Gibbs and Sara goals get Canaries win at Rovers

Norwich City came away from Ewood Park with a 2-0 win thanks to stunning goals from Liam Gibbs and Gabriel Sara.

Norwich City came away from Ewood Park with a 2-0 win thanks to stunning goals from Liam Gibbs and Gabriel Sara.

Norwich hit one in each half in an excellent performance that saw Gibbs score his first goal for the club.

It's an important result for the Canaries' play-off hopes with Blackburn ahead of them in one of the coveted spots between third and sixth.

Onel Hernández made a lively start on his return from injury, picking up a loose ball before driving at the Rovers defence. However, his shot trickled wide of the post.

Gibbs then provided the opening goal, latching on to Jacob Sørensen through ball before winning the race and unleashing a cracking shot to the top corner.

The home side looked to turn the pressure up on Norwich, Joe Rankin-Costello's run in behind almost creating an opportunity but Angus Gunn was alive to the danger.

As was Grant Hanley when a corner headed back across goal looked certain to be met by Sam Gallagher.

At the other end, Max Aarons hit the post with an effort from long range as the Canaries tried to extend their advantage.

Late in the half, skipper Hanley had to be stretchered off injured but, aside from that blow, it had been a good 45 minutes for Wagner's men.

After the break, the hosts came out with renewed vigour and looked to press higher up on City.

It had created some half-chances, none of any real danger before Sara then scored against the run of play.

The Brazilian midfielder linked up well with Onel on the left before picking out the top corner.

Not long after, City suffered a second injury blow with Ben Gibson having to head down the tunnel.

Despite applying all the pressure, Rovers were still struggling to create opportunities. A scrappy set-piece falling to Gallagher was somehow taken off his toe by Gunn with 10 minutes remaining.

A last-ditch tackle and another stop by Gunn in the final five minutes made you think it was Norwich's day.

Teemu Pukki and Adam Idah would have chances to put it fully beyond doubt but failed to hit the net.

Late scares were well dealt with by Sam McCallum and Andrew Omobamidele as the clean sheet was secured.

It now leaves Norwich one point outside the play-off spots ahead of Monday's meeting with Rotherham United.

Blackburn Rovers: Pears, Rankin-Costello (Brittain 73), Carter, Hyam, Pickering, Travis (C) (Dolan 83), Morton (A Wharton 73), Hedges (Thomas 63), Szmodics, Brereton Diaz, Gallagher.

Unused subs: Kaminski, S Wharton, Garrett.

Bookings: Gallagher (59)

Norwich City: Gunn, Aarons, Hanley (C) (Omobamidele 42), Gibson (Pukki 64), Giannoulis, Sørensen, Sara, Gibbs, Marquinhos, Sargent (Idah 82), Hernández (McCallum 82).

Unused Subs: Krul, Tzolis, Kamara.

Goals: Gibbs (11), Sara (56)

Bookings: Gibson (34), Omobamidele (59)

HT: 0-1

FT: 0-2

Venue: Ewood Park

Referee: Andre Marriner

Attendance: 18,544