Wagner keen to major on Sargent

NORWICH head coach David Wagner thinks goals from Josh Sargent will be crucial.

The US striker netted twice against Cardiff as the Canaries kept their play-off push alive.

Sargent made his return from injury just before the end of the year and Wagner is glad of his return.

He said: “He has scored 10 games in 13 games, this only shows what a top striker he is, and what a big miss he has been for us.

“How great it is to have him back – he had good link-up play and was sharp in defence as well.

“Last season we scored 57 goals and we’ve already scored 58.”

After Sargent almost gave Norwich a lead after three minutes when Nat Phillips cleared off the line, Cardiff went ahead when Jamilu Collins scrambled home.

The hotshot netted the equaliser when he turned home an Ethan Horvath parry, before the hosts deservedly went ahead a minute before the break with a Gabriel Sara curled free-kick.

Sargent doubled his tally after pouncing on a rebound after Horvath saved, while Christian Fassnacht made sure on 77 minutes after a fine one-two with Sydney van Hooijdonk.

Cardiff have now lost six out of their last seven and the latest setback left manager Erol Bulut admitting his side was second best.

He said “We played against a really good team today, they were better than us.

“We managed to score a goal in the first 20 minutes, which was really positive for us, but it was difficult to get a second one.”

NORWICH: Gunn 6; Stacey 7 (Fisher (80) 6), Hanley 7, Mclean 6, Mccallum 6 (Giannoulis (61) 6); Sara 6, Nunez 7; Hernandez 6 (Fassnacht (61) 6), Barnes 7 (Sorensen (70) 6), Sainz 7; Sargent 8 (Van Hooijdonk (70) 6) CARDIFF: Horvath 6; Goutas 5, Phillips 5, Collins 5; Romeo 6, Ralls 5 (Wintle (59) 6), Siopis 4, Wilson-esbrand 4 (Bowler (46) 6); Colwill 5 (Turnbull (78) 6); Grant 5 (Tanner (78) 6), Diedhiou 4 (Etete (59) 6) STAR MAN: Josh Sargent – The American netted twice. REF: Darren Bond 7