West Brom inflict more home woe on Norwich

Josh Maja's goal was his first since 1 January when he scored twice in a 3-1 win over Preston

Josh Maja scored his first goal for nine months to lift West Bromwich Albion back into the Championship's top six and condemn Norwich City to a fourth successive home league defeat.

The Albion striker, making only his third start of 2025, scored in the 20th minute to put Ryan Mason's side back on the winning trail following three games without a victory.

Defeat for Norwich means Liam Manning's side have won just two of their opening eight Championship games and sit just two points above the drop zone, in 19th spot.

Norwich had their chances to get something out of the game – Emiliano Marcondes went close in the first half, with Harry Darling's header sailing just wide around the hour mark - but Baggies goalkeeper Josh Griffiths produced some excellent second-half saves to deny the hosts.

Despite late Norwich pressure, Albion held on for their third away win of the season.

A subdued opening was brought to life when Maja, back in Albion's starting line-up at the expense of Aune Heggebo, found Sammy Iling-Junior on the right flank.

The on-loan winger swept past his man and sent in a low cross that was not fully cleared. Isaac Price was alive to the threat, delivering a low cross from the right that Maja converted at the far post.

Norwich's best chance of the opening 45 minutes came during injury time when Marcondes' header took a deflection, requiring a routine save from Griffiths.

The Canaries pressed for an equaliser after the break and a poor challenge by Jayson Molumby on Josh Sargent presented Marcondes with an opportunity to try his luck from 20 yards but his free-kick was parried away by Griffiths.

Matej Jurasek's set-piece then found the unmarked Darling, whose header had Griffiths at full stretch, but squirmed just wide.

Griffiths was to produce an even better save than his earlier efforts in the 83rd minute when Jovon Makama stretched to get on the end of a cross, only to see his header superbly saved. The hosts went close from the resulting corner, only for Chris Mepham to clear off the line in a crowded penalty area.

The Albion keeper performed miracles again in the 89th minute when he spread himself to keep out Ante Crnac's effort at the far post. The Norwich man must have thought he was about to score the equaliser, only to see Griffiths produce a super save at point-blank range.

Albion almost wrapped up the points with a second goal in stoppage time as substitute Heggebo stretched to send a low Price cross just wide.

Norwich boss Liam Manning told BBC Radio Norfolk:

"It's hugely frustrating. To lose, it's a tough one to take because I thought the performance was good.

"We showed a bit of bravery, we showed a bit of quality, I thought we showed a bit of purpose. We created opportunities, just didn't take them.

"It's quite clear, we have to start winning games. But if we perform like that, create those opportunities and restrict the opposition to very little...

"Tonight the performance was much better but the result wasn't what we wanted it to be."

West Bromwich Albion boss Ryan Mason told BBC Radio WM:

"It was an amazing effort to keep a clean sheet on the road which isn't easy to do and we had to suffer.

"Josh [Griffiths] had a big couple of moments at the end - there was a real togetherness and fighting spirit to see out the game.

"I think performance wise they probably played a better game than us, created more chances but we had to ride our luck and had to have people produce big moments to keep a clean sheet but that happens in football."