West Brom kicked off their Championship season with a dramatic, hard‑fought 2-1 triumph at Carrow Road, a win that will be remembered for its controversy as much as its late heroics. The Baggies endured long spells under pressure from the Canaries, but they held their nerve and found the net twice in the closing stages, thanks to goals from Aune Heggebo and Jimmy‑Jay Morgan.
The first of those goals sparked debate because the ball appeared to brush Heggebo's arm before crossing the line, a detail that Norwich supporters and their captain, Philippe Clement, later highlighted as a clear oversight by the officials. Norwich, who had dominated much of the opening half, were unable to convert any of their early chances into a lead. The match began with the home side immediately asserting themselves, threatening to take the initiative within the first four minutes. Kenny McLean, playing a sharp one‑two with Anis Ben Slimane on the right flank, found himself with a clear sight of goal, only to be denied by an impressive save from West Brom keeper Max O'Leary.
That early intervention set the tone for a tightly contested first half, in which the Canaries enjoyed more possession but failed to trouble O'Leary seriously again. Defender Kellen Fisher attempted a long‑range snap‑shot from the edge of the box, but O'Leary comfortably gathered the effort. When a promising cross from the left seemed destined to produce the opening goal, Callum Styles made a vital last‑ditch clearance, snuffing out the danger. The Baggies' defensive resilience was evident, yet their attacking play remained muted.
Their only genuine chance of the half came in the 25th minute when Heggebo dragged a promising move wide, missing an opportunity to break the deadlock. The second half saw Norwich continue to press, and early on Nat Phillips produced a crucial block, diverting Ben Slimane's effort into the side‑netting. Phillips repeated his defensive heroics around the hour mark, this time thwarting a seemingly certain goal after Paris Maghoma crafted a chance on the edge of the box and set up Andre Brooks. The towering defender used his physical presence to smother the attempt, keeping the score level at zero.
Norwich's relentless pressure finally appeared to pay off when Mohamed Toure struck the upright after cutting in from the left, and O'Leary later denied Fisher a clear‑cut header at the back post. It seemed inevitable that the home side would eventually break the deadlock, but the breakthrough came for West Brom in the 75th minute, and it was the visitors who struck first. Styles threaded a low cross down the inside‑left channel to Morgan, whose run into the box was well‑timed. Heggebo met the ball and bundled it over the line, despite Norwich players appealing for an offside call.
Replays suggested the ball may have brushed Heggebo's arm as it crossed the line, a point later emphasized by Clement as a missed, game‑changing decision. Eight minutes later, Isaac Price unleashed a long‑range effort that could have doubled the lead, but Vladan Kovacevic produced a superb save to keep the score at 1-0.
The Baggies continued to press, and Styles again made a decisive block before West Brom launched a swift counter‑attack. Morgan, now showing great composure, received the ball on the left, cut inside, and slotted a composed finish into the net in the 87th minute, extending the lead to 2-0. Norwich, refusing to capitulate, fought back in added time. A spectacular reflex save from O'Leary denied Jacob Wright, but substitute Mathias Kvistgaarden was quick to react, heading in the loose ball to make it 2-1 as the match entered stoppage time.
Despite the late goal, the Canaries could not find an equaliser, and West Brom walked away with three points. Post‑match reactions highlighted the controversy surrounding the first goal. Norwich captain Philippe Clement argued, "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. Missing game‑changing moments like this shouldn't happen – it has cost us at least two, maybe three points." West Brom midfielder James Morrison reflected on his team's performance, acknowledging the defensive work required to stay afloat: "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." The match also featured several promotional messages, including reminders to watch EFL games on mobile devices, a prompt to view free Championship highlights, and a call‑to‑action for a Super 6 competition offering a chance to win £250,000. Overall, West Brom's opening league fixture was a testament to resilience and opportunism, while Norwich will likely review the officiating decisions and look to bounce back in their next outing.