The pressure increased on Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill as his side were left a point above the Premier League drop zone following defeat at Norwich.

Norwich 2

Bassong 8′ Pilkington 37′

Gardner 44′

FT 90 +5
HT 2-1

Sebastien Bassong scores for Norwich against Sunderland

By Mandeep Sanghera BBC Sport

The pressure increased on Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill as his side were left a point above the Premier League drop zone following defeat at Norwich.

The Canaries went two up when Sebastien Bassong forced in a shot and Anthony Pilkington scored with a low strike.

Play media

Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version

O'Neill regrets 'sloppy' defending

Craig Gardner pulled one back but the visitors then wasted a chance to level.
Gardner's free-kick hit the post and the ball fell to Matt Kilgallon, who shot over the bar from 10 yards out with an empty net in front of him.
Another Gardner shot was cleared off the goal-line by defender Javier Garrido and Canaries keeper Mark Bunn denied Stephane Sessegnon and Danny Rose as the home side held on for the win.
This was a fourth successive home victory for Norwich, following wins against Arsenal, Stoke and Manchester United, and their unbeaten run in the league now stands at eight games.
While Sunderland's defeat leaves them precariously placed, O'Neill will take heart from an improved second-half display ahead of testing fixtures against Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United.

Analysis

Simon Brotherton Match of the Day commentator

"Sunderland did everything in the second half but they did not make the most of their chances. Norwich were the better side in the first half and Anthony Pilkington ended up getting the winner."

But the Black Cats boss will not want a repeat of the grim form they showed during the first half and which ultimately left a side with just two wins from 22 Premier League games with too much to do at Carrow Road.

It was little surprise when the visitors began with the lack of confidence and self-belief their poor form suggested, and Norwich were quick to capitalise.
Robert Snodgrass curled in a free-kick which was inadvertently flicked on by the arm of Sunderland defender Carlos Cuellar before Bassong arrived at the far post to score from close range.
And, when Pilkington latched on to a Bradley Johnson pass to surge forward, cut inside Cuellar and drive in a low shot past keeper Simon Mignolet, O'Neill must have feared the worst.
Sunderland rarely looked like scoring, although they did get on the scoreboard when Gardner curled a low 18-yard shot past Bunn on the stroke of half-time.
The visitors came out rejuvenated after the break, with Connor Wickham replacing injured striker Steve Fletcher.
Cuellar mistimed an attempted shot from Sebastian Larsson's corner when well-placed before Kilgallon's glaring miss.

Play media

Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version

'Confidence' key to good Norwich form

Pilkington had a shot palmed away by Mignolet at the other end but Norwich were on the back foot for most of the second half.
Some last-ditch defending helped keep Sunderland at bay though, while keeper Bunn also played his part as he saved strikes from Sessegnon and Rose.
Norwich manager Chris Hughton:
"I thought we were excellent in the first half and it is difficult to sustain that over 90 minutes, particularly with it being the third game in a week.
"We haven't made any changes to the team so to sustain that for 90 minutes is tough and of course their goal gave them the lift they needed.
"It was a real tough shift in that second half so testament to the players, there were saves that needed to be made and bodies that needed to be in front of some balls and they did that."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Norwich City

28 Bunn
03 Whittaker
05 Bassong
18 Garrido
24 R Bennett
04 Johnson
07 Snodgrass (E Bennett - 77' )
12 Pilkington
14 Hoolahan (Howson - 88' )
27 Tettey
09 Holt

Substitutes

13 Rudd
02 R Martin
20 Barnett
08 Howson
17 E Bennett
10 Jackson
16 Morison

Sunderland

22 Mignolet
02 Bardsley Booked
12 Kilgallon Booked
24 Cuellar
03 Rose
07 Larsson (Vaughan - 90' )
08 Gardner
21 Johnson
23 McClean (Campbell - 85' )
28 Sessegnon
26 Fletcher (Wickham - 46' )

Substitutes

20 Westwood
19 Bramble
14 Colback
15 Vaughan
09 Campbell
10 Wickham
11 McFadden

Ref: Dowd

Att: 26,228

Match Stats

Shots

7 16

On target

5 6

Corners

2 6

Fouls

11 16

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:20 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +2:49 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Stephane Sessegnon by Steven Whittaker. Strike comes in from Craig Gardner from the free kick, Mark Bunn makes a save.
90:00 +1:55 Fraizer Campbell takes a shot.
89:20 Substitution

Substitution Sebastian Larsson leaves the field to be replaced by David Vaughan.

86:54 Free kick crossed right-footed by Anthony Pilkington, Connor Wickham makes a clearance.
86:54 Substitution

Substitution Jonathan Howson replaces Wesley Hoolahan.

86:54 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Wesley Hoolahan by Danny Rose.
84:03 Substitution

Substitution James McClean goes off and Fraizer Campbell comes on.

84:03 Danny Rose produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.
80:46 Effort on goal by Grant Holt from deep inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.
77:47 Sebastien Bassong fouled by Connor Wickham, the ref awards a free kick. Mark Bunn takes the free kick.
76:40 Mark Bunn takes the free kick.
76:40 Substitution

Substitution Elliott Bennett comes on in place of Robert Snodgrass.

76:40 Shot by Danny Rose. Simon Mignolet makes a save. The assistant referee flags for offside against Connor Wickham.
76:06 Corner taken right-footed by Sebastian Larsson from the left by-line, Grant Holt makes a clearance.
75:08 Corner taken by Robert Snodgrass from the right by-line, clearance by Phil Bardsley.
74:56 Wesley Hoolahan has an effort at goal. Matthew Kilgallon gets a block in.
74:08 Foul by Craig Gardner on Alexander Tettey, free kick awarded. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Robert Snodgrass from right channel.
73:13 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Sebastian Larsson from the left by-line.
72:11 Effort on goal by Stephane Sessegnon from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.