Ismaila Sarr scored twice as Watford beat Norwich in the battle of the two promoted sides and Premier League relegation rivals – to leave Norwich bottom on no points.
The Canaries become only the fourth side to ever lose their opening five Premier League games – and manager Daniel Farke is the first manager to lose 15 consecutive matches in the English top flight.
Watford move up to 11th with their second victory of the season.
Emmanuel Dennis snuck in behind Ozan Kabak to head in the opener from Kiko Femenia’s cross and celebrated with a somersault.
Teemu Pukki levelled when he ran on to a ball over the top from the halfway line by debutant Mathias Normann before slamming past the advancing Ben Foster.
That ended a run of 23 Premier League appearances – going back to 2019 – in which the Finn had failed to score from open play.
But Sarr put Watford ahead when he buried Joshua King’s cut-back from the byeline.
And he wrapped up the game when he slotted home the rebound after Tim Krul saved King’s shot. The goal was initially ruled out for a King offside but eventually awarded following a video assistant referee consultation.
Pressure mounting on Farke as Watford’s differing approach pays off
Both of these sides were promoted last season 12 months after being relegated from the Premier League.
Farke did well to get the Canaries back up – but in the top flight, the run of defeats that includes the final 10 games of 2019-20 is now the worst losing run any manager has endured.
He defended his players from fans’ criticism in a heated news conference this week but little that happened at Carrow Road in this game will appease the supporters.
The approaches from the managers were different. Watford made four changes from their last defeat, with five from Norwich.
But Watford’s four new faces were all players in their 30s, with plenty of English experience – including former England goalkeeper Ben Foster.
Norwich handed debuts to Kabak and Normann and a first Premier League start to Josh Sargent.
Both sides had 12 shots – with Norwich dominating the first 15 minutes of the second half as they pushed for a third league goal of the season.
The real difference in the game was the finishing. All of Dennis and Sarr’s seven combined shots were on target – whereas Pukki and Sargent did not force a save between them.
At 1-1, Pukki dragged a shot wide and Foster denied Kenny McLean and Milot Rashica.
They all missed and then Sarr scored twice – his second Premier League double after doing so against Liverpool in 2020 – and that was that.
Player of the match
FosterBen Foster
Norwich City
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Squad number8Player nameGilmour
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Squad number22Player namePukki
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Squad number24Player nameSargent
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Squad number21Player nameWilliams
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Squad number2Player nameAarons
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Squad number23Player nameMcLean
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Squad number5Player nameHanley
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Squad number17Player nameRashica
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Squad number16Player nameNormann
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Squad number1Player nameKrul
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Squad number15Player nameKabak
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Squad number18Player nameTzolis
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Squad number14Player nameCantwell
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Squad number35Player nameIdah
Line-ups
Norwich
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Krul
- 2Aarons
- 15Kabak
- 5Hanley
- 21WilliamsBooked at 90mins
- 8Gilmour
- 16NormannSubstituted forCantwellat 70′minutes
- 23McLean
- 24SargentSubstituted forTzolisat 70′minutes
- 22Pukki
- 17RashicaSubstituted forIdahat 88′minutes
Substitutes
- 4Gibson
- 7Rupp
- 14Cantwell
- 18Tzolis
- 20Lees-Melou
- 28Gunn
- 30Giannoulis
- 35Idah
- 44Omobamidele
Watford
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Foster
- 21FemeníaSubstituted forNgakiaat 59′minutes
- 5Troost-Ekong
- 15CathcartBooked at 37mins
- 3Rose
- 33Kucka
- 19Sissoko
- 23Sarr
- 8CleverleySubstituted forEteboat 82′minutes
- 25DennisSubstituted forSemaat 73′minutes
- 7King
Substitutes
- 2Ngakia
- 4Etebo
- 6Louza
- 11Masina
- 12Sema
- 17Fletcher
- 26Bachmann
- 27Kabasele
- 29Hernández Suárez
Live Text
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Match ends, Norwich City 1, Watford 3.
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Second Half ends, Norwich City 1, Watford 3.
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Brandon Williams (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Juraj Kucka (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Brandon Williams (Norwich City).
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Corner, Watford. Conceded by Tim Krul.
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Attempt saved. Ismaila Sarr (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Joshua King.
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Foul by Juraj Kucka (Watford).
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Kenny McLean (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Joshua King (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Ozan Kabak (Norwich City).
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Substitution, Norwich City. Adam Idah replaces Milot Rashica.
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Foul by Ken Sema (Watford).
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Max Aarons (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Jeremy Ngakia (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Juraj Kucka.
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Substitution, Watford. Peter Etebo replaces Tom Cleverley.
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VAR Decision: Goal Norwich City 1-3 Watford (Joshua King).
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Goal! Norwich City 1, Watford 3. Ismaila Sarr (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.Goal awarded following VAR Review.
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Attempt saved. Joshua King (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tom Cleverley with a through ball.
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Attempt saved. Milot Rashica (Norwich City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Max Aarons with a cross.
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