Match ends, Norwich City 1, Brentford 0.
NorwichNorwich City1BrentfordBrentford0
Norwich's Emiliano Buendia netted his first goal in English football as the Canaries beat Brentford at Carrow Road to continue their charge up the Championship table.
The Argentine midfielder, who joined Norwich from Getafe in the summer, scored the only goal in the 34th minute to secure the home side's seventh win in nine league games.
The Canaries created more chances and should have increased their margin of victory, but Jordan Rhodes had a penalty saved on the stroke of half-time.
Brentford's Neal Maupay, who remains the division's top scorer with 11, almost salvaged an equaliser when he hit the bar 20 minutes from time, but the visitors are still seeking their first point under new boss Thomas Frank.
The Bees, who have not won in nine matches and have lost all three games since Dean Smith left, held their own in the opening half hour.
Ex-Norwich winger Sergi Canos tested Tim Krul twice and Ollie Watkins bundled their best chance over the bar.
But the deadlock was broken when Timm Klose's ball from the halfway line picked out Buendia, whose finish whistled into the bottom corner.
Rhodes squandered two excellent opportunities to extend the Canaries' advantage, shooting wide from close range after Todd Cantwell teed him up.
The Norwich striker could have made immediate amends for that miss when Watkins brought down Max Aarons inside the penalty area, but his low spot-kick was saved by the diving Dan Bentley.
Klose and Jamal Lewis had chances to wrap up the points in the second half before Maupay almost drew Brentford level, lunging to fire against the woodwork after Krul had denied substitute Lewis Macleod.
Norwich City manager Daniel Farke told BBC Radio Norfolk:
"It's another one-goal win, but I am pretty pleased, we have got nine points from three games this week against good opponents, which is really brilliant.
"When you judge the amount of chances each side had, we were the better side and missed so many chances, which could have made it a much easier win.
"In the previous two victories we have played a bit more like champagne football, but we dominated a Brentford side that are not easy to play against.
"It was not a perfect game in terms of our offensive play, but I am pleased with the win and the clean sheet."
Brentford manager Thomas Frank:
"I think the result was very harsh on us - to me it should have been a 1-1 game.
"But we can't feel sorry for ourselves. This is all part of football and you have to deal with it. We will keeping working hard and if we keep playing like we did today, and against Bristol City last week, we will start winning games again soon.
"I thought we started the game really well and created five or six really good counter-attacks but the end product was poor. Then we give away a soft goal from a long ball, which was really disappointing.
"I thought we then controlled possession for the first 30 minutes of the second half and when our big chance came unfortunately we couldn't take it.
"If I could have chosen anyone to be in that position it would have been Neal Maupay but on this occasion he couldn't put it away. He has been superb for us this season and he will score a lot more goals, take it from me."
Line-ups
Norwich
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Krul
- 37Aarons
- 6Zimmermann
- 15Klose
- 12Lewis
- 10LeitnerSubstituted forTrybullat 90+2'minutes
- 27Tettey
- 17BuendíaSubstituted forHernándezat 84'minutes
- 18Stiepermann
- 36Cantwell
- 11RhodesSubstituted forSrbenyat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Godfrey
- 7Marshall
- 8Vrancic
- 19Trybull
- 25Hernández
- 32Srbeny
- 33McGovern
Brentford
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Bentley
- 22DalsgaardBooked at 5mins
- 26Konsa
- 6Mepham
- 29Barbet
- 12MokotjoSubstituted forMcEachranat 30'minutes
- 8YennarisSubstituted forMacLeodat 72'minutes
- 7CanosSubstituted forBenrahmaat 57'minutes
- 19Sawyers
- 11Watkins
- 9Maupay
Substitutes
- 2Odubajo
- 4MacLeod
- 10McEachran
- 18Judge
- 20Clarke
- 21Benrahma
- 28Daniels
- Referee:
- Oliver Langford
- Attendance:
- 25,443
Match Stats
Home TeamNorwichAway TeamBrentford
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away5
- Corners
- Home4
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Norwich City 1, Brentford 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Onel Hernández (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Neal Maupay (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Josh McEachran.
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Tom Trybull replaces Moritz Leitner.
Post update
Ezri Konsa Ngoyo (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Onel Hernández (Norwich City).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ollie Watkins (Brentford) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Maximillian Aarons.
Post update
Ezri Konsa Ngoyo (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Onel Hernández (Norwich City).
Post update
Attempt saved. Chris Mepham (Brentford) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lewis MacLeod with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Timm Klose.
Post update
Offside, Norwich City. Moritz Leitner tries a through ball, but Todd Cantwell is caught offside.
Post update
Foul by Henrik Dalsgaard (Brentford).
Post update
Moritz Leitner (Norwich City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Onel Hernández replaces Emiliano Buendía.
Post update
Foul by Romaine Sawyers (Brentford).
Post update
Moritz Leitner (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Todd Cantwell (Norwich City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Moritz Leitner.
