Norwich City fall to their third successive Premier League defeat, as Salomon Rondon fires West Brom into the top half of the table.

The Venezuelan international's header just after the interval was enough to secure a 1-0 win for Tony Pulis' men, as The Canaries' defensive frailties once again prove to be their downfall in England's top flight. 

Norwich largely dominated the opening exchanges, with Matt Jarvis and Nathan Redmond, in particular, causing the West Brom full backs numerous problems. The two linked up in the 14th minute to an almost devastating effect, when Javis’s looping cross from the left flank found Redmond on the right hand side of the penalty area. After controlling the ball however, Redmond’s subsequent ferocious volleyed effort on goal was well saved by Boaz Myhill in the West Brom goal.

Redmond and Jarvis’s partnership would carve upon Pulis’ men one more time in the first half. Jarvis, once again, provided Redmond with a wonderful looping cross into the back post area; however the English youngster was unable to keep his first time volleyed effort on target, and the ball ballooned over the crossbar. 

Despite the home side’s dominance, it was West Brom who came closest to breaking the deadlock inside the opening half an hour. A well worked free kick on the edge of the penalty area almost culminated in Salomon Rondon’s second Premier League goal of the season; but the Venezuelan international was just unable to reach Claudio Yacob’s low cross from the right flank, after the midfielder had been found unmarked on the right side of the penalty area by James McClean’s initial set piece. 

Dawson spurns chance

In the dying embers of the first half, Craig Dawson spurned a glorious chance to give Tony Pulis’ men the lead. The centre back rose highest in the six-yard box to latch onto a Chris Brunt corner kick from the left flank; however, Dawson was unable to adequately control his header on goal, and the ball bounced off the surface and subsequently over the crossbar. 

Although Norwich City had territorially controlled the majority of the first half, the home side’s defensive Achilles heel was evident on occasion, most notably when West Brom had attempted to utilise the wide areas.

Rondon header gives West Brom the lead

In the first minute of the second half, the visitors effectively exploited this defensive weakness to take the lead through Rondon. The summer signing towered above Sebastien Bassong eight-yards from goal, to power a McClean cross past John Ruddy into the top right corner of the net.
  
On the hour mark, Chris Brunt came close to doubling West Brom’s advantage with a venomous effort on goal from fully 25-yards. Ruddy in the Norwich City goal however, was on hand to palm the ball clear of danger. 

After going ahead, Pulis’ men were able to quell the majority of the Canaries’ attacks with relative ease up until the 84th minute, when Bassong rose unchallenged just eight-yards from goal. The centre back was unable to capitalise upon this rare defensive lapse from the Baggies, as his headed effort on goal flew just over.

The win moves West Brom into the top half of the Premier League table ahead of their meeting with the high-flying Leicester City next week; while Norwich City will be hoping to end their dire run of form when they travel to Manchester City next weekend. 

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About the author
Jack  Gallagher
Member of the VAVEL writing team since June 2012, and became editor-in-chief of the UK edition in June 2013. English and History at QUB.