Norwich City's year-long unbeaten home run finally came to an end with a 2-0 loss to Bristol City at Carrow Road.

The injury-hit Canaries were hit twice on the counter-attack having failed to make the most of their significant possession, limping into an international break that's much needed in Norfolk.

Norwich had the better of the opening exchanges, Emiliano Marcondes going close when he flicked Callum Doyle's header onto the post and much of the territory dominated by the hosts.

It was Liam Manning's side who scored first, however, former Colney academy man Anis Mehmeti taking advantage of the significant space he was allowed to fire into the bottom corner with his left foot.

From there the quality of the game reduced, with the home team resorting to a series of chipped balls in behind and Bristol happy to stop them playing through the thirds

Half time gave Johannes Hoff Thorup the chance to recalibrate, but the pattern continued into the second half. It took until the 56th minute to fashion any sort of chance, and Ante Crnac could only find goalkeeper Max O'Leary's arms from long range.

Just seven minutes after that, the decisive blow was struck. Jason Knight had even more space than Mehmeti did when he laid off for Nahki Wells, and the experienced striker finished with aplomb.

Norwich tried to get back into the game to little avail, O'Leary's comfortable save from Shane Duffy's header as close as they came to finding the net.

They're back in action with a trip to West Brom in two weeks' time, and this result highlighted more than ever why the returns of Angus Gunn and Marcelino Nunez will be huge on that occasion.

NORWICH CITY:

Substitutes:

37. Mair (GK)

3. Stacey (on for Sorensen, 59)

5. Hanley

14. Chrisene (on for Cordoba, 59)

16. Fassnacht (on for Slimane, 87)

18. Forson (on for Schwartau, 76)

21. Gordon

44. Myles

47. Mahovo

Head Coach: Johannes Hoff Thorup

Bookings: Fisher (36), Sainz (69)

BRISTOL CITY:

Substitutes:

23. Bajic (GK)

5. Atkinson

7. Hirakawa (on for Earthy, 65)

9. Mayulu (on for Wells, 82)

27. Cornick

30. Armstrong

31. Morrison

33. Campbell-Slowey

39. Phillips

Head Coach: Liam Manning

Goals: Mehmeti (16), Wells (63)

KEY MOMENTS

5 - Marcondes does well to flick Doyle's cross goalward, but his header bounces off the near post and away.

13 - Crnac cuts in and shoots from 25 yards, dragging his effort well wide.

16 - GOAL BRISTOL CITY (Mehmeti): Bird switches the ball to Roberts who finds Mehmeti in plenty of space to fire into the corner from the edge of the box.

33 - O'Leary comfortably catches Marcondes' free-kick from 30 yards.

Half time: Norwich City 0-1 Bristol City

56 - Space opens up for Crnac to shoot from distance, but his drive lacks the power to beat O'Leary.

63 - GOAL BRISTOL CITY (Wells): Knight drives forward on the counter before laying off to Wells inside the box, and he lashes beyond Long for 2-0.

78 - O'Leary tips Duffy's header over the bar from Marcondes' corner.

90+4 - Mehmeti's strike is deflected onto the bar.

Full time: Norwich City 0-2 Bristol City

PLAYER RATINGS

Long 6, Fisher 6, Duffy 4, Cordoba 5, Doyle 6, Sorensen 5, Slimane 4, Schwartau 5, Crnac 5, Sainz 6, Marcondes 6. Subs: Stacey 5, Chrisene 6, Forson 5, Fassnacht 5.

MATCH STATISTICS

Possession: 65pc-35pc

Shots: 9-8

On target: 3-2

Corners: 3-3

Fouls: 16-8

Added time: 2 mins/5 mins

Attendance: 26,423 (742 Bristol City)

Referee: Farai Hallam