West Brom kicked off their Championship season with a dramatic, hard‑won 2-1 triumph at Carrow Road, employing a swift, opportunistic approach that ultimately paid off. The visitors endured sustained pressure from the Canaries for long stretches, yet they held their composure and managed to find the net twice in the closing stages through Aune Heggebo and Jimmy‑Jay Morgan, securing an unexpected three points.
The opening goal, however, sparked debate because the ball appeared to make contact with Heggebo's arm before crossing the line. In the dying moments of the match, Norwich’s substitute Mathias Kvistgaarden pulled one back, but his effort arrived too late to alter the outcome. The home side were left to ponder how they could not only miss out on the full three points but also surrender a lead they had built for much of the game. From the first whistle, Norwich dictated the tempo, launching attacks almost immediately.
Within four minutes, Kenny McLean found himself in a promising position after a quick one‑two with Anis Ben Slimane on the right flank, only to be denied by a superb reflex save from West Brom keeper Max O'Leary. That early denial set the tone for a tightly contested first half in which the Canaries generally held the initiative but failed to create a clear-cut chance against O'Leary. Defender Kellen Fisher attempted a long‑range effort from the edge of the box, which O'Leary comfortably saved. Later, a dangerous cross from the left looked destined to produce the opening goal, but a last‑ditch clearance by West Brom’s Callum Styles extinguished the danger.
Throughout the half, the Baggies’ defensive shape remained solid, but their attacking output was limited. Heggebo’s first attempt to break the deadlock drifted wide after 25 minutes, leaving the half ending without a goal. The second half began with Norwich again on the front foot. Nat Phillips produced a crucial block, deflecting Ben Slimane’s shot onto the side netting and preventing an early lead for the hosts.
On the hour mark, Phillips repeated his heroics, this time thwarting a promising move by Paris Maghoma, who had created a chance for Andre Brooks. The towering defender’s intervention kept the score level and underscored the physical nature of the contest. Norwich continued to press, with Mohamed Toure striking the upright after cutting in from the left, and O'Leary later denying a flick‑on from Fisher at the back post. The home side seemed destined to score, yet the breakthrough finally arrived at the 75‑minute mark, and it was West Brom who capitalised.
Styles delivered a low cross down the inside‑left channel to Morgan, whose well‑timed run allowed him to meet the ball and head it past the Norwich goalkeeper. The goal was contentious; replays suggested the ball may have brushed Heggebo’s arm before crossing the line, but the officials allowed it to stand, prompting an immediate protest from the home fans. Eight minutes later, Isaac Price unleashed a long‑range strike that could have doubled the lead, but Vladan Kovacevic produced a superb save to keep the score at 1‑0.
West Brom’s defensive discipline continued, with Styles making another vital block, after which the team surged forward. In the 87th minute, Morgan again showcased composure, receiving the ball on the left, cutting inside, and finishing calmly inside the box to make it 2‑0. Norwich refused to surrender without a fight.
In added time, Jacob Wright found the net, only for O'Leary to make an incredible reflex save, keeping the ball in play. Kvistgaarden, who had entered as a substitute, pounced on the loose ball and headed it home, reducing the deficit to 2‑1 and giving the Canaries a glimmer of hope in the final seconds.
Post‑match reactions highlighted the controversy surrounding the first goal. Norwich midfielder Philippe Clement argued, “It was clearly a handball – we could see it from 50 yards away.
One of the four officials should have spotted it. Missing such a decisive moment has cost us at least two, maybe three points.” West Brom captain James Morrison reflected on his side’s performance, acknowledging periods of defensive vulnerability and a lack of ball control in the first half.
He added, “We weren’t as sharp as we were in pre‑season, but we improved after the break. The substitutions helped, and we’re grateful for Max O’Leary’s saves and the hard work from the back line.” The match also featured a reminder for fans to watch Championship highlights on their phones and a promotion for a free Super 6 competition with a £250,000 prize.
Overall, the game was a testament to West Brom’s resilience and ability to seize late opportunities, while Norwich were left to rue a missed chance and a contentious decision that ultimately shaped the result.