Norwich City registered their first away points of the 2026/27 season with a hard fought victory against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
Anthony Musaba, a livewire down the left flank throughout, opened the scoring on his return to the Steel City, only for Patrick Bamford to equalise midway through the first period.
Mohamed Touré then had the Canaries back in front just before half time, with substitute Mathias Kvistgaarden rubber stamping victory following a controlled second half performance from Philippe Clement’s side.
It was a first league defeat of the season for the Blades, who battled and scrapped for every ball, but it was ultimately City’s quality that shone through, much to the delight of nearly 2,500 travelling supporters in South Yorkshire.
Clement made three changes following Tuesday evening’s defeat at Stoke City. Kellen Fisher and Ben Chrisene came into the full back positions, with Musaba also in from the off on the left side of attack.
Former Blades Anis Ben Slimane and Andre Brooks also started, whilst Paris Maghoma was back among the substitutes following a period out injured.
After a steady yet unspectacular start from both sides, the first attempt on goal resulted in the opening goal.
City worked the ball from right to left across the face of the Blades penalty area, with Brooks and Pelle Mattsson combining to tee up Musaba, who swept a right-footed shot into the top corner beyond the despairing dive of Michael Cooper.
Clement’s side were buoyed by that opener and were in the ascendency.
Much of that attacking threat came through Brooks, whose every touch was being jeered by an increasingly frustrated home support.
Brooks met a McLean corner and volleyed wide before then sending a long range daisy cutter straight at Cooper.
The hosts registered their effort on goal on 17 minutes, when Sydie Peck escaped in the left channel but saw a powerful shot repelled by Vladan Kovačević. From the resulting corner Liam Kitching headed home at the back post, only to be denied by the referee’s whistle following a foul on Kovačević.
But the home side’s frustration was short lived, as on 23 minutes Bamford met Tyrese Campbell’s lay off to fire low into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Suddenly, the momentum had shifted, and it was Chris Wilder’s side applying all of the pressure in the run up to half time.
Clear goalscoring chances were at premium, though. Campbell was the only Blades player to really work Kovačević, jinking around a few Norwich defenders to fire straight at the goalkeeper following a period of Blades pressure.
Then, right on the stroke of half time, City fashioned two big chances.
The first saw Brooks denied by a smart save following Musaba’s cross from the left.
And as first half stoppage time approached, Slimane flicked McLean’s pass into the path of Touré, who raced clear and coolly finished into the bottom corner.
The frustrations of the home players and supporters, angered by Touré’s excessive celebrations, for which he was booked, then spilled over, as the teams headed into half time.
At the start of the second period Musaba, who caused problems all afternoon, raced away down the left channel, but was denied by a strong blocked from the onrushing Cooper.
Second half sub Kalvin Phillips then sent a rasping drive from 30 yards marginally wide of the post.
But it was another substitute who put the game beyond the reach of the home side.
Kvistgaarden, just seconds after entering the field, was alive and alert to fire home, after Brooks had seen a shot cleared off the line by a scrambling Hamza Choudhury. The Blades defender had also attempted to hack Kvistgaarden’s shot away from under his own crossbar, but the referee awarded the goal after consultation with the goal line technology system.
City were in control, as Chrisene fired over following more good wing play from the lively Brooks.
The Canaries controlled much of the remainder of the contest, but Chrisene did have to be alert late on to slide in to deny Bamford, who was through on goal.
But in the end there was to be no further goalmouth action, as City registered their first away points of the campaign.
Sheffield United: Cooper, Tanganga (c), Choudhury, Donovan (Arblaster 77), Kitching, Brereton Díaz (Shackleton 77), Campbell (Cannon 58), Norrington-Davies (McCallum 58), Peck, Riedewald (Phillips 46), Bamford
Subs not used: Davies, Rothwell, McGuiness, Baptiste
Norwich City: Kovačević, Fisher, McConville (Darling 85), Córdoba, Chrisene, Mattsson, McLean (c), Brooks (Crnac 85), Slimane (Wright 61), Musaba (Diallo 70), Touré (Kvistgaarden 61)
Subs not used: Grimshaw, Stacey, Yongwa, Maghoma
Goals: Musaba (8), Touré (44), Kvistgaarden (62); Bamford (23)
Booked: McConville (38), Fisher (39), Touré (44); Kitching (45+1), Norrington-Davies (56)
Sent off: N/A
Half time: 1-2
Full time: 1-3
Venue: Bramall Lane
Attendance: TBC
Referee: Josh Smith