West Brom 0 Norwich 2: Hooper and Fer on target as Canaries return to winning ways

West Brom 0 Norwich 2: Hooper and Fer on target as Canaries return to winning ways

Norwich bounced back from their Anfield nightmare as goals from Gary Hooper and Leroy Fer earned them a valuable win over West Brom at The Hawthorns.
Hooper scored the opener in the 13th minute, smashing an unstoppable drive into the top corner, before Fer finished off a sharp counter late on to seal a 2-0 victory.
West Brom had countless chances to take at least a point from this game with Stephane Sessegnon twice failing to convert great opportunities and Shane Long also guilty of being profligate in front of goal.

Making sure: Leroy Fer celebrates scoring Norwich's second goal at West Brom

Match facts

West Brom: (4-2-3-1) Myhill 6, Jones 7, McAuley 7, Lugano 5, Ridgewell 5; (Long 46, 5) Yacob 5, Mulumbu 6; Amalfitano 5,(Berahino 46, 6) Sessegnon 7, Brunt 5; Anichebe 6.(Vydra 81)
Subs not used: Daniels, Dawson, Popov, Morrison.
Booked: Brunt

Norwich: 4-4-1-1) Ruddy 7, Whittaker 7, (Martin 90) Turner 7, Bassong 7, Olsson 7, Redmond 7, Howson 6, Johnson 7, Fer 8, Elmander 6,(Murphy 76, 6) Hooper 7. (Becchio 90)
Subs not used: Nash, Hoolahan, Garrido, Bennett.
Goals: Hooper 13, Fer 89
Booked: Ruddy, Murphy, Whitaker
Attendance: 23,675
Referee: M Clattenburg – 7
Man-of-the-match: Leroy Fer

It is now one win in nine games for the Baggies, and Steve Clarke's side were booed off at full-time.
The midweek hiding against a Luis Suarez-inspired Liverpool had put Canaries boss Chris Hughton's position under further scrutiny, but he would have been delighted with the way his side responded here to secure an away win for just the second time this season.
After starting brightly they took the lead with a wonderful strike from Hooper.
Nathan Redmond fed Fer, who picked out the striker's run with the aid of a deflection off Diego Lugano's heel.
The angle of the pass was taking Hooper away from goal but he fizzed a superb strike beyond Boaz Myhill.
Albion sought a quick response with Youssouf Mulumbu, back from suspension, firing straight at John Ruddy after nice link play with Morgan Amalfitano.
The Frenchman's teasing cross from the right then saw Victor Anichebe get in a header which Ruddy gratefully grasped.
Norwich were being penned in their own half but Johan Elmander should have done better from a quick break.
The Swede's flick on found Hooper, who quickly returned him the ball. However, Elmander then ignored his better placed strike partner as he drove forward and saw his shot blocked.
The hosts were soon back on the offensive, with Ruddy tipping a fierce Anichebe shot wide of goal, before Sessegnon contrived to fail to make any contact with a Chris Brunt corner which found him unmarked. 

Steve Clarke: It's been a tough week for us

Main man: Hooper fires the ball home for his second goal in three games as Norwich edged out West Brom

Winner, winner: Gary Hooper (centre) celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the game for Norwich

Close but no cigar: Stephane Sessegnon had a shot blocked as West Brom sought an equaliser

It summed up West Brom's first half and Clarke made two changes at the break, bringing on Long and Saido Berahino for Liam Ridgewell and, surprisingly, Amalfitano.
They helped spark Albion into a very strong start to the second half and they could have had a penalty when a Sessegnon shot, after a goalmouth scramble, struck Martin Olsson on the arm as he made the block.

Industrious: Leroy Fer helped Norwich to a win over West Brom

Flying: Victor Anichebe is tackled by Leroy Fer as the striker tired to haul West Brom back into the match

Battling: Morgan Amalfitano (left) fights for the ball with Bradley Johnson

They should have been level in the 52nd minute when Sessegnon surged past two Norwich defenders into the box, but the Frenchman rolled his shot wide of the post having beaten the advancing Ruddy.
At the other end Redmond's pace proved too much to handle for Uruguay defender Lugano, whose vulnerability will doubtless be noted by England manager Roy Hodgson, but the winger's pull-back could not find Hooper.
Sessegnon then spurned another chance after Olsson had gifted the ball to him six yards out, with Ruddy making the save.

Game over: Fer pulls the trigger to make sure of the points for Norwich at West Brom

Give us a hug! Fer celebrates with the travelling Norwich fans after his late goal at West Brom

Long became the latest man to miss for West Brom a few moments later. Mulumbu's deflected shot fell to him in the area, but his shot was too tame to beat Ruddy.
Mulumbu fizzed an effort wide but all the home side's pressure came to nothing and they were punished as Redmond found Fer for the midfielder to cut inside and fire low beyond a flat-footed Myhill with a minute remaining.