David Wagner’s first match in charge of Norwich City ended in defeat as the Canaries were knocked out of the FA Cup by Blackburn Rovers at Carrow Road.
Jack Vale gave the visitors the lead in the all-Championship third-round tie just after the half-hour mark following a mix-up in the Norwich defence.
Rovers goalkeeper Aynsley Pears denied Onel Hernandez, Max Aarons and Jordan Hugill as Norwich sought an equaliser.
Danel Sinani then had a shot deflected wide in injury time as Rovers held on.
Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side will take on either League One strugglers Forest Green Rovers or fellow Championship club Birmingham City in the fourth round, with ties to be played between 27 and 30 January.
Wagner was appointed on Friday on a 12-month rolling contract, filling the vacancy created after Dean Smith was sacked on 27 December.
The 51-year-old made six changes from the 1-0 defeat by Watford on Monday, with goalkeeper Tim Krul among those recalled.
Norwich had threatened through a Grant Hanley header and Teemu Pukki’s shot over the bar before falling behind after a backpass from centre-back Hanley sold Krul short.
Dilan Markanday closed down the former Netherlands international and the loose ball fell to Bradley Dack, who squared for Vale to steer past a covering defender on the line.
Ben Brereton Diaz missed a good chance to make it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time, sending his left-footed shot over the bar.
Six-time FA Cup winners Blackburn put in a solid defensive display after the break to progress to the fourth round of the competition for the first time since the 2016-17 season, while Norwich suffered a third-round exit for the first time in four seasons.
Former Huddersfield Town boss Wagner can now concentrate on reviving Norwich’s fortunes in the league, with the side three points off the play-off places in 11th following relegation from the Premier League last season.
source – BBC
