West Brom opened their Championship season with a dramatic and hard‑fought 2-1 triumph at Carrow Road, employing a swift, opportunistic approach that ultimately paid off. The visitors endured sustained pressure from the Canaries for much of the match, yet they held firm and managed to find the back of the net twice in the closing stages, thanks to goals from Aune Heggebo and Jimmy‑Jay Morgan. The first goal, however, sparked controversy because the ball appeared to make contact with Heggebo's arm before crossing the line.
Norwich attempted a late response when substitute Mathias Kvistgaarden reduced the deficit in stoppage time, but his effort arrived too late to alter the outcome. The home side will be left questioning how they failed to secure all three points, especially after dominating large portions of the game. From the kickoff, Norwich imposed themselves on the visitors, creating an early chance just four minutes in.
Kenny McLean found space on the right and delivered a precise pass to Anis Ben Slimane, who had a clear line on goal. However, West Brom goalkeeper Max O'Leary produced a superb save, denying the City skipper and setting the tone for a tightly contested first half. That early intervention proved to be the most significant opening of the half, as Norwich continued to press without seriously troubling O'Leary again. Defender Kellen Fisher unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box, but O'Leary comfortably saved it.
Later, a promising cross from the left looked destined to produce the opening goal, only to be cleared away at the last moment by Callum Styles, who demonstrated excellent defensive awareness. The Baggies' defensive shape remained solid, but their attacking output was limited. Heggebo's first genuine chance of the half arrived in the 25th minute, but he sent the ball wide, missing an opportunity to break the deadlock. Norwich continued to dominate possession and created several more chances as the second half began.
Nat Phillips made a crucial block, deflecting a Ben Slimane drive into the side‑netting, and later on the hour mark he again intervened to prevent what appeared to be a certain goal. Paris Maghoma produced a moment of magic on the edge of the box, setting up Andre Brooks for a clear chance, but Phillips used his imposing frame to block the effort.
The home side's pressure intensified, with Mohamed Toure forcing an upright after cutting in from the left, and O'Leary later denying Fisher's flicked header at the back post. It seemed inevitable that Norwich would eventually score, but the breakthrough came at the wrong end of the pitch.
In the 75th minute, West Brom seized their first clear chance: Styles threaded a low cross down the inside‑left channel to Morgan, whose well‑timed run allowed him to meet the ball and bundle it over the line. The hosts protested, claiming an off‑side infringement, yet the referee allowed the goal to stand despite the ball appearing to brush Heggebo's arm on its way over. Eight minutes later, Isaac Price unleashed a long‑range effort that could have doubled the lead, but Vladan Kovacevic made a superb save to keep the score at 1‑0. Shortly after, Styles made another vital block, and West Brom capitalised again in the 87th minute.
Morgan, showing composure and skill, received the ball on the left, cut inside, and calmly slotted it past the Norwich keeper, extending the lead to 2‑0. Norwich refused to surrender, and in added time they pulled one back. Jacob Wright struck a powerful shot that O'Leary saved with an incredible reflex, but the rebound fell to Kvistgaarden, who headed the loose ball into the net, reducing the deficit to 2‑1. After the final whistle, Norwich midfielder Philippe Clement voiced his frustration: "It was clearly with the arm that the player scores – we could see that from where we were watching, 50 yards away.
It was the decisive moment in the game and should have been spotted. There are four officials and one of them should have seen it.
Maybe the referee didn't have the best view – but the linesman on our side needs to see that. Missing game‑changing moments like this shouldn't happen – it has cost us at least two, maybe three points." West Brom captain James Morrison reflected on his side's performance: "We were on the defensive for a lot of the game and certainly rode our luck at times.
We weren't good enough on the ball, especially in the first half. We certainly didn't play the sort of football we did in pre‑season. We need to be a lot better than this, although I am sure we will be better once we get into our rhythm. In the end we were grateful for some good saves from Max (O'Leary), some good blocks – and a lot of hard work.
We improved a bit after the break, and I think the substitutions helped and it was obviously pleasing to get those late goals." Overall, the match was a testament to West Brom's resilience and ability to capitalize on limited chances, while Norwich will need to analyse missed opportunities and the contentious goal to avoid similar disappointments in future fixtures.