Marcelino Nunez celebrates with Norwich City team-mates after scoring their second goal
Josh Sargent showed just why Norwich are keen to keep hold of their highly prized striker by kick-starting a 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Watford.
The Canaries are fending off interest in the 25-year-old from Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg and Premier League sides Burnley and Leeds.
And he showed just how badly he would be missed with a sweetly taken opener and a powerful all-round display as Norwich edged into the EFL Cup second round.
The Canaries doubled their lead on 24 minutes when Marcelino Nunez forced a mistake from Watford keeper Egil Selvik with a fizzing shot from 30 yards.
And while Kwadwo Baah ensured it was not all plain sailing, scoring six minutes after coming on as second-half substitute, Norwich had enough in the tank to register a fourth consecutive win over Watford in all competitions.
Sargent's calm finish, slotting home from 12 yards after smart work and a cutback from Pape Diallo on the left flank, was his second of the campaign.
It was also a sixth against Watford and a 50th goal in a Norwich shirt.
Nunez's long-range effort, which found the back of the net with a little help from the normally reliable Selvik, delivered some breathing space.
Sargent might have added a second 10 minutes after the break, whipping a low shot from the edge of the penalty area narrowly wide.
As it was, Watford ensured the visitors' nerves frayed towards the end of the contest after substitute Baah halved the deficit.
The winger had only been on the field six minutes before turning the routine into a nail-biter, cutting into the area from the left and finding the net inside the far post.
Yet for all the late pressure the Hornets built with a succession of corners as the clock ticked down, two-time EFL Cup winners Norwich withstood the barrage to book a second-round spot.
Post-match reaction
Paulo Pezzolano: "The lack of energy we'll never accept" (BBC Three Counties Radio)
