Match ends, Norwich City 5, Brentford 0.
NorwichNorwich City5BrentfordBrentford0
Norwich City ended a run of five successive Championship defeats with a comprehensive win over Brentford.
The Canaries started well and Jacob Murphy soon scrambled them in front.
After Murphy was fouled in the box by Harlee Dean, Graham Dorrans tapped in the second on the rebound after his penalty was saved by Daniel Bentley.
Robbie Brady slotted in from Alex Pritchard's pass, Nelson Oliveira smashed home and Pritchard stabbed in to seal victory.
Norwich's win, which temporarily took them back into the top six before Leeds beat Aston Villa, eases the pressure on manager Alex Neil after they slipped from top to eighth, prompting chairman Ed Balls to publicly back his manager.
Brentford, however, have won only one of their past nine games and are now 18th after a fourth straight defeat.
The Canaries, who had not won since beating Rotherham 3-1 at Carrow Road on 18 October, led when Murphy was credited with the opener, although Bees defender Josh Egan may have got the final touch.
Brentford came into the game after Dorrans tucked in the second, with Scott Hogan twice heading off target and Egan volleying at Norwich keeper John Ruddy.
But their hopes of a comeback were thwarted as Brady, Oliveira and Pritchard struck in the second half to complete an emphatic Norwich win.
Norwich manager Alex Neil:
"Today was in complete contrast to our recent performances - we played really well. It was our best performance of the season - every player responded.
"It's only one win, though, and we need to build on it. November was a really tough month for us. Hopefully that is us seeing the back of that and we can push on.
"The players knew the importance of the game for everyone connected with the club - myself, the fans, the staff - and they responded in the perfect manner."
Brentford manager Dean Smith:
"I've told the players it's the worst performance I've had as a manager.
"The players have to look in the mirror. I'll look in the mirror as well. I'll look at the selection; did I get that right?
"But after the third goal I thought a few of us gave up. We have to make sure it doesn't happen again."
Line-ups
Norwich
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Ruddy
- 25PintoSubstituted forMartinat 65'minutes
- 24Bennett
- 6Bassong
- 12Brady
- 8HowsonSubstituted forMulumbuat 83'minutes
- 4Dorrans
- 22Murphy
- 21Pritchard
- 7NaismithBooked at 44minsSubstituted forMurphyat 74'minutes
- 9Oliveira
Substitutes
- 5Martin
- 13Jones
- 14Hoolahan
- 15Klose
- 18Mulumbu
- 19Lafferty
- 31Murphy
Brentford
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Bentley
- 2Colin
- 6Dean
- 14Egan
- 29Barbet
- 8Yennaris
- 15WoodsSubstituted forMcEachranat 60'minutes
- 20Clarke
- 19SawyersSubstituted forHofmannat 78'minutes
- 21VibeSubstituted forKaikaiat 60'minutes
- 9Hogan
Substitutes
- 5Bjelland
- 10McEachran
- 11Hofmann
- 16Bonham
- 17Kerschbaumer
- 25Kaikai
- 30Field
- Referee:
- Geoff Eltringham
- Attendance:
- 26,076
Match Stats
Home TeamNorwichAway TeamBrentford
- Possession
- Home60%
- Away40%
- Shots
- Home20
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home11
- Away4
- Corners
- Home0
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Norwich City 5, Brentford 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Philipp Hofmann (Brentford) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Sullay Kaikai with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Josh Murphy.
Goal!
Goal! Norwich City 5, Brentford 0. Alex Pritchard (Norwich City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jacob Murphy.
Post update
Attempt saved. Scott Hogan (Brentford) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Josh McEachran.
Post update
Attempt saved. Alex Pritchard (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Youssouf Mulumbu.
Post update
Graham Dorrans (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Nico Yennaris (Brentford).
Post update
Attempt missed. Nélson Oliveira (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Youssouf Mulumbu replaces Jonny Howson.
Post update
Foul by Jacob Murphy (Norwich City).
Post update
Yoann Barbet (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Norwich City 4, Brentford 0. Nélson Oliveira (Norwich City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Josh Murphy.
Substitution
Substitution, Brentford. Philipp Hofmann replaces Romaine Sawyers.
Post update
Josh Murphy (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Maxime Colin (Brentford).
Post update
Jacob Murphy (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Sullay Kaikai (Brentford).
Post update
Offside, Brentford. Yoann Barbet tries a through ball, but Scott Hogan is caught offside.
