Jon Rowe scored a late goal for Norwich City Under-23s as the Canaries halted a run of three straight Premier League 2 defeats by beating Birmingham City at The Walks
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Norwich started off the brighter of the two sides as Rowe, who picked up the man-of-the-match award, broke down the left and breezed past two defenders before setting up Tom Dickson-Peters with a sight of goal, only for his effort to be blocked.
However, Birmingham responded to that early pressure well as a good steop over from Kieran Wakefield allowqed Oriel Soldevila to race in behind the home defence before firing an effort over. A minute late, when Norwich struggled to clear a bouncing ball in the box, Wakefield should have put the Blues in front but his half volley rattled the base of the post.
Flynn Clarke then shot narrowly wide for Norwich before keeper Joe Rose made a good save from Remi Walker's 30 yard free kick for Birmingham. However, as the half wore on it was Norwich who began to carve out better openings as Abu Kamara fired wide from eight yards out, and Dickson-Peters placed another effort off target with only the keeper to beat.
As the pressure grew Kamara then won a penalty as he siezed on an underhit back pass on 37 minutes to draw a foul from a Birmingham defender in the box. That allowed Todd Cantwell the chance to open the scoring from the spot, and he duly converted the penalty.
Under-23s head coach Alan Nielson then made a double switch at the break, bringing on Liam Shipley and Nelson Khumbeni on for Liam Gibbs and Clarke.
However, it was the experienced Cantwell who created the first chance of the second half as he lifted a superb ball over the top of the defence for Dickson-Peters to run on to, but the inform striker could only lift an effort over the keeper and onto the roof of the net.
Those missed chances, either side of half-time, looked to have proven costly when Birmingham City levelled with 25 minutes to go. Kyle Hurst was the instigator as he did well to get to the byline before cutting the ball back for Keke Symmonds to score from eight yards out.
However, the game started to swing back into Norwich's favour once more when Tommy Fogarty saw red for two bookable and hefty challenged on Rowe.
That gave the Canaries an extra man going into the final 10 minutes and when a good header from Jon Tomkinson put Kamara in behind the defence he was clipped just inside the area. Kamara stepped up to take the spot kick only to see it saved by Oliver Basey. Thankfully, Rowe had followed the shot in well and got the goal his performance deserved to win the match.
Norwich City Under-23s: Rose: Giurgi, Warner Tomkinson, Earley; Gibbs (Shipley, 46), Cantwell (C), Clarke (Khumbeni, 46); Kamara, Rowe, Dickson-Peters.
Goals: Cantwell (37), Rowe (88)
Bookings: Clarke (42), Kamara (90)
Birmingham City Under-23s: Basey: Sullivan (Ngupisi, 73), Masampu; Boyd-Munce, Fogarty, Roberts (C), Soldevila, Walker, Wakefield, Symonnds, Hurst.
Goal: Symmonds (67)
Bookings: Fogarty (71, 85), Ngupissi (87)
Red Card: Fogarty (85)
Venue: The Walks
Attendance: 100