Cardiff’s Sawyers stuns Norwich on debut before both sides suffer red cards

Norwich City’s almost biennial attempt to bounce back into the Premier League got off to the worst possible start as they fell to a dismal 1-0 defeat at Cardiff City. A goal early in the second half by midfielder Romaine Sawyers, a summer signing from West Brom, was enough to earn Cardiff all three points in front of a typically fervent home crowd.

While the Championship is a long and arduous road the Norwich manager, Dean Smith, will be under no illusions that most – not least his team’s own fans – will expect his team to achieve promotion in line with their well-deserved yo-yo club reputation.

This was no more than an initial setback in that quest. Yet there will be understandable concern among those who travelled from Norfolk and beyond at the lack of overall threat Smith’s charges posed against a side who have recruited heavily, but on a shoestring, and sent out virtually an entire new team for this opener.

Cardiff finished full value for their victory, even when Perry Ng was dismissed in the 74th minute for a second yellow card after pulling back Milot Rashica as the visitors looked to counterattack and that win looked in doubt.

The Ng flashpoint looked potentially costly to a home side clinging to a slender lead in the final throes, but the numbers were evened out 11 minutes later when Norwich captain Grant Hanley also saw red after his tackle on substitute Mark Harris warranted a second caution.

By then the encounter was reaching a frenetic climax, with Norwich desperately seeking an equaliser and the home side counting down the clock.

Optimism and trepidation prevailed among Cardiff fans before kick-off depending on who you spoke to. A busy summer of arrivals and departures – 14 in, 13 out – saw the home side