A PENALTY in the opening minutes of the second-half followed by a late Leon McKenzie goal gave Coventry three points in a game dominated by the Canaries.

Northern Irish midfielder Sammy Clingan was adjudged to have brought down Guillaume Beuzelin and Elliott Ward slammed home the spot-kick just after the break - followed by a tap-in for former Canary striker McKenzie in the closing stages..

The Championship opener saw six league debuts for Glenn Roeder's Summer signings in the form of Kennedy, Stefanovic, Clingan, Hoolahan, Lupoli and Omosuzi. New boy Omar Koroma made it to the bench and was joined by Adam Drury, his first involvement for the first team since October last year. 

The opening 45 minutes was fought out mainly in the midfield but it was City who looked the more threatening with chances for Lupoli, Cureton and Clingan the closest of the half.  

Elliott Ward gives the Sky Blues
the lead from the penalty spot

Just two minutes into the second-half the home side took the lead from the penalty spot after Clingan was adjudged to have brought down Beuzelin. Elliot Ward stepped up and fired the ball past the diving Marshall. City were unlucky not to get a penalty at the other end just minutes later when it appeared that Wright had handled to deny Lupoli but the referee waved play on.

OJ Koroma came on to make his City debut in the 63rd minute replacing Arturo Lupoli and came close to levelling the game within minutes when he went one-on-one with Westwood, forcing the 'keeper to make a great save to keep his side in the lead. The Canaries continued to dominate with both Clingan and Croft coming close to bringing the game level.

Debutant Lupoli skips away from
Sky Blues captain Dann

With six minutes remaining former City Striker Leon McKenzie doubled the home side's lead with a close range effort after a cross from Morrison came back off the bar and fell nicely for the 30 year-old giving the Sky Blues maximum points.

Norwich City: Marshall, Shackell, Kennedy, Stefanovic, Croft, Clingan (Russell 80), Cureton, Hoolahan, Fotheringham (C), Lupoli (Koroma 63), Omozusi. Subs not used: Drury, Pattison, Nelson. 

Attendance: 22,607