Football: Canaries in flight up table

CHIRPY Canaries cemented their place in the top three but the win which ended Palace's long unbeaten run was anything but easy.

Norwich were under the cosh for long periods but their defence, marshalled superbly by Darren Kenton, held firm.

Paul McVeigh opened the scoring after just nine minutes but it wasn't until Iwan Roberts claimed the second - four minutes from time - that the points were safe.

Norwich got their promotion campaign back on track with a 3-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday last week after four matches without a victory.

Against the run of play Norwich took the lead after nine minutes following a mix-up between Kit Symons and Darren Powell.

The Palace defenders hesitated and when Roberts poked the ball through to McVeigh the City wide man calmly registered his 11th goal of the season.

Julian Gray curled a shot wide for the visitors after 15 minutes and Andrew Johnson almost recorded his 11th goal in the last seven games moments later.

Norwich should have scored again on the counter attack but David Nielsen - having been put clean through - stumbled over his own feet and the chance went begging.

Roberts, who last week became the club's third highest goal- scorer, almost made it his 86th goal for City but his header flashed wide.

Nikolaos Michopoulos saved comfortably from Malky Mackay soon after the restart but Palace continued to look dangerous going forward.

Johnson almost capitalised on a moment of indecision by Steen Nedergaard but his attempted overhead kick was easily collected by Robert Green.

Kenton went close with a 25-yard screamer after an hour and Phil Mulryne did likewise with a curling free-kick as Norwich found another gear. Nielsen's flying header was dealt with by Michopoulos but he didn't handle McVeigh's speculative volley well soon after.

But for all their pressure and possession Palace never really tested Norwich keeper Robert Green.

As the game wore on Palace began to run out of attacking ideas and Norwich began to look more comfortable.

Palace substitute Gareth Williams went close for the visitors with a long-range volley before veteran Roberts wrapped up the points in the 86th minute.

Another piece of sloppy Palace defending was punished by the big Welshman who claimed his 86th Norwich goal with a typically cool finish.

MAN OF THE MATCH DARREN KENTON

Another impeccable display

NORWICH: Green 6, Nedergaard 6, Drury 7, KENTON 8, Fleming 4 (Mackay 6), Holt 6, Mulryne 6, Rivers 6, Nielsen 6, Roberts 5, McVeigh 7.

CRYSTAL PALACE: Michopoulos 6, Derry 6, Granville 6, Powell 6, Symons 6, Butterfield 6, Black 6 (Williams 5), Thomson 7, Adebola 6, Johnson 7, Gray 6.

MANAGER RATINGS: Worthington 7; Francis 6.

REFEREE: E Wolstenholme 6.

NORWICH PALACE

6 Shots on target 2

7 Shots off target 11

0 Shots blocked 1

6 Corners 10

14 Fouls conceded 18

4 Offsides 1

2 Yellow cards 2

0 Red cards 0

ATTENDANCE: 20,907

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