CITY boss Paul Lambert rang the changes at Carrow Road and the Canaries responded with a thumping 5-2 win over Wycombe Wanderers.
Lambert told First News: "We got the win which was most important. I think we had to for the Club's sake, I think we had to get a bit of freshness about it, we threw a couple of young lads to give us a bit of legs, in modern day football I think you need a bit of pace in your team. The young lads came in to the group, along with some experienced ones that helped pull them along."
With Gary Doherty dropped to the bench striker Grant Holt was handed the captain's armband and started and finished the scoring with a goal in either half. In between there were goals for youngster Korey Smith, Jon Otsemobor and Jens Berthel Askou, atoning for his error which gifted Wycombe their first strike.
Lambert commented: "The goals conceded were sloppy, no doubt about it, we have to work on it. All credit to Jens who made the mistake for their first goal but the fourth header was a decent goal for us.
"I was pleased for both the players and the fans. At this Club you owe them something to get them going and I think they responded brilliantly to each other, which had to happen for the Club to get the momentum going, so I'm delighted for the fans,"
City took command as Grant Holt turned home Simon Lappin's free-kick from the left to open the scoring and his league account for the Canaries after 16 minutes.
Ten minutes later the ball fell to youngster Korey Smith from a corner - and from fully 25 yards out he unleashed a piledriver that flew past Wanderers 'keeper Scott Shearer and nestled in the bottom corner.
The Canaries surged into a 3-0 lead in the 35th minute when Holt nodded Paul McVeigh's corner back into the danger area and Jon Otsemobor scored with a well-placed looping header in off the post.
But Norwich gifted Wycombe a soft goal before half-time as Jens Berthel Askou misjudged the bounce of a long punt into the box, allowing Jon-Paul Pittman to nip in and roll the ball past Ben Alnwick.
City's nerves were further tested when Wycombe stunned them with a second goal within a minute of the second half getting underway, Matt Harold firing home after defensive hesitancy.
But the ship was steadied within two minutes when the excellent Simon Lappin won and then took a free-kick on the left, which Askou powered into the back of the net with a superb header from eight yards, his second league goal for City.
And Grant Holt restored City's three-goal lead when he chipped calmly over Shearer after substitute Cody McDonald had set him up with a clever pass on the edge of the area.
90+4: There goes the full-time whistle, Jon Moss blows for time and brings an end to Paul Lambert's debut game in charge of City. Man of the match awarded to Grant Holt. An absorbing game at Carrow Road, two matches here this season have seen 15 goals scored - want more? Then Sunderland are in town on Monday night in the second round of the Carling Cup - please note we can not promise goals!
90+3: Askou still alert to turn away a cross from the left and again to cover round - will be disappointed with Wycombe's first goal but a solid all-round performance and another goal for the Dane, his second headed goal in City colours in four matches.
90+1: "
90th: Four minutes of time to be added on here at Carrow Road.
89th: Another chance goes begging for the big man's hat-trick. Drury with a fantastic delivery from the left, found by Hoolahan, the left-backs low cross found Holt coming in back-post but it bounces just in front of him and his side-foot effort goes up and over the bar. Doesn't look like he's going to get his home hat-trick this afternoon.
86th: The defender seems okay after a quick inspection and a lie down, as City look to mount another attack. Holt again showing great strength to turn his man inside the Wycombe half. Hoolahan makes a great run on the left in behind but the ball is just delayed in being played and the sub strays offside.
85th: We'll pause for a moment while the physios come on following a clash of heads, Michael Spillane looks to have come off the worse in the collision.
84th: Sub Phillips with a lollipop and a surge down the left-flank past Otsemobor, then has the presence of mind to cut the ball back for Pittman, who had peeled off but his shot was blocked.
79th: Holt close to his second City hat-trick in four games. Plays a one-two with Hoolahan just outside the area, turns Woodman inside-out, driving into the box but Shearer saves with his legs having gone the wrong way.
76th: "A manager who understands that the best form of defence is attack?" - jigs69
75th: "
74th: Leaving the pitch to a standing ovation is Academy product and goalscorer Korey Smith, to be replaced by Wes Hoolahan. Lappin moves into central midfield to partner Tom Adeyemi and Hoolahan comes to the left-hand side of midfield.
