Premier League: Norwich 2 Bolton 0

Goals from Andrew Surman and Anthony Pilkington handed Norwich City a deserved three points against Bolton Wanderers at Carrow Road.

Norwich burst out of the blocks but could not break down the Bolton resistance in the first half, and were forced to survive injuries to both of their starting centre-backs on their way to keeping their second clean sheet of the season in a 2-0 victory.

Surman followed up his own saved shot to break the deadlock before Pilkington sealed the points in similar fashion in the closing stages.

For Bolton, the afternoon proved a frustrating one as, despite their recent good form, they rarely tested Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy and dropped back into the relegation zone.

Simeon Jackson was lively from the start for Norwich, shooting across goal from the corner of the six-yard box and finding space behind the Bolton defence on more than one occasion. Grant Holt was also doing a fine job linking up the play and when he brought down Wes Hoolahan’s cross from the right, Surman ran in on Adam Bodgan but crashed his shot against the crossbar from close range.

He will have been disappointed not to have scored but Surman was a driving force in midfield for the Canaries in the first half, not only tracking back to help left-back Adam Drury deal with the tricky Chris Eagles but also causing plenty of problems with his late runs into the opposition penalty area.

Norwich controlled most of the first half but their chances were dealt a serious blow when both of their centre-backs, Daniel Ayala and Zak Whitbread, were forced off due to injury within 20 minutes of each other.

The forced changes undoubtedly affected the freedom with which they attacked, as Norwich ended the half in a more tentative manner. Bolton, while finding things more comfortable defensively and in possession, struggled to create chances, however, with Eagles their only real outlet on the right wing.

After the break, Surman got on the end of a Pilkington cross and slammed the ball into the roof of the net after his first effort had been blocked by David Wheater.

Bolton were forced to commit men forward in an effort to retrieve the game and although they enjoyed more possession, Norwich began to look very threatening on the break. One such counter-attack led to the corner with which they put the game to bed. Pilkington was on hand to convert from close range after Martin’s shot had been well-saved by Bogdan.

That proved the killer blow for Bolton, as the Canaries continued to pour forward and could have added more goals on their way to a victory that lifts them back up into the top half of the table.