Norwich City were beaten by a stubborn West Bromwich Albion on the opening day of the Sky Bet Championship season at Carrow Road.
In a game that was largely one-way traffic throughout, City created ample opportunities in which to win the game, but were left frustrated by Max O’Learly and the Baggies backline.
Mohamed Touré and Kellen Fisher were on the end of City’s best chances in the second half but Aune Heggebø bundled in an unlikely goal for the visitors before Jimmy-Jay Morgan doubled their lead with three minutes to play.
City fought back to half the deficit through Mathias Kvistgaarden's close range header, but the late flurry was not enough to earn a point.
Philippe Clement made the decision to bring Fisher straight back into the starting line-up following a pre-season spell on the sidelines injured.
There was also a start for Paris Maghoma on the left side of an attack-minded midfield.
City raced out of the traps. Skipper Kenny McLean weaved into the right channel of the area, collected a neat give-and-go from Anis Ben Slimane before forcing Max O’Learly into a smart low save.
On 18 minutes Fisher then combined with Andre Brooks and Maghoma down the right side, before seeing a low daisy cutter early held by the Baggies goalkeeper.
As the opening half played out, clear goalscoring opportunities were at a premium.
Consecutive City corners twice saw José Córdoba head beyond the frame of the West Brom goal.
Whilst Norwich City controlled much of the play, a stubborn Baggies rearguard saw the teams head in goalless at the interval.
The second half started with a real zip and tempo. Again, much of the action was in the Albion half, though the visitors remained a threat on the counter.
An off-balance McLean shot over from all of 30 yards before Brooks tried from even further out, spotting the goalkeeper off his line following a loose pass from Ousmane Diakité, only for his effort to drift wide.
Slimane then combined with Touré in the penalty area, only for the former’s shot to canon off the head of a defender and wide, as City assumed near complete control.
On the hour mark Maghoma nutmegged a Albion defender to escape to the left byline, with his pass met by Touré, the Australian international’s shot desperately scrambled away by a ruck of defenders.
O’Learly was then alert to keep out Touré’s near post effort and then Fisher’s header from a sublime Maghoma cross.
It seemed as if there was only going to be one winner, but completely against the run of play, Albion broke the deadlock.
Morgan escaped down the left side, with his deflected cross bundled home by Heggebø, amid appeals from all in yellow for a hand ball. The referee waved away the protests and the goal stood.
City had 15 minutes to respond, but with the energy sucked out of Carrow Road, they struggled to muster any opportunities of note.
There was still time for Isaac Price to seeing a curling shot from range tipped onto the crossbar, before the Baggies made sure of the result when Morgan converted following a slaloming run towards the penalty area.
With one minute to play, City finally got themselves on the scoresheet.
Oscar Schwartau's cross from the right-hand side found it's way to Jacob Wright inside the area. The midfielder saw a low shot from the right palmed away by O'Leary but luckily for the Canaries, following up was Mathias Kvistgaarden, who nodded in to give City a glimmer of hope.
The Canaries rallied together heading into four added minutes but couldn't create another meaningful chance to trouble the West Brom goal.
Norwich City: Kovačević, Fisher, Darling, Cordoba, Chrisene, Mattsson (Field 86), McLean (c), Brooks (Wright 79), Slimane (Schwartau 72), Maghoma (Diallo 72), Touré (Kvistgaarden 86).
Subs not used: Grimshaw, Stacey, McConville, Alves.
Goals: Kvistgaarden (90)
West Bromwich Albion: O’Leary, Phillips, Styles, Campbell (C), Myhre (Molumby 68) Morgan (Stewart 90+1), Diakité (Bielik 90+4), Heggebø, Price, Galves (Mepham 90+4), Whitwell (Nzingoula 68).
Subs not used: Ingram, Johnston, Townsend, Williams.
Goals: Heggebø (75), Morgan (87)
Booked: Phillips (31) , Diakité (48)
Half-time: 0-0
Full-time: 1-2
Venue: Carrow Road
Attendance: 26,374 (1,848 away)
Referee: Tim Robinson