Norwich City were beaten away from home on the opening day of the 2024/25 Sky Bet Championship season, losing out 2-0 to Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium.
City head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup named new loan signing Callum Doyle in his first starting 11 of the new season, bringing in a second new face, Amankwah Forson, on the bench.
The hosts had a dangerous ball struck across the face of goal early on, but striker Mark Harris found himself too far ahead of the cross to make contact.
Former Canary Przemysław Płacheta fired a close-range shot at Angus Gunn, but the City stopper blocked well and the resulting rebound went out for a Norwich throw.
Oxford's efforts were rewarded on 29 minutes when they found the opener through Harris, who evaded Grant Hanley on the edge of the box and shot through the legs of Gunn to find the bottom corner.
Gunn was later forced to make an important save from a long distance Will Vaulks shot, whilst Borja Sainz cut a shot across goal in Norwich's best looking chance of the half.
Forson was brought in to the action at the halfway mark, replacing Liam Gibbs.
The hosts continued their press into the second half, with Cameron Brannagan rattling the woodwork from the edge of the box with 50 minutes on the clock.
Oxford found their second just before the hour mark when Sam Long found Brannagan, whose shot was powered into the back of Gunn's net.
The Canaries found some positive notes in play from Forson and Adam Idah, who created chances for Jack Stacey and the new Ghanaian signing himself, but both were unable to challenge Jamie Cumming in goal.
A disappointing opening day for Johannes Hoff Thorup's side, who face Stevenage in the Carabao Cup at Carrow Road next.
Oxford United: Cumming; Long, Moore (C), Brown, Bennet; Goodhram, Rodrigues (Leigh 86), Vaulks, Brannagan, Płacheta (El Mizouni 73); Harris (O’Donkor 90+4)
Unused subs: Ingram, McEachran, Ebiowei, Sibley, Kioso, Thorniley
Goals: Harris (29), Brannagan (58)
Bookings: Rodrigues (75)
Norwich City: Gunn; Stacey, Hanley (C) (Sørensen 61), Duffy, Doyle; McLean, Núñez (Kamara 76), Gibbs (Forson h-t), McLean, Fassnacht (Idah 61); Sainz (Forsyth 90), Sargent
Unused subs: Long, Fisher, Hills, Myles
Bookings: Sargent (45+1), Forson (56), Sørensen (87)
HT: 1-0
FT: 2-0
Venue: Kassam Stadium
Attendance: 11,333