Wolves were dumped out of the FA Cup, in their first game since Adama Traore’s loan departure to Barcelona – as Norwich triumphed with a goal made in Scotland.
Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour teed up fellow national team player Kenny McLean and he headed in to keep up Norwich’s recent upturn.
Europe-chasing Wolves’ relatively small squad was put to the test here and, despite them fielding a strong side, Norwich kept them quiet for long periods.
It was an underwhelming transfer window at Wolves, as game-changing winger Traore exited, with their signings being ones of potential rather than proven credentials – and they lost to a team that made four changes.
Traore’s absence leaves Wolves short of wing options and Francisco Trincao’s absence here after a positive Covid test did not help in that department, as Bruno Lage – their head coach – admitted later.
With the lack of threat from out wide, Wolves suffered.
McLean’s goal came late in the first half and meant that Norwich enjoyed a third consecutive win, as they again benefited from a healthier-looking squad after past problems.
Dean Smith’s relegation-battling team arrived here on a high, having won successive league games against fellow strugglers Everton and Watford – swiftly followed by the sackings of Rafael Benitez and Claudio Ranieri from the defeated clubs.
Lage, who had just won manager of the month, does not have such deep problems but admitted he was “upset” at half-time – and his mood was not much better after the game.
Lage added: “The most important thing now is to not find excuses and to find the best solutions in our squad.”
Both clubs had key strikers, Raul Jimenez and Teemu Pukki respectively, on the bench initially then brought on midway through the second half.
Wolves’ captain Conor Coady made his 300th appearance for the club and the England defender geed up his team-mates before kick-off – but they lacked the same passion on the pitch.
An early warning was sent to Wolves when John Ruddy, stepping in as their goalkeeper against his former club, had to thwart an excellent Adam Idah chance.
Lage animatedly showed his frustrations towards the end of the first half – but his players were not showing the same liveliness, without a shot on target in the first half despite 65 per cent possession.
Norwich struck when Gilmour floated across a free-kick from the left flank and McLean guided his free header from eight yards, looping, beyond Ruddy.
Wolves looked better in the second half, with Daniel Podence’s 16-yard effort striking a post, but Lage could not repair the situation – despite bringing on debutant Chiquinho. “There’s a sturdiness to our team,” Smith reflected.
Match details
Wolves (3-5-2): Ruddy; Kilman, Coady, Gomes (Jimenez 64,); Semedo, Dendoncker (Chiquinho 74), Neves, Moutinho , Ait-Nouri; Silva, Podence. Subs: Sa (gk), Hoever, Marcal, Cundle, Campbell.
Booked: Neves.
Norwich (4-3-3): McGovern; Byram, Gibson, Hanley, Williams; Lees-Melou, Gilmour (Dowell 72), McLean (Normann 66); Placheta , Idah (Pukki 66), Rashica (Rowe 82). Subs: Gunn (gk), Aarons, Tzolis, Giannoulis.
Booked: McGovern, Hanley, Williams, Lees-Melou, McLean, Normann.
Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire).
Attendance: 30,736.
