Report | Canaries secure play-off spot despite final day defeat

Norwich City were able to secure their place in the Sky Bet Championship play-offs despite a 1-0 defeat at Birmingham City.

Norwich City were able to secure their place in the Sky Bet Championship play-offs despite a 1-0 defeat at Birmingham City.

Paik Seung-Ho scored the only goal of the game as the home side were able to win but unable to avoid relegation to League One.

David Wagner made one change to the team that drew 2-2 with Swansea City at Carrow Road. Jacob Sørensen started in place of Christian Fassnacht, while Ken Aboh returned to the bench in place of the injured Ashley Barnes.

Dimi Giannoulis also returned to the matchday squad having missed out with injury since the defeat at Middlesbrough.

Birmingham's quest for safety almost had the perfect start as Sam McCallum had to react quickly to take the ball off the head of Koji Miyoshi after a dangerous cross.

Ben Gibson had to throw his body in the way of Jay Stansfield's shot soon after, with Angus Gunn called upon to deny Miyoshi twice in the opening nine minutes.

Norwich took the sting out of the game by trying to maintain possession and frustrate the home team, limiting chances at either end.

That was until Paik and Marcelino Núñez both had good opportunities in the 34th minute.

The South Korean failed to connect with his before former Canary John Ruddy got down to stop Núñez.

Paik's crossing caused more problems at the end of the half, finding Krystian Bielik at the back post but Gunn spread himself across the goal to make an excellent save.

The home side had calls late in the half for a penalty but they were waved away by the referee.

As with the first half, the hosts were quickest out of the traps and only a flying block by Shane Duffy stopped Keshi Anderson from opening the scoring.

However, he was powerless to stop Paik from giving Birmingham the lead just minutes later. A deflected shot from Anderson was headed in at the back post by the midfielder.

Lukas Jutkiewicz glanced a header wide, while Norwich failed to really make Ruddy work at the other end.

The full-time whistle was greeted by something of a pitch invasion by the home support.

Norwich will now face Leeds United in the play-offs with the first leg taking place on Sunday, May 12, at Carrow Road.

Birmingham City: Ruddy (C); Laird, Bielik, Sanderson, Buchanan; Sunjic, Paik (Jutkiewicz 67); James, Anderson (Bacuna 67), Miyoshi (Hall 83); Stansfield (Pritchard 85).

Unused subs: Etheridge, Drameh, M Roberts, Dembele, T Roberts

Goals: Paik (55)

Bookings: Sunjic (76), James (90+6)

Norwich City: Gunn; Stacey (Fisher 82), Duffy (Batth 75), Gibson (Hanley 82), McCallum (Giannoulis 58); McLean (C), Sørensen, (Rowe 58) Núñez; Sara, Sainz, Sargent (van Hooijdonk 82).

Unused subs: Long, Welch, Aboh

HT: 0-0

FT: 1-0

Referee: Oliver Langford

Venue: St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park

Attendance: 27,680 (2,201 away)