Norwich City 0-2 Leicester: Paddy Davitt Championship pointers

1. Bitter pill

There should be less home angst at the manner of Leicester’s penalty, conceded when Stephy Mavididi tumbled under the rash attentions of Christian Fassnacht, than a huge swell of pride at the manner Norwich responded to that self-inflicted adversity.

Wagner acknowledged Leicester’s prowess in the build up, but also pledged to make this one of their most uncomfortable nights of the season.

City certainly delivered on that brief. For a spell in the second half, it was relentless pressure from Norwich.

Shane Duffy was denied by a brilliant stop from the Foxes’ keeper, Kenny McLean curled a long range strike against the bar, before Gabby Sara’s free kick brushed the side netting. Much to the chagrin of plenty stationed in the South Stand who thought the Brazilian had levelled.

It was not to be, and to underline Wagner’s prediction about Leicester’s quality, Kasey McAteer punished the Canaries for failing to turn all that second half fury into any tangible reward.

Scant consolation right now after a first home league defeat of the season, but if Leicester truly are the stand outs in this Championship, then Norwich have nothing to fear.

2. Through the ages

A dash of Bobby Moore, a hint of Franz Beckenbauer, a booking for a tackle that would not have looked out of place in the rugby World Cup, and a soaring header Alan Shearer might have been proud to call his own.  Quite the night for Duffy.

A little something for everyone but more evidence the Republic of Ireland international has brought experience, nous and a reassurance to a defensive line that was breached too easily down the stretch last season.

Ben Gibson certainly looks a more composed operator alongside the Irishman. Wagner was moved to label Gibson’s Stoke shift one of his best under his guidance. But Duffy is the glue for this Norwich backline in the absence of Grant Hanley.

The perfectly-timed tackle to halt Kelechi Iheanacho with an outstretched leg was the great Moore on Pele in the 1970 World Cup. If you are of a younger vintage head to your chosen social media provider.

Wagner has previously spoken about Duffy’s understated ability on the ball, and he accepted every opportunity to step into midfield by the Foxes, but it was at the other end that his towering aerial presence almost dragged Norwich level.

Only a world class reaction stop from Mads Hermansen to claw away his close range header from Onel Hernandez’s stood up cross denied him a first goal in Norwich colours.

That will surely come. At various stages in this relatively early stage of the season there is already a debate raging who will prove to be the pick of the Canaries’ summer acquisitions. Duffy is at the forefront of that conversation.

3. Levels

Jack Stacey is another of the new intake to have caught the eye. A match-winning display against the Potters brought fresh praise from supporters and head coach alike.

But the former Bournemouth man was taken into deep water by Leicester’s excellent attacker Mavididi. The ex-Arsenal trainee went into this Carrow Road tussle with two league goals and two assists following his summer move from France.

Mavididi's pace and directness look well-suited to the brand of football Enzo Maresca is trying to develop in the East Midlands.

There was precious little of the front-foot attacking play from the full back in the opening period that has delighted so far this season. Mavididi was the aggressor and the dominant force. Just past the half-hour mark a simple shift of his body was all he needed to whip a cross around Stacey that flew along the six yard line.

The Leicester man then drifted away from both Stacey and Fassnacht before the Swiss tried to recover his ground inside the Norwich box for the penalty slotted by Iheanacho.

The second half was a different matter. For Stacey and his team mates, who did everything but equalise, before McAteer slotted a killer late second after the ailing Stacey was tricked by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

A testing night but Stacey will not have the misfortune to run into either Mavididi or Leicester on a weekly basis in the Championship.

4. Tough gig, Gibbsy

A show of faith in Liam Gibbs from Wagner to elevate him to the starting line up for the first time in the Championship this season against, for the German, the gold standard.

Gibbs was deployed behind Ashley Barnes with Adam Idah relegated to the substitutes’ bench. Given Leicester’s proficiency in that key midfield area of the park you could see the logic.

But the opening 45 minutes was a tough watch, never mind a tough ask for the youngster. There was one moment of creative quality, when he helped slip in Fassnacht for a clear sight of the Foxes’ goal.

But it looked like a step too far as Leicester blunted Norwich’s work in the final third. Wagner kept faith at the interval and Gibbs responded before he later made way for Hwang. Aided perhaps by the more mobile presence of Idah to play off, and a concerted attempt from the Canaries to press higher and condense the play in the Leicester half.

Gibbs was left shaking his head in the 54th minute when he slashed at a dropping ball from Przemyslaw Placheta’s persistence. For a player of such promise and technical quality it was a big chance on the corner of the six yard box.

Then he drilled a cross at Hamza Choudhury as he took up the challenge of trying to provide the spark. But it was the little sideshow with Harry Winks that Gibbs should file away from this contest against the title favourites.

The former Tottenham man used all his top flight nous to lever Gibbs to the floor, after Idah had triggered a promising counter. With the ball dead, Gibbs then traded verbal barbs and eventually it needed an intervention from the referee to separate the pair.

As learning curves go, 70-odd minutes in such exalted company should be invaluable for the battles ahead, for a young prospect who so far has had to defer to the likes of Gabby Sara and McLean.