THE ACADEMY team returned from Birmingham with three points after Luke Daley scored an injury-time winner in the 93rd minute for the Canaries.

With players back from injury and international duty, the youth team saw changes from the line-up featured at last week's game against Watford - Danny Kelly started up front, partnering Renton and Luke Daley went into right midfield. The game also saw Korey Smith take up a right-back position due to his impressive performance in the reserve game during the week.

Canaries took a shot straight from kick-off with great initiative from Chris Renton but this was safely caught by the Birmingham 'keeper. But it was the hosts who took control during the opening stages of the game with some crisp passing and interchanges from their midfield players, causing the Canaries to chase the ball while Birmingham retained good possession.

Birmingham's early pressure enabled them to grow in confidence, finding themselves in two one-on-one situations with Declan Rudd, but the City stopper stood up to the challenge and produced two excellent saves.

After 30 minutes, the visiting Canaries got a grip in midfield with Damon Lathrope and the rest of the midfield going higher and tighter, denying Birmingham time and space. With City now on the front foot, they took the lead when Danny Kelly closed down the Birmingham centre half and won possession of the ball. He then showed great skill and strength to create a one-on-one and coolly slot the ball into the far corner, giving City a 1-0 lead. This gave the Canaries a great lift and for the remainder of the half they had some good passing moves and created some good chances.

The second half started similarly to the first 45 minutes, with the home side looking to reduce the deficit and within two minutes Dario Dumic was cautioned for a handball offence midway in the Canaries' half. The resulting free kick saw Birmingham find themselves level after a header from just outside the six-yard box, with Rudd helpless. The Canaries responded quickly and after 50 minutes Renton found himself with a great opportunity but was denied by Birmingham 's defence. Within five minutes a further two chances came for Daley and Kelly to restore the Canaries' lead but they were once again denied.

Just after the hour, Richard Brindley then came on for an eventful 15 minutes and was soon cautioned for fouling the Birmingham wide player. After 78 minutes, Brindley again fouled his wide player, which the referee deemed worthy of his second caution. The Canaries now found themselves down to ten men with just under 15 minutes to play. The Academy manager reshuffled the side, with Tom Adeyemi slotting back into the left-back position and Tyree Clarke sent on to replace Renton to play in a wide left position for the Canaries to see out the last 15 minutes in a 4-4-1 formation.

With all credit to the young Canaries, Birmingham did not create a clear-cut chance again due to City's defence and midfield showing good organisation. On two occasions the Canaries' counter-attacks were halted with Birmingham giving away free kicks in and around the box. It was the second incident which proved to be vital as from this resulting free kick, Damien Lathrope floated the ball into the box and the physical presence of Dario Dumic was enough to unsettle the Birmingham defence. He flicked the ball around the corner and it was Luke Daley who was on hand to superbly drill the ball home the winning goal from 15 yards out.

Academy Manager, Ricky Martin told canaries.co.uk after the game: "I'm absolutely delighted with today's end result and felt up until the sending off, it was a very closely-contested game. As I've already said this season, it's obvious that the Academy team are a very talented group and their resilience and determination doesn't surprise me. This win certainly makes the four-hour trip home more enjoyable knowing we've got three points in the bag."

Norwich City: Rudd, Smith, Cooper (Brindley 63), Omorgie, Dumic, Stephens, Daley, Lathrope, Renton (Clarke 80), Kelly, Adeyemi. Subs not used: Steer, Reeves.