Norwich’s Josh Sargent scored a stoppage-time winner, handing Albion a costly late defeat in the play-off race.
The Baggies seemed set for a third straight draw – and, unusually, their 19th of the season – but had no complaints as Sargent scored a cool late goal for the hosts after an unimpressive second period.
Tony Mowbray‘s side dominated the first half but failed to punish their opponents once more.
A weak Norwich team were desperate at times, lacking confidence after four games without a win, but rallied after switching to a more pragmatic back five to win with only their second home clean sheet this season.
Albion were ineffective, and a potentially costly setback prevented them from capitalizing on opponents stumbling around them in the play-off hunt. Only after Sargent scored the scoring in the 92nd minute did the Baggies create a genuine opportunity.
A dejected away team was left licking their wounds in the Norfolk sunshine. Albion, still sixth, are far from out of the play-off race, but another blank raises serious concerns about their capacity to win the necessary games.
The Baggies have not won on the road since November’s game against Hull, with only one away win in 17 league games, and they face tough tests against tougher teams than Norwich.
Mowbray’s side settled well, and the game’s first two clear chances came as a result of a positive first ten minutes in which the hosts struggled to get going.
Since his arrival, Albion’s head coach has emphasized the importance of taking more shots, and Karlan Grant has listened. His effort from 22 yards deflected off returning goalkeeper Angus Gunn, who made a meal of it as it went wide of his left post.
The resulting corner was cleared, and a left-footed cross from Tom Fellows, one of two Albion returns, found Torbjorn Heggem, whose header required a superb one-handed save from Gunn.
It quickly became clear that the hosts lacked confidence and were vulnerable with the ball in their own half. The confidence of the home fans was also missing.
Johannes Thorup’s side provided a timely reminder of their incisiveness, however, when Borja Sainz slipped top scorer Josh Sargent in on goal, but the United States forward was denied by an outstanding Joe Wildsmith save, as the keeper spread himself and repelled the ball with his left foot.
Ante Crnac missed the rebound when he could’ve done better.
Despite the opportunity, the entire crowd moans and groans as their team struggles to cross halfway.
The Canaries camped in their own third, and Albion was faced with threading a needle. It required a pinpoint final ball which has more often than not been a downfall this term.
Jayson Molumby lashed a quickly-worked free-kick over from outside the box after John Swift’s pass when the Baggies could’ve done with it the other way around.
A neat move involving the sharp Fellows, Swift and Alex Mowatt teed up Grant to shoot from range again. His effort arrowed towards the corner but Gunn made a parried save.
Norwich Livewire Prior to the break, Sainz shot a few feet wide of Wildsmith’s left post, leaving the keeper quite comfortable. Albion went into the break thinking that more composure would lead to a breakthrough against an unsettled home team.
Albion performed well in the first half but lost their spark after the break. Mowbray originally attempted to exchange Armstrong and Grant, with the former turning left.
Sightings at goal were limited to pot-shots from outside the box, with Grant and Swift firing solid efforts barely wide, but the Baggies had hard work of breaking down the hosts.
Norwich were awful, but they had a better opening when Sainz was forced to shoot wide and could only hit Wildsmith.
A dull second half was only brightened when two young fans ran on from the home end to take a selfie with Norwich hero Sargent, only to be marched off to chants of “sign them up” from a heckling home crowd.
Albion’s final ball continued to be lacking, as Molumby and Fellows missed from promising situations out wide. It called for change, and Mowbray responded 12 minutes later with Mikey Johnston and Grady Diangana. Tammer Bany and Will Lankshear joined in the final ten minutes.
Norwich were as likely as their visitors in the closing stages, and home substitute Marcelino Nunez sent a free-kick narrowly wide of the top corner.
Mowbray‘s mention of the Canaries’ potency earlier this week came as a sting in the tail during stoppage time. Swift dropped the ball, and Nunez’s through ball found Sargent in behind Holgate.
The attacker checked back inside the retreating Bartley and beat Holgate to the ball, steering a low shot into the far corner for Carrow Road carnage.
Albion still had time in stoppage time to create a chance. Kyle Bartley met a deep cross, but Gunn parried it high. Diangana nodded the rebound at goal, but it was scrambled off the line by recovering Canary defender Ruairi McConville, who was brought on to seal the victory.
Albion once again failed to find a way through. And this time, they paid the full amount.
Norwich City (3-4-3): Gunn; Stacey (McConville, 90+4), Duffy, Cordoba, Fisher; Sorensen (Wright, 75), Ben Slimane (Marcondes, 55), McLean (c); Crnac, Nunez, Sargent, Sainz (Schwartau, 90+4).
Unused Subs: Long, Jurasek, Forson, and Hernandez
Albion (4-3-3): Wildsmith; Holgate, Bartley, Heggem, Styles; Molumby (Bany, 85), Mowatt, Swift; Fellows (Diangana, 78), Armstrong (Lankshear, 85), Grant (Johnston, 78).
Unused subs: Griffiths, Frabotta, Diakite, Price, and Dike.
Attendance: 26,707 (1,875 Albion supporters).
Referee: David Webb
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