A HAT-TRICK from Mame Biram Diouf sent the Canaries out of the Carling Cup at the second round stage as they lost 3-1 to Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

With a much changed side, the Canaries matched their Premier League opponents until Diouf scored his first from close range following a Morten Gamst Pedersen long throw - a lead they took into the break.

City remained in with a chance of taking something from the game until Diouf added his second less than 20 minutes from time, as he tapped home after an initial Declan Rudd save from Pedersen from close range. It did not take long for Diouf to claim his hat-trick however as he nodded home his third just five minutes later.

The Canaries never gave up and scored their fifth last-minute goal on the trot as Jens Berthel Askou headed home from a David Fox corner in added time, but it would only be a consolation for City.

On the Canaries' Carling Cup exit, manager Paul Lambert said: "We can still take a lot from that performance. The players that came in gave a good performance and the main thing is that we kept going.

"We forced their keeper to make a few decent saves but the ones we conceded were poor but they are a threat because of the size of them. As a manager you want the players who come in to give you a problem and the ones that came in did really well.

"We knew Blackburn were a threat from their long throws and set pieces and I thought we were in the game until they scored the first, but you can't fault our lads for effort."

Lambert made seven changes to the side that beat Swansea City at the weekend as he gave first starts of the season to Declan Rudd, Jens Berthel Askou, Matt Gill and George Francomb at Ewood Park.

HIs opposite number took a similar approach to his line-up with eight changes to the side that lost to Birmingham City in the Premier League on Saturday, but the much changed Canaries started well as they looked for an opening from the off through youngster George Francomb.

Having featured for City's Academy side against Everton on Saturday, Francomb provided the first test to the Rovers' back line as he whipped in a cross towards Grant Holt, only to just clear the striker at full stretch.

The Canaries' Premiership opponents offered little in the way of an attacking presence until ten minutes into the game, when they pushed forward for an opener.

Jens Berthel Askou first had to intercept a good cross from Amine Linganzi from the right before scrambling to block a Brett Emerton shot from a knock down from Mame Biram Diouf.

Rovers continued to pressure as Emerton tried his luck, but he was unable to beat City's England Under-19 international Declan Rudd in goal. However, Rudd was soon given a stern test by Morten Gamst Pedersen, whose stinging shot was palmed away for a corner by the Canaries' stopper.

City responded with an attack of their own, as Grant Holt connected with a free-kick from Simon Lappin with his head, only to see it saved well by Bunn in goal. But despite posing a threat going forward the Canaries were then undone by Rovers from a Pedersen long throw.

The Norwegian International's latest attempt to unsettle City's backline paid off as the ball was flicked on at the near post, leaving Diouf the easiest of chances to head home his first goal in a Blackburn shirt.

City were unable to provide an instant response, and it was Blackburn who almost doubled their lead just minutes later - Diouf denied by some last-ditch defending from the Canaries.

Controlling possession, Rovers gave little chance for City to bring a leveller, but the Canaries finished the first half the stronger as Simeon Jackson was just thwarted by Mark Bunn as he cut out a Grant Holt cross from the right.

City's pacy striker was denied again just before the break, as Jackson did well to make space and hit a superb left-footed effort towards goal only for Bunn to tip his effort wide of the near post.

The first half came to a close soon after with the Canaries behind but by no means out of it against their Premiership opponents at Ewood Park.

Half time: Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Norwich City

The second half started with goal opportunities at a premium. However, the first chance came for the Canaries, Holt unleashing a left-footed effort from 20 yards which was spilled but then collected by Bunn with no one there to tap home for City.

Rovers did little to add to their tally until the hour-mark as Chris Samba met a Pedersen cross at the near post, but despite beating his marker, the towering defender could only send his headed effort over the crossbar.

But despite looking the most likely in possession, the Canaries almost pegged Rovers back as Holt met a Fox corner at the near post, steering it towards the top corner of the net only to be denied by the outstretched Bunn in the Blackburn goal.

Holt and Hoolahan were replaced by Anthony McNamee and Oli Johnson to provide a different test to the Rovers back four and look to get City back on level terms.

Stephen Hughes was also brought on soon after in place of Russell Martin, but the wholesale changes did little to help City's cause as Blakcburn almost doubled their lead as Langanzi struck the upright with his first time effort from 20 yards.

City's reprieve lasted just seconds as Blackburn again pushed forward through Pedersen's corner, which fell to Diouf at the far post but he could only hit the crossbar from five yards out when it looked easier to score.

But now gaining momentum, Rovers and Diouf eventually secured their second of the night just three minutes later as Diouf scrambled the ball over the line after an initial save by Declan Rudd at close range from Pedersen, tapping home the rebound despite the best efforts of Askou on the line.

The Senegalese striker was soon securing his hat-trick as he once again combined with Pedersen just seven minutes from time. In acres of space on the left flank, Pedersen was allowed time and space to pick out Diouf at the far post, who nodded home past Rudd, to ultimately secure the victory for Sam Allardyce's side.

Despite being effectively out of the tie, City battled on and went in search of a consolation, and it almost came just a minute from time as Stephen Hughes was denied at close range by a superb Mark Bunn save to his right.

City would get that consolation from the resultant corner though, as Jens Berthel Askou rose above his marker to head home and give the Canaries at least a goal to take back to Carrow Road.

Full time: Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Norwich City.

CITY: Rudd, R. Martin (Hughes 71), Gill, Holt (Johnson 66), Jackson, Hoolahan (McNamee 66), Fox, Lappin, Ward, Francomb, Askou subs: Ruddy (GK) Surman, C. Martin, Smith.

ROVERS: Bunn, Jacobsen, Samba (Nzonzi 61), Givet (Olsson 80), Emerton, Grella (Jones 61), Pedersen, Linganzi, Hoilett, Chimbonda, M. Diouf subs: Fielding (GK), E. Diouf, Judge, Morris