Match ends, Norwich City 1, Watford 3.
Ismaila Sarr scored twice as Watford beat Norwich in the battle of the two promoted sides and Premier League relegation rivals - to leave Norwich bottom on no points.
The Canaries become only the fourth side to ever lose their opening five Premier League games - and manager Daniel Farke is the first manager to lose 15 consecutive matches in the English top flight.
Watford move up to 11th with their second victory of the season.
Emmanuel Dennis snuck in behind Ozan Kabak to head in the opener from Kiko Femenia's cross and celebrated with a somersault.
Teemu Pukki levelled when he ran on to a ball over the top from the halfway line by debutant Mathias Normann before slamming past the advancing Ben Foster.
That ended a run of 23 Premier League appearances - going back to 2019 - in which the Finn had failed to score from open play.
But Sarr put Watford ahead when he buried Joshua King's cut-back from the byeline.
And he wrapped up the game when he slotted home the rebound after Tim Krul saved King's shot. The goal was initially ruled out for a King offside but eventually awarded following a video assistant referee consultation.
- Follow action and reaction from Saturday's Premier League games
- Visit the Norwich City page
- Visit the Watford page
Pressure mounting on Farke as Watford's differing approach pays off
Both of these sides were promoted last season 12 months after being relegated from the Premier League.
Farke did well to get the Canaries back up - but in the top flight, the run of defeats that includes the final 10 games of 2019-20 is now the worst losing run any manager has endured.
He defended his players from fans' criticism in a heated news conference this week but little that happened at Carrow Road in this game will appease the supporters.
The approaches from the managers were different. Watford made four changes from their last defeat, with five from Norwich.
But Watford's four new faces were all players in their 30s, with plenty of English experience - including former England goalkeeper Ben Foster.
Norwich handed debuts to Kabak and Normann and a first Premier League start to Josh Sargent.
Both sides had 12 shots - with Norwich dominating the first 15 minutes of the second half as they pushed for a third league goal of the season.
The real difference in the game was the finishing. All of Dennis and Sarr's seven combined shots were on target - whereas Pukki and Sargent did not force a save between them.
At 1-1, Pukki dragged a shot wide and Foster denied Kenny McLean and Milot Rashica.
They all missed and then Sarr scored twice - his second Premier League double after doing so against Liverpool in 2020 - and that was that.
Player of the match
FosterBen Foster
Norwich City
Avg
- Squad number8Player nameGilmourAverage rating
6.85
- Squad number22Player namePukkiAverage rating
6.16
- Squad number24Player nameSargentAverage rating
5.57
- Squad number21Player nameWilliamsAverage rating
5.54
- Squad number2Player nameAaronsAverage rating
5.48
- Squad number23Player nameMcLeanAverage rating
5.47
- Squad number5Player nameHanleyAverage rating
5.46
- Squad number17Player nameRashicaAverage rating
5.37
- Squad number16Player nameNormannAverage rating
5.37
- Squad number1Player nameKrulAverage rating
5.31
- Squad number15Player nameKabakAverage rating
5.31
- Squad number18Player nameTzolisAverage rating
4.60
- Squad number14Player nameCantwellAverage rating
4.31
- Squad number35Player nameIdahAverage rating
4.12
Watford
Avg
- Squad number1Player nameFosterAverage rating
8.64
- Squad number23Player nameSarrAverage rating
7.86
- Squad number25Player nameDennisAverage rating
7.81
- Squad number4Player nameEteboAverage rating
7.28
- Squad number8Player nameCleverleyAverage rating
7.26
- Squad number12Player nameSemaAverage rating
7.13
- Squad number7Player nameKingAverage rating
7.09
- Squad number3Player nameRoseAverage rating
7.08
- Squad number5Player nameTroost-EkongAverage rating
7.04
- Squad number21Player nameKiko FemeníaAverage rating
6.99
- Squad number33Player nameKuckaAverage rating
6.99
- Squad number15Player nameCathcartAverage rating
6.92
- Squad number2Player nameNgakiaAverage rating
6.87
- Squad number19Player nameSissokoAverage rating
6.85
Line-ups
Norwich
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Krul
- 2Aarons
- 15Kabak
- 5Hanley
- 21WilliamsBooked at 90mins
- 8Gilmour
- 16NormannSubstituted forCantwellat 70'minutes
- 23McLean
- 24SargentSubstituted forTzolisat 70'minutes
- 22Pukki
- 17RashicaSubstituted forIdahat 88'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Gibson
- 7Rupp
- 14Cantwell
- 18Tzolis
- 20Lees-Melou
- 28Gunn
- 30Giannoulis
- 35Idah
- 44Omobamidele
Watford
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Foster
- 21FemeníaSubstituted forNgakiaat 59'minutes
- 5Troost-Ekong
- 15CathcartBooked at 37mins
- 3Rose
- 33Kucka
- 19Sissoko
- 23Sarr
- 8CleverleySubstituted forEteboat 82'minutes
- 25DennisSubstituted forSemaat 73'minutes
- 7King
Substitutes
- 2Ngakia
- 4Etebo
- 6Louza
- 11Masina
- 12Sema
- 17Fletcher
- 26Bachmann
- 27Kabasele
- 29Hernández
- Referee:
- Robert Jones
- Attendance:
- 26,649
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away8
- Corners
- Home4
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Norwich City 1, Watford 3.
Booking
Brandon Williams (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Juraj Kucka (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Brandon Williams (Norwich City).
Post update
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Tim Krul.
Post update
Attempt saved. Ismaila Sarr (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Joshua King.
Post update
Foul by Juraj Kucka (Watford).
Post update
Kenny McLean (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Joshua King (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Ozan Kabak (Norwich City).
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Adam Idah replaces Milot Rashica.
Post update
Foul by Ken Sema (Watford).
Post update
Max Aarons (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jeremy Ngakia (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Juraj Kucka.
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Peter Etebo replaces Tom Cleverley.
Post update
VAR Decision: Goal Norwich City 1-3 Watford (Joshua King).
Goal!
Goal! Norwich City 1, Watford 3. Ismaila Sarr (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.Goal awarded following VAR Review.
Post update
Attempt saved. Joshua King (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tom Cleverley with a through ball.
Post update
Attempt saved. Milot Rashica (Norwich City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Max Aarons with a cross.
- Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before - here's everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment
Comments
Join the conversation
Great result from a good attacking performance, certainly no chance of playing for a point. Coach deserves credit for team selection and the way the team was set up. Still look a little vulnerable at the back will need to be better against the stronger teams.
I hope you both stay up and stick to the nay sayers.
Onwards and UPWARDS
COYH