Match Report | Northampton Town 0-3 City

Norwich City began their pre-season preparations with a 3-0 win over Northampton Town at Sixfields Stadium.

Norwich City began their pre-season preparations with a 3-0 win over Northampton Town at Sixfields Stadium.

City fielded a different XI for each half as Johannes Hoff Thorup gave minutes to returning first-team players and some of City's Under-21 hopefuls.

The Canaries led early through Jonathan Rowe, who met Jack Stacey's cross from the right with a header inside the far post after four minutes.

Ten minutes in Jacob Sørensen tried his luck from outside the box but his shot was narrowly wide of the 'keeper's right hand post.

Rowe doubled City's lead 12 minutes in, taking advantage of some sloppy play at the back from Northampton. The City winger calmly rounded the 'keeper and side footed home with his left.

Fassnacht released Rowe on 34 minutes and the City winger looked set to complete his hat-trick but his low shot couldn't trouble Lee Burge in the Cobblers' net.

Gabriel Sara curled a low free-kick on 42 minutes, but Burge was down low to save.

City turned to youth for the second half, making 11 changes at the break.

The young Canaries, now with Kellen Fisher commanding the troops as captain, looked comfortable in possession and nearly created something for Ken Aboh early on; Tzanev in the Northampton goal was out smartly to intercept.

The Cobblers tested the City back line with a cross from the right, which was headed over by a trialist on 54 minutes.

After good work from Welch on 66 minutes down the City right, Aboh battled to tee up Uriah Djedje on the edge of the area but his shot was too high.

The home side were coming closest to finding the net but when the third goal of the contest arrived late on, it was Aboh who got it.

The striker was on hand to fire home the rebound from close range after the post had denied City first time around.

Northampton Town (first half): Burge; Guthrie (C), Willis, Hoskins, Fox; Pinnock, Koiki, Odimayo; Hondermarck, Morton, Trialist.

Northampton Town (second half): Tzanev; Magloire, Baldwin, Dobson, Wyatt, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist

Norwich City (first half): Long; Stacey, Hills, Duffy, Montóia; Sørensen, Sara, Sainz; Kamara, Rowe, Fassnacht.

Norwich City (second half): Mair; Renecke, Adegboyega, Tomkinson, Shipley (Forsyth 82); Djedje, Fisher (C), Manning; Welch, Springett, Aboh

Unused subs: Finch, E Mundle-Smith.

Goals: Rowe (4, 12), Aboh (89)

HT: 0-2

FT: 0-3

Referee: Andy Woolmer

Venue: Sixfields Stadium

Attendance: 2,626