NORWICH CITY 1 (Cureton 26)
BARNSLEY 0

BARNSLEY paid the price for two wasted opportunities in the first half as their wretched away form returned at Carrow Road and brought the Reds crashing back down to earth.

Reds boss Simon Davey kept faith with the side that performed so heroically at Anfield last weekend meaning Lewin Nyatanga and Jon Macken were left out despite being eligible for the clash at Carrow Road. Kayode Odejayi, Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Marciano Van Homoet were the other subs meaning there was not even a seat on the bench for loanee Tony Warner.

Suspensions for Dion Dublin, Darel Russell and Mark Fortheringham meant the Canaries were forced to shuffle their pack. Darren Huckerby returned a starting eleven which also included debutant Alex Pearce and Arsenal loanee Keiran Gibbs.

Barnsley were in behind Norwich within two minutes after Martin Devaney did well to send Anderson de Silva past his marker. The Brazilian cut the ball back but the Canaries were able to clear the danger. David Marshall did well to grab the corner kick. Devaney sailed close to a caution on seven minutes when he kicked the ball away from Gibbs on the half way line. The winger, together with Brian Howard, Dennis Souza and Stephen Foster, went into the game just one caution away from a ban.

Norwich finally crafted an opening in a frantic first 13 minutes when Ched Evans headed well wide from Ryan Bertrand's centre. Lee Croft then flashed a shot well wide of the target a minute later after cutting in from the right hand side.

Barnsley should have been in front on 17 minutes as Daniel Nardiello raced clean through onto Steele's ball and beat Marshall but Gary Doherty somehow managed to get back and hack the ball clear off the line.

The Norwich defence went walkabout again a minute later as De Silva'a flick somehow put Howard through at Marshall but the Canaries keeper stood up well to make an outstanding save.

Barnsley had a massive let off on 21 minutes after Evans' shot cannoned off Rob Kozluk and gave Croft a great chance 16 yards from goal. The winger let fly but Kozluk recovered his composure to make an outstanding late block. Evans fired in again on 24 minutes after running 40 yards through the middle but his shot flew well, well wide of Steele's post.

Norwich were in front on 26 minutes although they benefited from a massive slice of luck as Dennis Souza managed to get his head to Croft's cross. Unfortunately the ball fell nicely to Jamie Cureton, who smashed it past Steele from 16 yards out giving the young keeper no chance.

Huckerby got down the left flank again on the half hour and almost created a goal for Evans as his chipped the ball into the danger area. Evans managed to get his head to the ball but could only divert it wide.

Barnsley responded with Howard breaking free down the left on 32 minutes and digging out a cross but Marshall was able to grab the ball before Istvan Ferenczi could pounce.

The Reds were left short in numbers on 38 minutes as De Silva was hurt in a challenge with Cureton and left in agony on the ground. Norwich played on and Gibbs flashed a shot well over the bar. It got even worse for the visitors as the former Everton man was stretchered off with a serious looking knee injury.

Barnsley could have pulled things back level in stoppage time as Diego Leon teed up Howard on the edge of the area. The midfielder pulled the trigger but saw his shot comfortably saved by Marshall.

At the other end Souza ended Croft's run with a crude challenge that earned the Brazilian a yellow card. It was Souza's fifth caution of the season and rules him out of the clash with Sheffield Wednesday.

Barnsley started the second half strongly and had a decent shout for a penalty waved away on 48 minutes when Jon Otsemebor went through Devaney in the area. The ball bounced through for a goal kick and the referee waved away the Reds' protests.

Norwich pushed on and could have been further in front on 50 minutes when Evans and Huckerby sent dangerous crosses into the area but Foster and Souza stood firm and managed to clear the danger.

At the other end Kozluk hammered the ball high over the bar after the Norwich defence had only half cleared Bobby Hassell's long throw on 54 minutes.

Norwich pressed and probed and almost got in again on 58 minutes as Evans cut into the area and found half a yard before drilling a shot well, well wide. Cureton then blazed well wide under pressure two minutes later after Ostemebor had broken well down the right.

Barnsley finally stepped things up with Ferenczi seeing a header deflect wide on 61 minutes before Kozluk's cross gave Macken a half a chance seconds later but the striker saw his shot well saved by Marshall. The ball then came out to Odejayi but the big striker fired well wide under pressure.

Although the Reds were slowly camping in the Norwich half, City were always dangerous on the counter and Croft could have won it for the Canaries on 70 minutes as he broke through the middle before fizzing a shot a foot or so over the bar. Souza then had to be alert to put the ball out for a corner on 75 minutes as Cureton looked to pounce again in the area.

Barnsley went close again on 82 minutes as Hassell's long throw dropped to Devaney on the edge of the area but the winger blasted his low shot against a defender and the chance went begging.

Ferenczi twice blazed high and wide as Barnsley threw everything at the Canaries in the dying stages and could have levelled on 88 minutes after Devaney turned the Norwich defence one way and then another before smashing a low effort against Doherty and wide.

Ferenczi went close again a minute later as he rose to meet Hassell's cross and put his header straight at Marshall when a foot either way would have seen it hit the back of the net.

Although a virtual spectator for 90 minutes, Steele was finally called into action in the first minute of stoppage time when he dove full length to turn Croft's shot away.

NORWICH CITY: Marshall, Otsemobor, Huckerby, Croft, Cureton, Pearce, Gibbs, Bertrand, Pattison (Velasco 90), Doherty, Evans (Henry 81).
Subs: Gilks, Shackell, Eagle.

BARNSLEY: Steele, Hassell, Kozluk, Howard, Nardiello (Macken 58), Ferenczi, De Silva (Van Homoet 40), Foster, Souza, Devaney, Leon (Odejayi 58).
Subs: Nyatanga, Campbell-Ryce.