Norwich 1-0 Sunderland: Paddy Davitt Championship ratings

• Angus Gunn              7

Big clean sheet at a big stage of the season. Tremendous reflexes to paw Abdoullah Ba’s shot against his bar as he cut along the byline. Couple of late headers to take from Nazary Rusyn that tested his positional ability. Secure to pouch a rising Pierre Ekwah shot in the 13th minute.

• Jack Stacey                7

More evidence of that early season return to his best seam of form referenced recently by Wagner. Whipped in the cross only partially cleared by Luke O’Nien for Sargent to take aim, but strike Jenson Seelt in his penalty box.

Perfectly-timed sliding interception in the skiddy conditions halted a Sunderland counter and released Christian Fassnacht. Incensed he was not awarded a corner, after a coming together with his marker following a flowing City move down the left involving Dimi Giannoulis, Gabby Sara, Borja Sainz and Ashley Barnes.

Cross on the run early in the second half saw Barnes head wide at the near post. Drifting cross in the 49th minute deceived Anthony Patterson but cannoned off the top of his bar. Needed to ease off the throttle with a left-footed shot from Sara’s back heel that lacked direction.

Fired into the side netting after collecting Sainz’s threaded pass from Sara’s turnover.

• Grant Hanley            6

Still looks like a player on the comeback trail after a long term lay-off. Rolled by Trai Hume but used his experience to make sure the midfielder did not get a shot away. Aimless ball infield just outside his own box late on, but Ekwah and Jobe Bellingham failed to test Angus Gunn.

• Ben Gibson                 7

Whipped in the cross Sargent headed down, and then set himself to lash past Patterson. Combined with Sargent again 10 minutes earlier for Sainz’s right-footed first time effort at Patterson. Harried towards his own goal by Ekwah early on, but got back to stop Romaine Mundle at the expense of a corner.  

• Dimi Giannoulis      7

Conjured two superb crossfield deliveries in the final quarter, the first one caught Sunderland’s backline napping but Sargent slashed off-target from the angle of the six yard box. Then a tremendous dipping cross on the run from Kenny McLean’s set that had no takers.

Caught a volley flush on his left from a corner in the 15th minute but the ball flew wide. Hared away from a delightful outside of his foot pass from Sara in the 41st minute to link with Sainz and Barnes, but Sargent was adjudged to have strayed offside. Up in support to recycle Stacey’s cross against the bar for Barnes’ snapshot.

• Kenny McLean       6

Wagner gave chapter and verse after the game on his ‘braveheart’ who had not trained since waking up with stiffness in his back on Thursday morning. Intensive treatment right up to the morning of the game enabled McLean to feature.

Booked for hauling down Mundle that led to a free kick Ekwah fired over. Levered off the ball by Bellingham as he sought to relieve some early pressure.

• Gabby Sara               7

No goal contributions to his growing tally on this occasion but some classy flourishes. First-time cushioned roll released Giannoulis to raid forward. Then a sublime clip with the outside of his boot for the Greek, in a chance that ended with Sargent ruled offside.

Checked onto his left in the 54th minute but Patterson parried. Clever back heel released Stacey, but his shot lacked composure. Halted a Sunderland counter in the 86th minute for Sainz to roll in the attacking full-back.

• Christian Fassnacht             6

Disciplined out of possession before making way late on for Liam Gibbs. Earned the first home corner, and some favourable signs of a growing understanding with Stacey.  

• Ashley Barnes          ­­                6

Best shot smothered at close range after following up Stacey’s initial cross against the bar. Near post header from the full-back was wide after the restart. Released Sargent in the 18th minute from Sainz’s initial ricochet. Couple of sharp link ups for promising moves that ended with a Stacey burst and Sargent shot.

• Borja Sainz                 6

Piledriver tipped over by Patterson in the first half but the referee had blown for a foul by a team mate at the initial corner. Right foot shot from just inside the area went straight to Patterson in the second half, as his hands went to his head in frustration.

Picked the right timing on his roll for Stacey to get the wrong side of the Sunderland left-back but the raiding full back slammed his shot into the side netting.

• Josh Sargent                      8

Grabbed a game seemingly meandering to a stalemate and shook it back in Norwich’s favour to clinch a priceless three points.

Header from Gibson’s cross brought the ball into play, but his instant flick took it out of the reach of Leo Hjelde to open up the shooting chance before he swivelled to a crash a half-volley from close range past Patterson.

Denied by Seelt when his rising shot struck the defender and flew over in the best home chance of the first half. Lack of composure when he gathered Giannoulis’ cross but dragged well wide of the far post. Teed up Sainz for another big chance.

Subs

• Sydney van Hooijdonk (for Barnes, 61)      6

Longer shift that previously enjoyed since his loan move. Found himself in his own defensive third, and unable to hold up Ba, but Gunn came to the rescue.