A below par performance saw City’s Academy side surrender their 100% home record when bottom of the league Fulham ran out 3 - 1 winners at Colney on Saturday. Without an away point this season, Fulham drafted in four over-age players into their line-up, meanwhile Ricky Martin was without the services of Dario Dumic and David Stephens who are both on international duty, and just Friday before the game Josh Dawkin joined Stephens when he was called into the Welsh squad. The visitors made the perfect start taking the lead after just 60 seconds when Marcello Trotta cut in from the left flank to fire the ball beyond the reach of Jed Steer. Fulham kept the pressure up and it needed a timely tackle from Richard Brindley to block another effort from Trotta. Remi Gordon was joining in the attack whenever possible and a good looking cross from the defender deserved better as Patrick Drmola failed to get make any contact. City almost gifted Fulham a second when they gave the ball away on the half way line and when Danny Hoesen spotted Steer well off his line he fired in a looping effort that saw Steer back peddling before producing a super save tipping the ball over the bar. Steer was quickly back in the thick of the action when he was quickly off his line to save at the feet of Christian Marquez as Fulham continued to dominate the half. Just before the break Trotta almost made it two but this time his effort found the side netting. Martin introduced Matthew Ball at the start of the second half but it was Fulham who continued in the driving seat and Steer had the woodwork to thank when Hoesen saw a shot come back off the post. With 57 minutes on the clock Fulham finally got the second goal that they had threatened when a through ball found Trotta who slotted the ball past Steer. Trotta went looking for his hat-trick and it needed a fingertip save from Steer to deny him. City were given a lifeline with just two minutes left on the clock when Drmola found himself in space, allowing him to turn and fire the ball beyond Wesley Foderingham. Less than 60 seconds later however Fulham restored their two goal advantage when Norwich failed to clear a loose ball allowing Hoesen to find the net from close range. With Arsenal losing at West Ham, City failed to leapfrog the Gunners and with third and fourth placed Ipswich and Chelsea drawing there are just two points separating the top four places in the league. City Line-Up: Steer, Brindley, Gordon, Ekim [Ball 45], Jones, Kelly, Clarke, Nwaogu [Roberts 70], Drmola, Oakley, Osemwegie. Subs Not Used: Matthews, Habergham, A.Stephens. Fulham Line-Up: Foderingham, Marquez, Kaman, Moscatiello, Tave, Pierre, Harris [Pritchard 55], Smith, Trotta [Dean 80], Hoesen, Cosgrove [Reece 70]. Sub Not Used: Baugura. Norwich City Man of the Match: Danny Kelly.

Report and Photos courtesy of John Landamore.