FULL TIME here at Carrow Road as City succumb to a 3-2 defeat against Watford in their opening Championship fixture, despite an improved second-half performance.

90+2 - Wes Hoolahan is denied a late free-kick on the edge of the area by the referee.

Four minutes of added time.

90th - GOAL: Michael Nelson gives the Canaries late hope as he turns home a low Andrew Crofts cross with only injury time remaining.

89th - Troy Deeney is given too much time to get a shot in at Ruddy's goal, but the City stopper saves with ease.

88th - A Chris Martin effort is deflected for a corner, but Watford clear their lines.

87th - Former Watford man Anthony McNamee comes on to replace Andrew Surman for the Canaries.

81st - GOAL:  Sucker punch for City as Watford increase their lead to two. Whilst City were caught out awaiting the referee's whistle for a series of tackles in the midfield, the Hornets pick out Danny Graham on the edge of the area whose effort takes a slight deflection off Russell Martin before nestling in the back of the net.

80th - Wes again does well to create some space and whips in a ball towards Holt, who used his strength to shrug off his marker before heading his effort wide.

77th - A brilliant series of passing almost threads through Chris Martin on the six yard line, only to be thwarted by a last ditch tackle by Martin Taylor.

73rd - With just one goal needed to take something from the game Grant Holt instantly tries to get involved. Whilst Malky Mackay is given a stern talking to by the referee.

72nd - Grant Holt strips off to replace Simeon Jackson.

69th - David Fox hits a shot from twenty yards, but is well saved by Loach.

66th - A series of breaks in play halt City's momentum as several minutes of injury time are clocked up for treatment to players.

59th - Watford substitutions: Marvin Sordell, Will Buckley off - Ross Jenkins, Troy Deeney on

58th - Watford miss a sitter to increase their lead. Ruddy fails to clear with an inswinging Danny Graham cross from the right, spilling the ball to Mariappa less than six yards out, but with the goal at his mercy he could only steer the ball wide.

Today's attendance is 24,348.

55th - City building up a head of steam now as Chris Martin and Jackson combine up front, only to see Jackson's first time volley blocked.

51st-  GOAL: City find a way back into the match as some superb build-up play sees Simeon Jackson back-heel the ball back to Andrew Crofts on the edge of the area. In space Crofts hits a rasping first-time shot beating the outstretched Scott Loach and reducing the deficit.

50th - Plenty of endeavour from the Canaries, but lacking that cutting edge they fail to test Hornets stopper Loach. Danny Graham responds with an effort high and wide.

No changes for the second half as Watford get the second period underway.

Half time - The referee sounds for the interval ending a tough first forty-five minutes back in the Championship for the Canaries. However, thanks to John Ruddy's superb save from Will Buckley, the Canaries remain in with a shout if they can score early in the second half.

44th -  Good build up play sends Russell Martin down the right flank, who produces a superb in swinging cross towards Chris Martin in the area, but slightly put off by strike partner Jackson, could only head his effort wide.

41st- City starting to build up a slight head of steam as a Chris Martin flick on sets up Jackson for a shot in the area, but he can only hit the side netting with his effort.

40th - Brilliant play by Crofts and Hoolahan to break up the play in midfield, bet Wes fails to pick out the on running Chris Martin.

37th - Great ball by David Fox  over the top towards the on running Jackson, but is quickly cut out by Loach.

35th - Wes Hoolahan tries to make something happen upfront, but his in-swinging cross from the right evades Surman at the far post.

33rd -  Surman gives a free-kick away twenty yards out allowing Graham to shoot, but the striker failed to double his tally as the ball flew over the bar.

30th - City find themselves in a bit of a mess with half an hour gone as Watford almost increase their lead. Sordell again caused the City back four problems as he skipped in behind City's defence, squaring the ball to Will Buckley who turned and shot only for John Ruddy to make an excellent save to his right.

23rd - GOAL: Watford hit the Canaries on the counter-attack as nineteen year old Marvin Sordell flicks the ball through to Danny Graham who finishes well past John Ruddy, doubling the away side's advantage.

23rd - City working hard to find a way back into the match but nothing is yet to stick with Jackson and Martin up front.

20th - Foul on Jackson by Doyley brings a promising free-kick from twenty-five yards. Chris Martin's first attempt  is blocked by the premature Don Cowie in the Hornets wall who earns a booking for his troubles. Surman steps up to take the next effort, curling it round the wall, looking destined for the net only for Scott Loach to palm clear.

14th - GOAL: Watford take the lead as Will Buckley hits a corner to the far post towards the imposing John Eustace, who is allowed too much time by Andrew Crofts as he fails to clear, allowing him to guide the ball into the back of the net. 

13th - Excellent intervention by Russell Martin who cuts out a Mariappa cross with two at the far post.

11th - Danny Graham hits a tame effort for the Hornets as Elliott Ward fails to clear his lines. Despite that slight error, the centre back has made an impressive start to his debut by cutting out a lot of Watford's early play.

9th - City piling on the pressure at the Norwich & Peterborough end but Watford scramble clear.

6th - Norwich come close to taking the lead as Russell Martin finds Chris Martin at the back post, nodding the ball down to Simeon Jackson who can only tamely shoot into Watford stopper Scott Loach's hands.

4th -  Watford have the first shot of the game as John Eustace sends the ball high into the stands.

After a pre-match huddle, the match gets underway.

Team News

PAUL Lambert has named Chris Martin and Simeon Jackson as his first choice strikeforce for the Canaries first npower Championship fixture of the season against Watford.

New signings Elliott Ward, David Fox, Andrew Crofts and John Ruddy are also included in an unchanged starting line-up from City's final pre-season game against Everton last weekend.

Grant Holt is named on the bench having only managed twenty minutes against the Evertionians following a thigh injury, whilst Declan Rudd has returned from international duty with the England Under-19's to take his place alongside him in the dugout.

For Watford, former City favourite Malky Mackay has chosen Danny Graham to lead the Hornets attack, with Don Cowie and Will Buckley tasked to provide for the imposing striker.

City: Ruddy, Martin, Drury, Nelson (C), Crofts, Jackson (Holt 72), Hoolahan, Surman (McNamee 87), Fox, Martin, Ward. Subs: Rudd, Smith, Lappin, Johnson, Askou.

Watford: Loach, Hodson, Eustace (C), Taylor, Mariappa, Cowie, Graham, Buckley (Jenkins 59), Doyley, McGinn, Sordell (Deeney 59). Subs: Gilmartin, Bryan, Henderson, Mingoia, Oshodi.