Norwich City's Academy side might have come away from Chelsea empty-handed this afternoon but there was no doubting David Williams's team gave the Blues a good run for their money, indeed it could be argued the 2-1 scoreline flattered the Premiership giants.

Norwich City's Academy side might have come away from Chelsea empty-handed this afternoon but there was no doubting David Williams's team gave the Blues a good run for their money, indeed it could be argued the 2-1 scoreline flattered the Premiership giants.

With Chris Martin making the trip to Turf Moor today it was Seb Muddel who led the Canaries' front line.

Having recovered from a head injury sustained in the reserve team game against Spurs, Tom Miller was included in the starting line-up.

Chelsea started the game with all guns blazing when Sergio Tejera sent a free-kick crashing against the City crossbar before Bally Smart cleared the loose ball.

Morten Nielsen should have done better when he sent a glancing header wide of the target while moments later Sam Hurrell cut in from the left before unleashing a low shot that City keeper Steve Arnold did well to hold on to. City's first attack almost led to the opening goal of the game when Patrick Bexfield raced clear before rounding Rheys Taylor, but with the goal begging the City midfielder somehow struck his shot against the crossbar from inside the six-yard box.

Jamie Eames saw a shot blocked after some good work from Smart but then somewhat against the run of play, and with 15 minutes on the clock, Chelsea opened the scoring when NIELSEN slid the ball under Arnold.

It then went from bad to worse for City on the half-hour mark when a mix-up involving Alvin Quaye and Arnold allowed NIELSEN to slide the ball into an empty net.

City continued to impress going forward and with five minutes to go before the break they reduced the arrears when Taylor failed to hold on to a Damon Lathrope shot allowing MUDDEL to lift the ball into the net.

City continued to push forward after the break with Lathrope forcing a save from Taylor while Muddel saw an effort cleared off the line.

Both sides introduced all three substitutes and it almost paid dividends for Chelsea when Tom Taiwo sent a header against the crossbar while deep into injury time Luke Daley was guilty of blazing over the bar when fellow substitute Kurtis Byrne was unmarked on the penalty spot.

t Chelsea: Taylor, Cummings, Magnay, Ofori-Twumasi, Bird, Sawyer (Taiwo 63), Saarelma (Stoch 45), Fernandes, Nielsen, Tejera (Phillip 73), Hurrell. Sub not used: Russell.

t Norwich City: Arnold, Matthews, O'Toole, McLean, Quaye (Kelly 77), Bexfield, Eames (Daley 77), Lathrope, Muddel (Byrne 77), Miller, Smart. Subs not used: Rudd, Yong.

t Norwich City man of the match: Tom Miller.