Cardiff City 2-3 Norwich City: Dramatic Canaries fightback eases pressure on David Wagner

Adam Idah's decisive late goal was his fifth of the season

Norwich City eased the pressure on boss David Wagner as a spectacular late fightback saw them win 3-2 at Cardiff City.

The Canaries had struck first through Christian Fassnacht's tap-in only for Cardiff to turn the contest around before half-time.

Josh Bowler's crisp finish drew Erol Bulut's team level before Callum Robinson headed in what looked for a long time like being the winning goal.

But Norwich dug deep as the contest wore on and levelled when Fassnacht's cross deflected goalwards off Ryan Wintle, with Onel Hernandez trying to claim the goal after he slid in as the ball crossed the line.

Two minutes later a Norwich side who had been heading for a fifth successive league defeat secured a winner which may have saved Wagner's job, as Adam Idah steered home on the rebound after Jonathan Rowe's shot was parried.

It was a first victory in seven Championship games for depleted Norwich, and just their second away from Carrow Road this season.

The result was all the more notable as it came on a ground where Cardiff had lost only league game in 2023-24.

The Bluebirds drop to ninth in the table having seen a three-game unbeaten run come to an end, while Norwich climb a place to 16th.

The game marked the end of Stuart Webber's six-year spell as Norwich's sporting director, with Ben Knapper arriving from Arsenal to take up the role on Monday.

The new man's challenge will be to help restore belief at a club who have lost their way after a bright start to the season - and this rousing success should make his task a little easier.

After a shaky start, Norwich looked to be finding some confidence as Gabriel Sara twice threatened from distance inside the opening quarter at the Cardiff City Stadium.

His second driven effort was pushed away for the corner which brought the opening goal, with Fassnacht left to deliver a simple finish after Kenny McLean flicked on Sara's set-piece.

But Cardiff have been formidable opponents on their own ground under Bulut, and were level when on-loan Nottingham Forest winger Bowler steered in the equaliser at the far post after Robinson's good work had carved the opportunity.

Josh Bowler celebrates with Callum Robinson after scoring his second goal since joining Cardiff on a season-long loan from Nottingham Forest

Norwich's patched-up rearguard were swiftly breached again, with Robinson again involved before Karlan Grant fed Jamilu Collins down the left.

His chipped cross was perfect for Robinson to claim his second goal of the season from point-blank range.

Norwich looked poised to respond early in the second half only for Mark McGuinness' sliding block to deny Fassnacht his second goal.

Crucially, Cardiff then wasted the chance to stretch their advantage when Karlan Grant raced clear but took many touches, allowing George Long to smother when the shot eventually came.

Norwich refused to crumble after that, with Rowe and Danny Batth denied by Cardiff keeper Jak Alnwick before the late turnaround.

The equaliser stemmed from another Sara corner, and may go down as a Wintle own goal despite substitute Hernandez's touch.

Then, with Cardiff appealing for offside earlier in the move, Alnwick saved Rowe's shot but another substitute, Idah, swept into the net to hand Wagner the most timely of victories.

Cardiff manager Erol Bulut:

"Today we saw two different 45 minutes. First half, we dominated. With that, we conceded a goal from the corner and we came back with two goals and could score three or even four.

"But the game is 90-95 minutes. I was expecting in the second half how we finished the first half. We couldn't put that performance on the field.

"Also, today our substitution players didn't really help us. In previous weeks that was different, they brought us points. That was also the key to how we lost the game 3-2. You can lose a game but not how we showed in the last 25 minutes.

"We didn't fight. We didn't concentrate. We lost the ball too quickly and allowed the opponent some chances."

Norwich City head coach David Wagner:

"I think a deserved win. First half I think the boys gave an okay performance, second half from my point of view was very good.

"We really limited Cardiff and I think we could easily have scored more than the two goals.

"It's a great performance under very difficult circumstances. Forget the negative run we are on, more the injury problems we spoke about before this game and now they speak about injury crisis.

"But how the players took it on board and reacted today was just great to see.

"The feeling in the dressing room is why we do this job. With some players back after the international break, hopefully this will be the turning point for us."