Wagner gets lots of joy from Brazil

DAVID WAGNER waxed lyrical about his Brazilians as Norwich rose to within a place of the play-offs.

Goals from Gabriel Sara and debutant Marquinhos, the on-loan Arsenal teenager, ended Cardiff’s two-match winning run.

The pair had been teammates at Sao Paulo.

Canaries boss Wagner said: “With Marquinhos you can’t ask for more – first game, first start, first goal, first assist.

“I’m very pleased he had such a positive start.

“Gabi also scored a wonderful goal and was the heart of our game.”

Max Aarons gifted Cardiff their best chance but Angus Gunn dived to smother Mahlon Romeo’s low drive.

It took the Canaries an age to wake up but Sara fired them ahead in the 33rd minute with a low 25-yarder after Marquinhos teed him up.

Marquinhos made it 2-0 four minutes later after Onel Hernandez skipped past Romeo on the left of the box.

Marcelino Nunez missed his slide but his team-mate nipped in to lash home.

Sara 33, Marquinhos 37

CARDIFF

Adam Idah should have made it three when he rounded keeper Ryan Allsop but blasted over.

Hernandez volleyed against a post from Sara’s super long ball before sub Teemu Pukki was denied by Allsop’s boot.

Cardiff made a late rally but Gunn pushed Perry Ng’s free-kick over before Jaden Philogene hit a post.

Bluebirds boss Sabri Lamouchi said: “When you create the chances you need to kill them.

“That’s why we are the worst attacking team in the league. We absolutely need to work on this.”

NORWICH: Gunn 6; Aarons 6 (Giannoulis (73) 4), Hanley 7, Gibson 7, Sorensen 7 (Omobamidele (85) 3); Sara 8, Mclean 6; Marquinhos 7 (Pukki (59) 5), Nunez 6, Hernandez 7 (Tzolis (73) 4); Idah 6 (Gibbs (85) 3) CARDIFF: Allsop 7; Romeo 5 (Rinomhota (46) 5), Ng 7, Mcguinness 7, Kipre 6; O’dowda 6; Wintle 6, Sawyers 6; Ralls 5 (Kaba (46) 5), Philogene 6; Wickham 5 (Etete (46) 5) STAR MAN: Gabriel Sara – The Canaries midfielder was on song all game and deserved his goal.

James Linington 6