With four of his players injured, David Williams was down to the bare bones for the visit of Crystal Palace to Colney on Saturday. In the event the fledgling Canaries ran out comfortable 3-1 winners over the Eagles with all the goals coming in an action packed second-half. With Andrew Fisk, Adam Gusterson, Andrew Cave-Brown and Alvin Quaye all out through injury and Rossi Jarvis on the bench for the first team game against The Hatters at Carrow Road later in the day, Williams was forced to make some radical changes to his starting line up with Robert Eagle drafted into a central midfield role while Glen Thrale was deployed as right back. City had an early opportunity to open the scoring when Asmat El Ouargui picked up a wayward backpass but he could only direct his shot wide of the far post.

Top Canary Asmat El Ouargui holds off a challenge

Goalscorer Bally Smart races clear

At the other end it was the woodwork that came to City's rescue when Joe Lewis was beaten with a shot from Eero Peltonen, his effort however struck the post before City cleared the danger. El Ouargui was looking to trouble the visitors' defence whenever he had the opportunity and a cross to the far post by the Dane just eluded the head of Bally Smart. Palace finished the half with a couple of good chances both falling to Ryan Hall, the first a curling effort just wide of the target, and the second bringing out a good save from Lewis. The Canaries took just seven minutes into the second half to find the net when a tantalising cross from Eames found Smart in a good position at the far post, his shot however cannoned back off the crossbar but City's South African striker was first to react as he nodded in the rebound.

Not long after, Smart again saw a shot hit the bar, this coming after El Ouargui flicked on a cross from the lively Eagle. The Canaries were dealt a blow on 71 minutes when against the run of play the visitors drew level with Lewis Spence having all the time in the world to pick his spot as he drove the ball past Lewis in the City goal. By now Williams had introduced Chris Martin into an unusual midfield role and on 76 minutes it paid dividends when the City sub looped a ball over the stranded David Wilkinson in the Eagles goal. With just seven minutes left on the clock City virtually sewed the game up when Lee Howlett drilled in a low shot from 25 yards that Wilkinson had little or no chance of getting to.

Chris Martin is in there somewhere after scoring the second

City Line-Up: Lewis, Thrale, Bexfield [Martin 70], Spillane, Halliday, Howlett, Eames [Daley 74], Smart, El Ouargui, Muddel, Eagle. Subs Not Used: Arnold, Miller. Top Canary: Asmat El Ouargui.

Further Action From The Match
Glen Thrale in action at right-back	Luke Daley pushes forward
An off-balance Seb Muddel with opponent	Michael Spillane gets to grips with his man
Goalscorer Lee Howlett	The injured quartet of Andrew Cave-Brown, Josh Clarke, Andrew Fisk and Adam Gusterson were put on video duty for the game
Report and Pictures are courtesy of John Landamore and Paul Standley. For a further picture gallery from this match please click here.