Rowe pivotal as U23s show class against Forest

The Canaries began the game perfectly, scoring straight from kick-off when Liam Gibbs tucked the ball past the Forest defence, Jonathan Rowe dropping his shoulder and poking the ball past Nicky Hogarth for 1-0.

Giving the visitors no chance to get a foothold in the game, City doubled their lead in the second minute when Rowe collected Jon McCracken's long ball forward, before taking on his man and putting it on a plate for Abu Kamara at the far post to tap in.

The away side had their first chance of the game when Will Swan cushioned a shot wide of the post, before Norwich made it 3-0 as Rocky Bushiri split the midfield with a pass forward for Kamara.

He spotted Rowe in plenty of space, who timed his run well and shifted the ball onto his right foot before finding the bottom right corner precisely.

City were in cruise control throughout the first half, getting their next chance in the 38th minute, when Todd Cantwell crossed for Tom Dickson-Peters to shoot high and wide on the volley.

Forest then responded with a corner at the other end, Ateef Konate finding Sam Sanders to pull one back.

Konate then looked dangerous moments later, cutting onto his right foot and forcing a good save from McCracken on the brink of half-time.

Forest had a decent chance at the start of the second half as Jayden Richardson found Julian Larsson in a dangerous position, but the latter smashed the ball wide of the post.

Gibbs found himself in time and space at the other end when Kamara laid the ball off for him, but the former shot straight at Hogarth.

The visitors had much more of the ball at the start of the second half, going close from a Larsson corner which Swan hit on the volley, but McCracken quickly jumped to his right to make a flying save for the cameras.

But they did beat McCracken with their next attempt, Tyrese Fornah accurately sending a free-kick onto the inside of the post and into the back of the net.

Rowe curled over the bar at the other end as he looked to get his hat-trick, before Kamara won a free-kick on the edge of the area, which Dickson-Peters shot into the wall.

Norwich increased their lead again in the 76th minute as Tony Springett, on as a substitute in the 73rd, made an instant impact when he cooly dispatched into the bottom left corner, Dickson-Peters getting the assist.

Richardson then shot wide of the near post at the other end before Norwich cruised to all three points.

Norwich City: McCracken, Mumba, Bushiri (C) (Giurgi 84'), Warner, Stewart (Springett 73'), Khumbeni (Earley 73'), Gibbs, Rowe, Cantwell, Dickson-Peters, Kamara

Subs not used: Berry, Hutchinson

Goals: Rowe (1', 13'), Kamara (2'), Springett (76')

Bookings: Warner (20'), Rowe (53'), Kamara (83'), Gibbs (90+2')

Nottingham Forest: Hogarth, Richardson, Donnelly, Fornah (C), Fernandes, Sanders, Gibson-Hammond, Hammond, Swan, Konate, Larsson

Subs not used: Akers, Rama, Barnes, Fewster, Salman

Goals: Sanders (40'), Fornah (65')

Bookings: Hammond (50'), Richardson (53')

HT: 3-1

Venue: Carrow Road