NORWICH City were knocked out of the Capital One Cup after losing 1-0 to Shrewsbury Town at Greenhous Meadow.

James Collins got the decisive goal ten minutes into the second half as a completely changed Canaries eleven drew a blank against the League Two outfit.

Their best opportunities came through Kyle Lafferty early in the first period and Steven Whittaker late on, but Shrewsbury, who previously had knocked out Blackpool and Leicester City, claimed another high-profile scalp in the competition.

Neil Adams will now prepare his side for their Sky Bet Championship clash versus Blackpool on Saturday.

He made a change in every position from the weekend's draw with Birmingham, with Jonny Howson and Gary Hooper in for their first competitive starts of the season after injury.

There was also a full debut for Ignasi Miquel, and first starts for Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe and Gary O'Neil. A youthful looking bench included summer recruit Conor McGrandles for the first time, plus four FA Youth Cup winners.

City were the better team in the opening stages and had the best opportunity of the first half after just nine minutes.

Javi Garrido found Elliott Bennett, playing on the left-wing, who cut inside and whipped a right-footed cross that Lafferty met with a header, but stooping he managed to turn it over the bar.

They continued to dominate for the opening 25 minutes, with O'Neil seeing a volley blocked and Lafferty glancing another header well wide, but Shrewsbury then grew into the contest.

Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro drilled an effort wide from distance before Declan Rudd stood firm to keep out Cameron Gayle's close-range shot after an impressive run.

Miquel nodded over for the Canaries up the other end but once again Akpa Akpro proved a threat for the Salop, stinging Rudd's gloves after being found in the right channel.

HALF-TIME: Shrewsbury Town 0-0 Norwich City

Howson saw a curling shot go wide five minutes in the second half and Hooper had a penalty appeal rejected as City restarted with promise.

However, the Canaries were caught out a set-piece on 55 minutes as Town took the lead, with Collins finding to space to loop a header over Rudd and into the corner and Jermaine Grandison's initial touch.

Adams introduced Josh Murphy and Jamar Loza almost immediately to add a different dimension to the Canaries' attack, but it was Akpa Akpro who had the next attempt, testing Rudd with a low shot from 18 yards.

City weren't threatening the goal as much as they would have liked and after Lafferty picked up a booking Cameron King replaced him for his senior Canaries debut.

Loza had a low shot that hit the back of the net ruled out for offside with ten minutes left on the clock before captain Steven Whittaker saw an angled drive flash wide.

FULL-TIME: Shrewsbury Town 1-0 Norwich City

GOALS: Salop: James Collins (55)

SHREWSBURY TOWN: Leutwiler; Grandison, Demetrious, Woods, Goldson, Collins (Mangan 86), Lawrence (c) (Vincent 90), Gayle, Wesolowski, Knight-Percival, Akpa Akpro. Subs not used: Burton (GK), Ellis, Vernon, Griffith, Clark.

NORWICH CITY: Rudd; Whittaker (c), Cuellar, Miquel, Garrido; Odjidja (Josh Murphy 57), O'Neil, Howson, E Bennett; Lafferty (King 79), Hooper (Loza 62). Subs not used: Ruddy (GK), McFadden, Toffolo, McGrandles.

REFEREE: Scott Mathieson

ATTENDANCE: 6187

FOCUS RETURNS TO THE LEAGUE
Next up at Carrow Road: Charlton, Tuesday 30 September, 7:45pm
BUY TICKETS:Online or call 0844 826 1902

More Match Reports

#NCFC

Principal Partners

Primary Partners