Canaries down Bolton
Andrew Surman (centre)
Second-half goals from Andrew Surman and Anthony Pilkington ensured Norwich ended a nervy afternoon with a 2-0 win over Barclays Premier League strugglers Bolton at Carrow Road.
The Canaries dominated the first half and should have been well ahead by half-time, but their profligacy, and the Bolton woodwork, left them frustrated.
The game looked set to peter out into a dull goalless draw until Pilkington volleyed home in the 70th minute and Surman wrapped up the win just before the end with an instinctive finish after Adam Bogdan had parried Russell Martin's drive.
Zak Whitbread headed David Fox's cross wide before Grant Holt drew goalkeeper Adam Bogdan into his first save with a tame volley after Simeon Jackson and Pilkington combined well down the right.
Daniel Ayala's crunching tackle to deny Chris Eagles at the other end won him the applause of the home support, but it came at a price as he hobbled off and was replaced by Russell Martin.
The hosts' best move of the first half came in the 24th minute when Wes Hoolahan played in Holt and he squared to Surman, but his shot struck the crossbar and rebounded to safety.
Bolton came close just before the break through a deflected Martin Petrov drive but Norwich should have been ahead two minutes after half-time when Adam Drury found Holt unmarked at the back post - but he headed well wide.
Jackson missed another two chances and it appeared the home side were not going to get their breakthrough despite their dominance.
However, after David Ngog and substitute Kevin Davies had threatened for the visitors, Surman scored at the second attempt - volleying past Bogdan after his initial effort had rebounded back to him off David Wheater.
And five minutes from time the Canaries wrapped up the points when Martin's shot rebounded into the path of Pilkington and the former Huddersfield player drilled home from eight yards.
Press Association
