Snapshot: Carrow Road continued to be a stadium where Cardiff can't seem to buy a result on Saturday, as the Bluebirds fell to their second loss of the season, reducing their league lead to three points due to Preston picking up a 2-1 win at home to Hull.

The opening goal came in the seventh minute in a half that saw the Bluebirds look a shadow of their usual selves. Dickson Etuhu blasted a fine shot from distance that beat the diving Alexander and smash into the top right of the goal.

The chances in the opening forty five minutes were plentiful for our hosts, with efforts for Huckerby, Earnshaw and Robinson almost extending the Norwich lead. The score-line was largely kept to a single goal deficit thanks to the work rate of Neil Alexander and the Bluebirds no doubt would have had the riot act blasted at them by Dave Jones at the break.

A change of personnel was made for the opening of the second half to bring on Malvin Kamara for Luigi Glombard, with the Frenchman likely to want to quickly forget his starting debut.

Cardiff played far better football in the second period, though rarely tested debutant Ashdown in the Norwich goal - and as they say, you can't score if you don't create clear chances. Despite the improvement it was destined to end in a defeat - with our misery added to as Kerrea Gilbert was sent off with substitute Paul McVeigh after four minutes of stoppage time.

Team news: The big questions among the local media and travelling City fans prior to the game were, 'Who would replace the suspended Chopra?' and 'Would Dave change things around in midfield or plumb for a straight striker replacement in Kevin Campbell or Luigi Glombard?'

The 'City boss confirmed our speculation on he submission of the team sheet. The responsibility was handed to Glombard to take the striking mantel in his first start since joining from Nantes in the summer.

The selection was, we assumed made to maintain the continuity in the midfield and minimizes disruption to the pattern of the team. The only change came on the bench as Dave opted to include Mark Howard on the bench - the move against the recent policy to hold only outfield players as substitutes.

Cardiff City: Alexander, Gilbert, Loovens, Purse, Chambers, McPhail, Scimeca, Parry, Ledley, Thompson, Glombard. Subs: Howard (GK), Johnson, Flood, Campbell, Kamara

News from the Norwich camp came in with Norwich Captain Adam Drury being available despite fears of a midweek injury in the Canaries away win over Birmingham. New Norwich boss Peter Grant on his Carrow Road had month long loan Jamie Ashdown in the starting eleven; the goalkeeper from Portsmouth.

Norwich City: Ashdown, Drury, Shackell, Huckerby, Croft, Earsnshaw, Safri, Etuhu, Colin, Doherty, Robinson. Subs: Gallacher (GK), Fleming, Dublin, McVeigh, Jarvis

Chronological Report: The first chance fell for Cardiff after just two minutes as Joe Ledley made a good run along the left channel to connect with a Scimeca ball. Joe then sent in a high cross to the Norwich penalty area that was cleared to Steve Thompson - the resulting strike fizzing narrowly wide to the left of Ashdown's goal.

Two minutes later it was the Canaries turn to test a 'keeper through Huckerby. Their highly rated signing cleared his marker to fire at Alexander, but was considered offside as he shot - the ball held well by Alexander in case the decision didn't come.

The missed opportunity was quickly forgotten however as just after six minutes our hosts took the lead with style. Norwich were patient in their build up play before Dickson Etuhu blasted a fine shot from distance that beat the diving Alexander and smash into the top right of the goal.

GOAL: Norwich 0 - 1 Cardiff (Etuhu. 6 mins)

Our hosts were clearly fired up for the match against the league leaders and were looking more composed than Cardiff - this a fact enjoyed by the home crowd who were welcoming new manager Peter Grant to his new home dugout.

Glenn Loovens after eight minutes made a cynical foul on Earnshaw in the centre circle to see the Dutch defender yellow carded for coming in behind our former striker.

Despite not carving out any real quality chances, City were still active in the game in the Norwich half. The Canaries were still the dominant force however and just before twenty minutes had elapsed Huckerby started and ended a move that could have easily made it two.

