Borja Sainz joined Norwich from Turkish club Giresunspor last summer
Norwich registered their first Championship victory under head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup as Borja Sainz's goal proved enough to beat Coventry City.
The Spaniard scored his third of the season, with a deflected shot from Jack Stacey's pass early in the second half in front of a crowd of 27,353 at the CBS Arena.
Coventry began the match 11 places higher in the table than their opponents, but were unable to end a 10-match run of no wins against the Canaries in any competition since 2009.
They created a number of opportunities but could not find a way past Scotland keeper Angus Gunn, who earned his second clean sheet from four league games at the start of the new campaign.
Norwich named Anis Ben Slimane, one of their two deadline day signings, among the substitutes but both bosses opted for the same starting line-ups as for their previous league games, against Bristol City and Sheffield United.
There was an early scare for the Canaries as Jake Bidwell’s ball over the top caught their defence flat-footed, but Ellis Simms could not direct his shot on target.
Norwich responded and Shane Duffy’s header was only just too high from a Marcelino Nunez corner, before Gunn had to save with his feet to deny Haji Wright at the other end.
The visitors were enjoying plenty of possession but it was Coventry who had the next opportunity, on the half-hour mark, when Victor Torp’s cross found Simms at the near post, but Gunn blocked the effort with his body.
A good move by Norwich saw Amankwah Forson play in Stacey just before the break, only for the ball to bobble at the vital moment and the chance went begging.
Delia Smith, who will step down as a Norwich director next year, was at Coventry to watch the team
Thorup – whose only previous win as Norwich boss came in the Carabao Cup against Stevenage - decided to shake things up after the interval, introducing Slimane and another recent recruit, 18-year-old Oscar Schwartau, for their league debuts in place of Forson and Ante Crnac.
They were soon boosted by Sainz’s goal, which beat keeper Oliver Dovin via a deflection off Joel Latibeaudiere, and Tunisia international Slimane was quick to make an impression in midfield, though he later picked up a yellow card in added time.
Coventry - who lost Tatsuhiro Sakamoto with an ankle problem - went close to an equaliser when substitute Ephron Mason-Clark’s shot forced Gunn to again make good use of his feet to keep it out, but Sainz almost added his second with a shot which flew just wide after Josh Sargent provided the assist.
Home boss Mark Robins sent on striker Brandon Thomas-Asante for the final 12 minutes to try and rescue a point, but Gunn saved from an angled shot from Josh Eccles as Norwich held out with relative comfort to make it five points from their opening four games since reaching last season’s play-offs.
Coventry boss Mark Robins told BBC CWR:
"Very disappointing. You've got to match the opponent for their work-rate before you earn the right to play any football.
"First half there was very little in it, we probably had the better chances and looked like we could go toe to toe with them and go on and beat them.
"In the second half we got really disjointed, we stopped running and found it difficult to pick people up. The first rule in football, you've got to stay with your runners.
"There was a disconnect between the players in areas (of the pitch), so we've got plenty of work to do on that."
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup told BBC Radio Norfolk:
"It's something special (to win your first league game). It's something you wish can happen in the first game you play, but that was not the case and we had to wait a little while.
"At some time you need that win to have positive momentum and belief in what we are doing.
"What I'm most satisfied about is the attitude and the mentality of the team, we controlled the game - they had chances, but the mindset we played this game with, I am really pleased about.
"The defensive job was outstanding. If you only have a one goal lead towards the end there will be some moments when you have to support each other and defend with everything you have."