71st: Grant Holt with City's fifth of the afternoon. Created by McDonald, the striker held the ball up and three defenders migrated towards him, he waited, slipped the ball to his left where Holt had caught up and gave the striker a one-on-one with Shearer. The Horse kept his cool, waited for the 'keeper to make his move and then casually slipped it into the far corner.
70th: Bullish strength from Korey Smith over on the right touchline, brings a CIty throw-in and a warm applause from the City fans. Thanks for Joe for last half hour of action and I'm straight back in with a goal!
68th: Central defender Leon Johnson is in the book for a cynical body check on Cody McDonald, who pushed the ball past him and had the beaten of the defender for pace. Not exactly what a tiring defence want when 4-2 down away from home, a young pacy striker thrown on.
67th: Peter Taylor responds with a change of his own, former Ipswich man Ian Westlake was prepared to come on. but it is Matt Phillips on to replace Lewis Montrose in midfield for the visitors.
66th: "Let's see how Lambert deals with substitutes . . . Looks like he knows what he's doing in that department too. Cody on. A manager who makes changes when we're winning to try and change the game with fresh legs. A first in 12 years!" - jigs69
62nd: Paul Lambert is preparing to make a double substitution - on comes Cody McDonald for Cureton and Tom Adeyemi comes on for Hughes.
60th: Westwood's shot is comfortably saved low down by Alnwick.
56th: Adam Drury wins a corner on the left - McVeigh takes it and only a desperate last-ditch header away by Wycombe stops Otsemobor getting on the end of it six yards out.
54th: Holt picks out Lappin with a lovely cross-field ball and the midfielder looks up and floats a delightful chip goalwards which Shearer palms over at full stretch. Great improvisation by the Scot there, he is having an excellent game.
51st: The official attendance today is 23,428.
50th: Montrose shoots from the edge of the area and the ball balloons up off a City defender on to the roof of the net.
48th: GOAL!!! Good work from Simon Lappin earns a free-kick near the Snakepit corner flag. Lappin sweeps it in and it's met with a bullet header from Askou, giving Shearer no chance. The perfect response from City - and from Askou to his first-half mistake.
46th: No changes by either side at half-time as the visitors get us underway...and within a minute disaster as Wycombe score to make it 3-2. Zebroski wins a big header in the box and Spillane can't stop Matt Harrold from turning and firing home from 14 yards.
Half-time: Slow handclaps all round as Wycombe take an age to emerge from the dressing rooms for the second half.
45th: There goes the half-time whistle - and though to concede was disappointing, there's a marked contrast to our last home match when at this stage we found ourselves 5-0 down against Paul Lambert's Colchester. Not over yet - you get a feeling the next goal could be crucial to the outcome of this match - but City certainly deserved their 3-1 lead.
45th: Jamie Cureton tries his luck with an audacious attempt to chip Shearer from 35 yards, but the ball flies over the angle of post and bar.
44th: A crunching block from Otsemobor leaves goalscorer Pittman writhing on the pitch in front of a slightly unsympathetic Snakepit....the fourth official announces three minutes of time added on.
38th: Goal for Wycombe totally against the run of play. A long punt upfield is totally misjudged by Askou who misses his header, allowing Jon-Paul Pittman to get in behind and roll the ball past the helpless Ben Alnwick from close range.
37th: For the second time in the match only a fine save low down by his post from Wycombe 'keeper Shearer keeps out a clever free-kick from Lappin.
36th: "Good point Chris time will tell and we'll know in the next 5 or 6 matches I suppose" - briang0604
36th: "Is this the new manager effect or Lambert effect?" - chrisalmera
35th: Cureton battles well to force a City corner. McVeigh takes....GOAL! Holt nods McVeigh's kick back into the danger area and Jon Otsemobor's superbly-placed header from ten yards loops off the post and across the goal and in. 3-0.
31st: Joe Ferrari taking over from Mr Payne until half-time. Cureton skilfully cuts the ball back from the byline and Holt is a whisker away from turning it home as he slides in six yards out, but just fails to connect. Good football.
29th: "
25th: Otsemobor and McVeigh combining down the right, with a rather simple give, run beyond and run, forces City a corner. McVeigh's corner from the right is half-cleared and there standing and waiting is Korey Smith to rifle in a right-footed shot from 25 yards, like an arrow beyond the rooted Shearer. City two up and good value for it too. Smith's first senior goal for City and what a goal, well worth trying to catch.