Huckerby picked up a lost cause on the left to then feed the ball well to Earnshaw in the area. The resulting effort came to nothing, but the clearance fell to Huckerby who rifled a shot to sting the gloves of Alexander.

The home factor continued as chances were coming thick and fast on our goal. Gary Doherty after twenty five minutes displayed his prowess and intelligence in front of goal, latching onto a corner to then trick and beat Thompson on the right of our penalty area. His angled shot looked to test Alexander but was deflected before getting there.

Cardiff were finding the game hard to get into and the chances from blue shirts were lacking and the passing not showing the usual flare and consistency. Our main creativity was coming via Parry on the right, though his final ball could never be picked up on.

With just under ten minuets of the half on the clock Norwich fans were incensed by a referee decision that denied a possible penalty as the ball struck the arm of Glenn Loovens. The contact was clearly unintentional but we've seen them so often awarded and were unlucky to see the decision go our way.

A minute later another great chance came for our hosts as a twenty yard free kick was quickly taken by Safri and threaded through the City back line for Carl Robinson to run on to. The move was a clever one but Robinson just failed to connect with the ball - a bad miss for them, but a lucky one for us.

The chances continued with two late Earnie efforts denied by good goalkeeping from Neil Alexander. After a shot straight at our 'keeper Earnie was then gifted another opportunity from an awful back pass in the Norwich half from Glombard that was easily picked up by the Welsh striker who one on one with Alexander should have maybe done better. Credit however should go to Alexander for a good low save with his legs.

Half Time: Norwich 1 - 0 Cardiff

As speculated at half time, Dave made a tactical switch after the interval. Glombard was placed on the bench and Malvin Kamara was brought on to take up Parry's wide right position - Parry moving alongside Thompson up front.

The change in the early stages seemed to be working as City came out quickly and looking more like the team we have come to expect seeing in the opening ten minutes. Kamara was certainly helping our sense of urgency by making some good runs on the right winning corners and creating crosses.

After fifty four minutes Adam Drury was added to the book for a challenge on Kerrea Gilbert that took the man and ball, but was considered dangerous.

Four minutes later the Lee Croft was lucky to escape a red card after some handbags between him and Purse ended with Drury pushing the City skipper to the deck. Referee Bates took the Norwich player to one side before brandishing a yellow card - a decision that was booed by both sets of supporters.

The half progressed with Cardiff coming more into the game, though not finding the way through they craved. Norwich were allowing the Bluebirds time on the ball, much to the annoyance of the home crowd and they forced to counter-attack; though through Huckerby and Earnshaw were always dangerous.

After running for large portions of the game, Darren Huckerby was replaced by Paul McVeigh - the change a straight swap.Similarly Cardiff made a change to the striking options after seventy minutes as Kevin Campbell was introduced to replace Steven Thompson. Dave then brought Willo Flood on for Joe Ledley with just under ten minutes to go.

The last chance for City came via Flood who worked well to keep the ball while moving towards goal under pressure. After he was eventually crowded out the ball came to Scimeca, but the midfielders shooting boots were absent as he blasted a shot miles over the bar.

Further events followed to add to the highlights package in the allotted five minutes of injury time after Dion Dublin was brought on for Safri. First Flood was booked for a lunging tackle on Earnshaw.

Then with sixty seconds remaining both Kerrea Gilbert and Paul McVeigh were sent off after a tussle on the right touchline. It appeared as kicks were exchanged after McVeigh brought Kerrea down with a hard tackle - then a forward head motion was used by the midfielder that forced Gilbert to react with a push.

It was the final act of note in a game that Norwich were worthy winners and one that we will want to bounce back from at home to Derby next weekend. We hope hat normal service will be resumed soon in the knowledge that you can't win them all.

Full Time: Norwich 1 - 0 Cardiff