Norwich City battled out a 2-1 victory over Birmingham City on Wednesday evening to take three points at Carrow Road.
Whilst Oscar Schwartau's rifling strike and Papa Amadou Diallo's first goal for the club will certainly take the headlines on the night, Jovon Makama's return will be included amongst the many positives to take from the game.
Philippe Clement made four changes to his side that beat Sheffield United at the weekend, with Jack Stacey and Oscar Schwartau returning to the starting 11, whilst Diallo and Mathias Kvistgaarden got their first Championship starts.
City striker Mohammed Touré was absent on the night due to rotation in the squad.
Jay Stansfield had the first effort of the match after some pressure from the visitors deep in the Canaries' half, but his effort was sent high over Vladan Kovačević's goal.
A neat link-up from Kenny McLean and Kvistgaarden sent the Danish through on goal shortly after, only for James Beadle to smother the forward's attacking play and any chance of him getting anything on the end of the loose ball heading goalward.
The Scotsman then took fire for City's first effort of the tie, dragging his shot wide of the target.
Following a period of play controlled well by Birmingham, Kovačević was forced to deny strikes from Stansfield and Auguste Priske in quick succession.
The Blues thought they had broken the deadlock through Liam Miller just after 20 minutes played, when he slotted the ball through the legs of the City stopper but his goal was ruled out for offside.
This stoked the fire within the Yellows, as the Canaries found themselves in front minutes later.
An organised passage of play between Diallo, Kvistgaarden and Schwartau allowed the Dane to send a rifling shot into the back of the net for the opener.
Norwich's lead was then doubled just ten minutes later as a brilliant low cross from Andre Brooks found Diallo waiting patiently in the area, who only had to guide the ball home for a second and his first ever City goal.
Millar had the chance to pull one back for the visitors from open space on the edge of the area but sent his effort high over the bar for the last chance of the first half.
Clement introduced fresh legs on the wing at the start of the second half, replacing Diallo with Anthony Musaba.
Bright Osayi-Samuel flashed a ball across goal in a dangerous play from the Birmingham side but his cross was too far and wide for Paik Seung-ho in the area.
Brooks did well to set up Jack Stacey on the edge of the area for Norwich's next chance but he could only win a corner for the hosts which was unable to pose a threat to the Blues.
Chris Davies' side halved the deficit with just under half an hour to play, Carlos Vicente finding the target from close range.
The introduction of Makama to the pitch ignited the home crowd and City continued in search for another goal to extend their lead.
Pelle Mattsson was set up on the edge of the area to fire goalward and on target, forcing Beadle to parry behind.
Ante Crnac then beat his man to fire on target, only to also be denied by the Blues' stopper.
The visitors were close to an equaliser moments later as a brilliant ball from Beadle found Stansfield on the break, who crossed to Vicente open in the box; the Spaniard firing wide.
With the crowd behind them, City held on in the final minutes of the game and took all three points from the tie.
Philippe Clement's side are back in action on Saturday afternoon in a 3pm kick-off against Middlesbrough at the Riverside.
Norwich City: Kovačević; Stacey, McConville, Córdoba, Chrisene (Darling 90+1); Mattsson, McLean (C), Brooks (Crnac 65), Schwartau (Wright 71), Diallo (Musaba h-t); Kvistgaarden (Makama 71).
Subs not used: Grimshaw, Fisher, Yongwa, Maghoma.
Goals: Schwartau (29), Diallo (39)
Bookings: Chrisene (13), Córdoba (25), Stacey (59), Schwartau (60), Makama (83), Crnac (94)
Birmingham City: Beadle; Osayi-Sammuel (Cochrane 62), Neumann, Klarer (C), Lund (Laird 62); Tomoki (Vazquez 82), Paik; Vicente, Stansfield, Millar, Priske (Ducksch 82).
Subs not used: Allsop, Mayo, Buchanan, Fry, Fujimoto.
Goals: Vicente (64)
Bookings: Neumann (83)
Half time: 2-0
Full time: 2-1
Venue: Carrow Road
Attendance: 25,548 (1,357 away)
Referee: Tom Reeves