FIRST SENIOR GOAL: Academy product Korey Smith puts City two goals ahead
22nd: Referee allows an advantage but then calls it back when one doesn't materialise. The blonde-haired Stephen Hughes standing over the set-piece but it is Simon Lappin who has a go for goal, about 25 yards out, curled left-footed looking for the bottom corner but Shearer is down to palm away.
21st: Confidence flowing, Holt strong again to shrug of his marker, turn and look to shot from 25 yards, similar to against Yeovil, but his shot is blocked.
20th: More pressure from City, goalkeeper Scott Shearer can only palm a cross away, but City can't work an opening around the edge of the box.
19th: "GOOOOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. Nice one Holt.
16th: McVeigh almost doubles the lead. Holt working the channels, down the left, crosses, Cureton flicks it on, Woodman can't cut it out and McVeigh is on the edge of the area to receive the flick but just puts his low shot the wrong side of the far post. City have their tails up though.
15th: Grant Holt gives City the lead at Carrow Road! Simon Lappin delivers a free-kick from the left and Holt is big and strong enough to hold off his man and throw himself at the ball on the six-yard box, to stab City ahead.
15th: "
14th: "
13th: Cureton with a sight of goal, Holt slipped him in but good defending from the vastly experienced captain Michael Duberry.
11th: New boss Paul Lambert was introduced to the crowd just before kick-off to a rousing reception by the City fans here this afternoon. For the record, on his opening day he has gone for the tracksuit rather than the suit. He is an animated character down on the touchline, pacing around.
10th: "
9th: Free-kick to Wycombe on the right touchline, taken by left-back Craig Woodman, inswinging, headed back by Matt Harrold but strong defensive header allows City to clear.
7th: "3 academy players start (included Curo) and 3 on the bench, very positive for Paul Lambert!!!" - davidsutchylee - I make it four on the bench David - Rudd, Martin, Adeyemi and Daley.
6th: "
5th: Spillane concedes a corner. Stuart Green to take right-footed from the left. City clear the danger through McVeigh.
3rd: Free-kick to City, which Hughes takes but headed away on the edge of the area, the balls falls to Lappin who strikes an effort that appears to hit an arm but no says referee Moss, the Scotsman dives in to win the loose ball and concedes a free-kick.
1st: Early attacking throw-in for City on the left.
City kick-off attacking the Norwich and Peterborough Stand first half.
14.58 - The players are out and undertaking the obligatory handshakes and here comes the first roaring rendition of On The Ball City of the afternoon.
14.50 - A completely new midfield line-up, Owain Tudur Jones, Matt Gill and Simon Whaley are not among the subs after starting on Tuesday night. Wes Hoolahan drops to the bench and is joined by youngsters Tom Adeyemi and Luke Daley - who can also play up front. Attacking options with Hoolahan, Daley, Chris Martin and Cody McDonald on the bench. Gary Doherty dropped to the bench, no place in the 18 for Michael Nelson, signed in the summer from Hartlepool. Declan Rudd takes Michael Theoklitos' place on the bench as well, so all change for City. A bright sunny afternoon at Carrow Road at present, the sprinkles are on, giving the pitch a final water, about ten minutes away from kick-off, on what feels like the first day of the season.
14.47 - "
14.46 - "Big changes for todays game - the Doc dropped & Spillaine come in for him (not sure about that one) Hoolahan dropped again not sure about that. plus no whaley even on the bench. All I can say is interesting line up!!" - pl_norw892
Team News from Carrow Road where new boss Paul Lambert makes six changes to the starting line-up. Jon Otsemobor returns at right-back with Michael Spillane moving inside to centre-back replacing Gary Doherty, who drops to the bench. Four changes in midfield, in come Stephen Hughes, Korey Smith, Paul McVeigh and Simon Lappin. Jamie Cureton starts in place of Cody McDonald. First City starts for Hughes and McVeigh - since his return - and first starts of the season for Smith, McVeigh, Lappin and Cureton.
CITY: Alnwick, Otsemobor, Drury, Hughes (Adeyemi 62), Holt (c), Cureton (McDonald 62), Spillane, McVeigh, Lappin, Smith (Hoolahan 74), Askou. Subs not used: Rudd (GK), Doherty, Martin, Daley.
Wycombe: Shearer, Woodman, Johnson, Duberry (c), Harrold, Zebroski, Green, Pittman, Montrose (Phillips 66), Mousino, Westwood. Subs not used: Young (GK), Oliver, Westlake, Beavon, Chambers, Smith.
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