Sunday 20 September 2026
Norwich suffered a second straight 4-3 defeat in the Sky Bet Championship, as Bolton Wanderers came out on top in a thrilling match at Carrow Road. The Canaries had also lost 4-3 at Middlesbrough the previous Saturday, and again traded goals with their opponents before Bolton substitute Atsuki Ito scored the decisive goal midway through the second half.
The opening half was breathless. Norwich went ahead in the fifth minute when Andre Brooks slipped in Mo Toure through the inside-right channel. The in-form Australian striker fired home from just outside the area, his first-time effort beating Gavin Bazunu before the goalkeeper could react.
Bolton equalised three minutes later. Thierry Gale cut inside from the left and scored with a precise finish past Vladan Kovacevic at his near post.
Toure then had another goal ruled out for offside, and his afternoon ended after just 15 minutes when he injured his arm in a fall.
Norwich regained the lead in the 19th minute. Oscar Schwartau sent a deep corner to the far post, and centre-half Ruairi McConville headed it in off the upright for his first goal for the club.
Bolton continued to threaten, missing a couple of chances before levelling again in the 42nd minute. Norwich made a mess of playing out from the back, and Max Conway played a low cross that fell to Gaizka Larrazabal, who struck a perfect half-volley from about 20 yards.
Bolton took their first lead of the game two minutes after the restart. A neat move down the right ended with Kyliane Dong playing in Sam Dalby, who produced a clever chip to beat Kovacevic.
Norwich equalised in the 61st minute. Substitute Paris Maghoma swept the ball wide to Jack Stacey, who burst into the area and fired in off the far post.
Kovacevic made a good reaction save to deny Larrazabal a second goal, but Bolton did not have to wait long for their fourth. In the 72nd minute, substitute Ito, who had only just come on, dribbled through the centre of the home defence and calmly slotted into the bottom corner.
Norwich's Philippe Clement said: "There were some good moments for us out there today but obviously everything is overshadowed by conceding four goals. It was a frantic game – and you don't win many games of football if you concede four."
