Forbes - 45

At Carrow Road

7th November 2000

Att: 13,900

Adrian Forbes was the matchwinner with a splendid 45th minute volley that tore into Ian Bennett's net. He was also unlucky to see a second-half effort chalked off for a handling offence.

With their captain David Holdsworth sent off for an off-the-ball incident involving Adrian Coote, Birmingham's misery was complete with 10 minutes to go.

So it was typical of their evening that Andy Marshall denied them a point with a fine 90th minute save from Bryan Hughes' six-yard effort that guaranteed the Canaries a second home win in four days.

This represents the first time that Norwich had won two successive league games this year, and it was a well-drilled defensive unit that was able to shut out Birmingham's array of striking options - in distinct contrast to the home side's shortage after the departure of Tony Cotte and injury to Gaetano Giallanza.

Lee Marshall was again thrown into an unusual attacking role and set up Forbes in the sixth minute, but the midfielder somehow put the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.

A let-off for Birmingham but they failed to impose themselves in the manner of true promotion candidates. It took until the 30th minute for Marshall to have any serious work to do, and then he was grateful to get his legs to a goalbound effort from Dele Adebola.

Blues boss Trevor Francis threw on club record signing Geoff Horsfield at the break as part of a double substitution, but the partnership with Adebola never looked likely to better the solid Craig Fleming and Malky Mackay.

It was Norwich who maintained the pressure, only for top scorer Iwan Roberts to shoot wide after a slip by Darren Purse left him in the clear early in the second half. Then substitute Darel Russell saw another effort chalked off by an offside flag, but the home side were able to count down the minutes after Holdsworth's dismissal.