Norwich City registered their first points of the 2026/27 Sky Bet Championship campaign with a breathtaking 4-1 victory over Burnley at Carrow Road.
At the end of an entertaining first half, the Canaries were 3-1 up. An Andre Brooks goal, sandwiched between Mohamed Touré’s brace, the first of which came just two minutes into the contest, had City in control.
Josh Laurent reduced the arrears before half time, but after the restart Brooks added his second to seal what was ultimately a comfortable victory on a wet afternoon in NR1.
Following midweek cup progression at Cardiff City, Clement once again switched up his squad and starting line-up.
Jack Stacey, Ruairi McConville and Anthony Musaba were all in for their first league starts of the season, whilst captain Kenny McLean also returned to the starting line-up having been an unused substitute in the week.
City flew out of the traps and were a goal to the good with just over 60 seconds on the clock.
José Córdoba slipped a pass between full back and central defender, with the ball eluding Anel Ahmedhodžić. Touré was alert, escaping behind the defender before emphatically slamming beyond the goalkeeper.
Carrow Road was alive with noise, and before the visitors had chance to reset they were two down.
McLean released Musaba down the left channel, who then fired a low dangerous ball into the Burnley penalty area. Brooks then arrived at the back post to slide home a left-footed finish in front of a jubilant Barclay Stand.
Burnley’s best chance of the opening period followed on 15 minutes. Ex-City loanee Aaron Ramsey struck a loose ball in penalty area goalwards, only to see Pelle Mattsson react well and deflect the ball away for a corner kick.
But as the rain tumbled down, City continued to turn the screw and added a third on 22 minutes.
Following an Oscar Schwartau corner, Touré reacted quickest to Kyle Walker’s miss control in a crowded penalty, smashing beyond the goalkeeper from six yards out.
Burnley pulled a goal back through Laurent, who curled into the far corner after finding a pocket of space 25 yards from goal.
The visitors were enjoyed large spells of possession, but it was Norwich who continued to look the more likely to add to the score.
Touré was once again sent clear in the right channel by Brooks, before the Australian international fired low and marginally wide of the far post.
And just before the interval Schwartau’s rasping drive from the angle of the area fizzed over the bar.
At the start of the second half Jacob Bruun Larsen struck the post following a quick counter, before up the other end Musaba was denied by a crucial block from Ahmedhodžić following Brooks’ jinking run down the right.
As the game wore on City penned Burnley inside their own half.
And on 67 minutes victory was all but sealed, as Brooks capped a fine move with an inventive near post finish following good work from substitute Papa Amadou Diallo and Stacey’s low delivery from the right.
The visitors were reduced to ten men when Laurent was shown a second yellow card for hauling down Slimane, as City cruised through the final period of the game and to three league points.
Norwich City: Kovačević, Stacey, McConville, Córdoba, Chrisene, Mattsson, McLean (c) (Wright 80), Brooks (Crnac 71), Schwartau (Slimane 61), Musaba (Diallo 61), Touré (Kvistgaarden 71)
Subs not used: Grimshaw, Darling, Yongwa, Fisher
Goals: Touré (2, 21), Brooks (5, 67)
Burnley: Weiß, Walker (c), Alleyne, Larsen (Edwards 63), Satpaev, Roberts, Ahmedhodžić, Flemming (Hountondji 78), Ramsey (Amdouni 63), Mejbri (Raghouber 82), Laurent
Subs not used: Coudert, Worrall, Ekdal, Sambo, Trésor
Goals: Laurent (28)
Half time: 3-1
Full time: 4-1
Booked: McConville (16), Laurent (28, 77), Córdoba (29), Brooks (63), Slimane (65)
Sent off: Laurent (77)
Venue: Carrow Road
Attendance: 25,498 (652 away)
Referee: Elliot Bell