with ties to be played between 27 and 30 January.
Wagner was appointed on Friday on a 12-month rolling contract, filling the vacancy created after Dean Smith was sacked on 27 December.
The 51-year-old made six changes from the 1-0 defeat by Watford on Monday, with goalkeeper Tim Krul among those recalled.
Norwich threatened through a header from Scotland defender Grant Hanley and striker Teemu Pukki's shot over the bar before falling behind after a backpass from the centre-back sold Krul short.
Dilan Markanday closed down the former Netherlands keeper and the loose ball fell to Bradley Dack, who squared for Vale to steer past a covering defender on the line.
Pears palmed away a low Gabriel Sara shot before Ben Brereton Diaz missed a good chance to make it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time, sending his left-footed shot over the bar from 12 yards.
Six-time FA Cup winners Blackburn put in a solid defensive display after the break to progress to the fourth round for the first time since the 2016-17 season, while Norwich suffered a third-round exit for the first time in four seasons.
Former Huddersfield Town boss Wagner will now concentrate on reviving Norwich's fortunes in the league, with the side three points off the play-off places in 11th following relegation from the Premier League last season.
Norwich boss David Wagner told BBC Radio Norfolk:
"Sometimes in football you don't get what you deserve.
"Performance-wise, this was quite good after only a couple of days working together. I have seen some really good stuff.
"The players were very brave on the ball and really wanted to play out from the back. It means you sometimes make mistakes, like we have done before the goal.
"I raise my hands for this - it happens. We have to make sure it does not happen often. Unfortunately we didn't create enough clear-cut chances."
Blackburn manager Jon Dahl Tomasson told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"We all know it was a brilliant win.
"Coming here with a new manager, you could feel the positive energy around the stadium.
"They asked us a lot of questions but I think all the players had very good answers.
"We played with extreme discipline and intensity. The clean sheet was a key to the game."