Ryan Bennett’s first goal for Norwich couldn’t have come at a better time, securing a massive win for the Canaries. The victory lifts them into 12th, temporarily at least, and gives Chris Hughton the chance to fight for more time to right his side.
Despite their poor away form, Hull came flying out of the gates, with the first chance falling to new signing Nikica Jelavić. Unfortunately the Croat destroyed his own chance at a dream debut, putting his shot just wide of the near post, despite lurking close to goal.
The visitors had the better of the first fifteen minutes, but were forced into an early change when James Chester went out with injury. Mayor Figueroa came on in his place, forcing Steve Bruce to switch from his prefered 3-5-2 formation to a 4-4-2.
Norwich took advantage of the change to gain control of the match. Their best chance came in the 42nd minute, the first time Allan McGregor was forced into action. Robert Snodgrass, who’d had a couple poor crosses but had generally done well troubling the Hull defense, decided to let rip a shot from distance. The ball dipped and swerved on its way to goal, but the keeper was up to the task, leaping to palm away the shot.
Despite both teams looking eager to take all three points in the first half, the tempo slowed in the second, leaving behind a rather dull match. It seemed certain that caution would win the day, and a goalless draw would see both sides sharing the spoils.
Instead, with less than five minutes left in the game, Norwich finally found a goal. Snodgrass put in a good delivery from the corner, drawing out McGregor, who was unable to get near the cross. Ryan Bennett, unmarked in the center of the area, was able to head on for his first Norwich goal.
Suddenly the Tigers came roaring back to life, but they were hampered by Tom Huddlestone receiving his second yellow of the match. Still, they managed to give the Canaries a scare when Curtis Davies got his head on the end of a cross from Ahmed Elmohamady, but the ball went just wide of John Ruddy’s goal.
Norwich City: Ruddy; Martin, R Bennett, Bassong, Olsson; Snodgrass, Fer, Johnson, Gutiérrez (Pilkington 68), van Wolfswinkel (Becchio 80), Hooper
Goals: R. Bennett 87'
Hull City: McGregor, Rosenior, Bruce, Chester (Figueroa 15), Davies, Huddlestone, Koren (Fryatt 82), Livermore, Jelavic, Sagbo (Boyd 67), Elmohamady