Norwich City’s Carabao Cup run ended at the third round stage following defeat against holders Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Quickfire goals from Floyd Samba and Rayan Cherki midway through the first half had the home side in control.
Allan and Samba’s second of the evening extended the lead shortly after the break, with Ryan McAidoo adding a fifth late on.
The Canaries did create chances and saw a second half strike from substitute Mohamed Touré ruled out for offside, on what was a tough night for Philippe Clement’s side and their travelling 2,500 supporters.
Clement made nine changes to the starting line-up that had previously been beaten away at Middlesbrough.
Anis Ben Slimane and Kellen Fisher were the only two players to retain their spots in the starting team. Ante Crnac made his first start since October 2025 following a prolonged period on the sidelines with injury, whilst ex-Manchester City academy graduate Dan Grimshaw and Jacob Wright also started on their return to the Etihad Stadium.
The hosts controlled possession for much of the early stages of the game and fashioned their first chance of the evening on nine minutes.
Samba found Rico Lewis in the right channel, who sent a shot just wide of the top far corner of Grimshaw’s goal.
Norwich City were resolute and compact in their defending and on occasions did threaten on the counterattack.
The primary attacking threat for Clement’s team came down the left flank, Darlin Yongwa and Papa Amadou Diallo combining on a number of occasions.
In the 14th minute Diallo cut in from the left side before sending a dangerous ball across the face of the Manchester City goal.
But on the half hour mark the hosts broke the deadlock.
Allan diverted a loose ball back into Norwich City penalty, where Samba was alert to head into the far corner.
And four minutes the lead was doubled. Big summer signing Ayyoub Bouaddi slipping a through ball into the path of Cherki, who coolly finished beyond Grimshaw.
Clement introduced Paris Maghoma at the interval, replacing Diallo.
Allan produced Manchester City’s third goal of the evening in the 48th minute, receiving the ball on the left side of the box and firing into the bottom right of the goal.
Norwich City’s primary attacking threat continued down the left side. A cross from Yongwa was just out of the reach of Maghoma, with Fisher slicing the loose ball wide of the goal.
Just before the hour mark the home side added a fourth, when Samba curled in from the angle of the penalty area.
Shortly after the Canaries introduced further substitutes and posed more of a threat to the home side’s goal.
Anthony Musaba volleyed just wide of the post from range before Touré had the ball in the Manchester City net, only to be denied by an offside flag.
The home side added a fifth late on through McAidoo, with the Premier League side comfortably progressing into the next round.
Norwich City return to Sky Bet Championship action on Sunday, welcoming Bolton Wanderers to Carrow Road.
Manchester City: Rulli; Lewis, Reis, Khusanov, Aït-Nouri; Bouaddi, Kovačić, O’Reilly; Cherki (McAidoo 46), Allan (Braithwaite 71), Samba
Subs not used: Donnarumma, Anderson, Guéhi, Ndiaye, Fernández, Nunes, Semenyo
Goals: Samba (29, 54), Cherki (32), Allan (48), McAidoo (90)
Bookings:
Norwich City: Grimshaw; Fisher, Darling (c), Alves (McConville 71), Yongwa; Wright, Field, Crnac (Musaba 62), Slimane (Touré 71), Diallo (Maghoma 46); Kvistgaarden (Schwartau 85)
Subs not used: Kovačević, Stacey, Mattsson, Chrisene
Bookings: Fisher (30)
Half time: 2-0
Full time: 4-0
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Referee: Ruebyn Ricardo