Cardiff 2-3 Norwich City: Paddy Davitt Championship marks

• George Long             7

Both coaches acknowledged his smothering stop from Karlan Grant a minute before the hour mark proved a pivotal moment in the contest. Couple of sharp first half stops when he grasped a low effort going to his left from Jamilu Collins.

Then got a paw to Josh Bowler’s angled hit. Beaten by the wide player when his defence got attracted to Callum Robinson. Foiled the same player at his near post in first half stoppage time.

• Kellen Fisher             5

Bumpy first 45 minute with no real support ahead of him from Christian Fassnacht, and Cardiff canny enough to manufacture a series of overloads. Not able to get across quickly enough to Collins for the stand up cross Robinson headed home.

Robinson turned on the after burners before that, then squared for Bowler to test Long. Sloppy attempt at a slip pass from Kenny McLean’s raking crossfield ball. Took aim at the end of the first half but his smack from a deep corner hit Hwang Ui-Jo.

• Jaden Warner          5

Very tough shift before making way for Adam Idah. Held off, along with McLean, by Robinson, who reversed the ball across the box for Bowler to finish. Rolled by Yakou Meite in the switch for Grant to feed the overlapping Collins for Robinson’s header.

Then dragged out of position again to leave Grant with the freedom of the visitors' final third to race through, but Long stood up tall.

• Danny Batth                    7

Singled out by Wagner for praise. Presence in both boxes. Notably when he attacked the corner that dropped for Fassnacht to swivel and produce a cross Ryan Wintle toed past Jak Alnwick. Excellent block in the 26th minute from Bowler’s shot.

Completed the clearance inside his own six yard box when Long parried from the same player. Tried to come across and deal with Robinson, but the Republic of Ireland international was able to shape a low cross despatched by Bowler.

Snapshot on the turn in the 64th minute at Alnwick from an attacking corner. Then launched himself at Gabby Sara’s free kick, before a second headed attempted was batted away by Alnwick.

• Przemyslaw Placheta        5

Learning his trade at left back and against a very sharp operator in Bowler was taken into deep water. Positionally exposed too often before he was replaced at the interval. Very fortunate, watching in real time, not to concede a penalty when he was beaten in the air by Bowler in the 28th minute, and proceeded to bundle over the player in a desperate attempt to rectify the situation on the edge of his own area.

Beaten by Robinson, who got the early jump for Cardiff’s second goal. Failed to sense the danger at the back post for the equaliser. Glimpses of his attacking threat in that new role in the first quarter. Smacked a half-volley over in the third minute.

Beat his man and got to the byline in the 17th minute in a move that ended with Sara slapping a left-footed shot wide. Later served up a whipped near post cross Hwang miscued.

• Kenny McLean      7

Wagner insisted afterwards the captain has been the only player to maintain his usual consistent level during this recent downturn.

Raking pass for Dimi Giannoulis sparked the move for the winner. You could see what it meant on his face as he celebrated with Idah in front of the away support. Picked out Przemyslaw Placheta as early as the third minute.

Trapped on the edge of his own box by Robinson, but Sara rode to the rescue. Defence-splitting pass for Fassnacht who linked with Placheta for a Sara chance.

Near post flick from Sara’s corner brought Fassnacht’s opener. Did sense the growing danger when Robinson burst onto a throw in the Norwich area, but was not able to get close enough to prevent the cross.

• Gabby Sara                6

More sighters than of late to add to his goal tally. Drifted a left-footed free kick 25 yards out wide of the near post, after he was felled veering across the box. Smacked a low shot wide from the edge of the area in the 17th minute.

Then Alnwick parried from Hwang’s set, to earn the corner he dropped on McLean’s head for Fassnacht’s goal. Lovely clip with outside of his left for Giannoulis in the 70th minute.

Dropped another set piece on the head of Batth to test Alnwick, before the corner arrowed towards the towering centre back that led to Wintle’s own goal from Fassnacht’s cut back.

• Christian Fassnacht             7

One goal, one de facto assist was not a bad return for the birthday boy. Pre-planned corner routine worked perfectly when he was left unmarked to slot McLean’s near post flick. Gathered from the Scot to release Placheta for Sara’s early chance.

Left-footed strike in the 51st minute brushed the diving Mark McGuinness and flew behind. Did not give up a miscued clearance from Batth’s towering leap, and generated enough power on his swivelling cross for Wintle to stick out a foot to divert the ball past Alnwick.

• Marcelino Nunez          5

On the margins in that link role to Hwang. Did shovel the ball on for Fassnacht to pull the trigger shortly after the interval. Shot on the angle from Giannoulis’ roll parried behind. Skied high into the away end when the ball dropped from a partial Cardiff clearance in the 72nd minute.

• Jon Rowe     7

Came to the fore in that late carnage. Composure to collect Giannoulis’ pass, then shape to shoot before dragging it onto his left to test Alnwick, who pushed the ball out for Idah to finish. Darted along the byline in the opening quarter but the cross was cut out. Rolled in Placheta who picked out Hwang.

Squared up his man to drive into the box and earn a corner in the 62nd minute. Burst into the box again moments later, but Alnwick made a big reaction stop at his near post. Looping shot in stoppage time grasped under his bar by Alnwick.

• Hwang Ui-Jo                   6

Thankless task in the early sparring, with Cardiff content to let Norwich have the ball in defensive areas but the Canaries unable to regularly progress it forward with any genuine threat. Met by a crunching Dimitrios Goutas challenge when he did show for Batth.

Big chance spurned when he got across his man at the near post in the first half but was unable to cushion Placheta's cross home.

Subs

• Jack Stacey (for Fisher, 45)                4

• Dimi Giannoulis (for Placheta, 45)                 6

His run made up McLean's mind, followed by the excellent chest control and awareness to pick out Rowe for Idah's winner. Earlier teed up Marcelino Nunez, and another overlapping burst created space for Rowe to probe.

• Adam Idah (for Warner, 64)                7

Right man, right place for Norwich to underline his predatory instincts when the ball drops in the area are as sharp as any in this squad. Also showed his touch, reversing a pass into the feet of Rowe to drive on and test Alnwick. Offered more of a physical presence and a target than Hwang.

• Liam Gibbs (for Nunez, 75)                 4

• Onel Hernandez (for Hwang, 81)                    5

Desperate dive on the line to try and get a touch to claim the second Norwich goal credited to Wintle. Deflection took the heat out of his 87th minute shot.