Norwich City dialled up their preparations for the new campaign with an impressive performance and victory over Swiss top flight side FC St. Gallen on Friday evening at Kybunpark.
On what was a hot and humid evening in St. Gallen, debutant Andre Brooks, Oscar Schwartau and Paris Maghoma caused countless problems for the Swiss side, with the damage done in a dominant first half performance.
Philippe Clement’s side were deservedly three goals to the good at the interval, with Jacob Wright, Maghoma and Ruari McConville all on target.
A strong starting line-up saw headline summer signing Brooks make his first appearance in Norwich colours – which for the evening were the recently-released black and mint green away kit.
And it was down Brooks’ right side where City threatened in the opening throes of the game.
The former Sheffield United man showed nimble footwork to dance around a St. Gallen defender, before combining with Wright and Maghoma, with the latter’s shot from the angle of the area flying over the bar.
Maghoma continue as the chief problem-causer for the hosts, drifting into space in front of the defensive line.
The opening goal of the contest came in the 14th minute. After Maghoma had been upended on the edge of the area, Wright stepped up to curl a sumptuous effort around the wall and into the far corner of the net.
Norwich were much the better side and continued to carve out goal-scoring opportunities.
Brooks turned his marker inside and out before flashing a low cross inches in front of the onrushing Oscar Schwartau, before Brooks then forced a smart save from Lukas Watkowiak following a pinpoint diagonal pass from Hary Darling .
Gallen rarely threatened, with their best opportunity of the half arriving on 22 minutes, when Christian Witzig volleyed a loose ball from a set piece wide.
Norwich’s dominance was rewarded with a second goal on 38 minutes. A fluid team move culminated in Maghoma dinking over the onrushing goalkeeper after a net give and go with Kvistgaarden.
Clement’s side continued to turn the screw, adding a third on the stroke of half time. Wright initially showed incredible composure to evade a flying tackle. Schwartau then floated a wonderful cross to the far post, before McConville guided a looping header back across the goal, over a stranded goalkeeper and in off the post.
A much-changed City side emerged for the second half, as St. Gallen sought to wrestle back some control of the game.
Aliou Baldé had the ball in the net, converting from close range, only to be denied by an offside flag, before on 60 minutes the Senegalese winger cut in from the left channel before curling wide of the far post.
City largely remained in control, though goal-scoring chances were at a premium for both sides. Dylan Jones did flash a shot over the bar from inside the area, after escaping in behind the St. Gallen defence on 72 minutes.
As the final whistle blew in St. Gallen, the Canaries were deserved and comfortable winners. With more minutes in the legs and a positive performance against strong opposition, attentions now turn to City’s London-based training camp next week.
FC St. Gallen (Starting): Watkowiak; Stanić, Witzig, Daschner, Boukhalfa, Balde, Görtler, Gaal, Vandermersch, Okoroji, Stevanović
Norwich City: Kovačević (Grimshaw 61); Fisher (Özcan 61), McConville (Medić 61), Darling (Alves 61), Chrisene (Stacey 45); Mattsson (Gibbs 61), Wright (Field 61), Brooks (Jurásek 45), Maghoma (Baumann 45), Schwartau (Forson 45); Kvistgaarden (Jones 45)
Unused Subs: Ansen, Glossop, Towler, Adelusi, Ameen
Goals: Wright (15), Maghoma (39), McConville (45)
HT: 0-3
FT: 0-3
Venue: Kybunpark
Attendance: 3,022