Barclays Premier League

FULL-TIME REPORT

When Edin Dzeko scored twice in the first five minutes, it looked like Norwich City were about to have another hiding from Manchester City to add to their collection - they conceded 11 times against Roberto Mancini's men last season. But, after Anthony Pilkington had pulled a goal back for Norwich, Samir Nasri's petulance earned him a red card just before half-time and gave City a big problem. The brilliant Sergio Aguero added a third to give City a cushion but Russell Martin kept the Canaries in touch. City's fourth looked to end the game but again Norwich came back, with Martin grabbing another. Chris Hughton's resilient team launched a hurried attempt to find an unlikely equaliser but ran out of time. Manchester City will mop their brow - and be thankful they remain seven points off their city rivals.

FULL-TIME

It's all over. What a game. It's finished Norwich City 3 Manchester City 4.

HART POUNCE

One last desperate attempt for Norwich. Sebastien Bassong attempts a volley at goal which gets blocked before the ball almost falls to Simeon Jackson but Joe Hart pounces on it.

AGUERO OFF

Sergio Aguero nearly scores what would have been a wonderful solo effort. After taking on three defenders though, his finish is weak. Roberto Mancini withdraws the forward just after with Javi Garcia entering the scene.

FIVE MINUTES

There will be five minutes of injury time at Carrow Road - music to the ears of the Norwich City fans. Roberto Mancini is a nervous mess.

AMAZING AGUERO

There's only one choice for man of the match - Sergio Aguero has been outstanding. Not only did he take his goal brilliantly, he linked up very well with Edin Dzeko and is now acting as an outlet for this under pressure City side. He wins a free-kick by the Norwich corner flag to cement that point.

WASTED CHANCE

Vincent Kompany fouls Harry Kane deep inside his own half, giving Norwich a real opportunity to look for an equaliser. Robert Snodgrass' delivery is very poor though and Manchester City clear.

GREAT SAVE

What a save! Yaya Toure puts a great through-ball through for Sergio Aguero who blasts at goal but Mark Bunn tips the ball over. Justice may have been done there though as the striker looked offside.

LESCOTT ON

Jonny Howson has been fantastic for Norwich since coming on. His range of passing has given the Canaries a whole new dimension and he has kept Yaya Toure extremely quiet. Joleon Lescott is coming on now, in place of Edin Dzeko.

JACKSON ON

Simeon Jackson came on for Norwich in place of Wes Hoolahan just before the goal. He now leads the line along with Harry Kane as Manchester City prepare for an onslaught in the final ten minutes. Strangely, Joleon Lescott hasn't been brought on by Roberto Mancini after all.

BACK IN IT

Roberto Mancini wants to bring Joleon Lescott on but decides to wait until after a corner kick. He may be wishing he hadn't waited as a huge goalmouth scramble ends in Russell Martin directing the ball into the back of the net. Mancini looks absolutely furious.

GOOOAAALLL!!!

It's a goal! Russell Martin makes it 4-3!

AGUERO COUNTER

Norwich haven't given this up yet but the champions are always dangerous on the counter attack as Sergio Aguero breaks up the field and zones in on goal. His shot hits the side-netting though.

HAMMER BLOW

Edin Dzeko beats the offside trap before striking at goal from a tight angle. The ball smashes into the post before hitting Mark Bunn on the back and going into the back of the net. It's a hammer blow for Norwich City.

GOOOAAALLL!!!

4-2! An own goal by Mark Bunn!

HOWSON HEADER

Joe Hart is forced to tip the ball wide after Jonny Howson's stinging drive. From the corner, Sebastien Bassong heads the ball back into the six-yard box and Howson nods it in. Game on. Again.

GOOOAAALLL!!!

Russell Martin scores! 3-2!

NEARLY GAME OVER

Sergio Aguero has a great chance to finish the game after a Russell Martin slip. He tries to bend one into the corner but the ball nestles kindly in the arms of Mark Bunn.

NORWICH CHANCE

Anthony Pilkington fires a deep, high cross into the Manchester City area but Robert Snodgrass heads the ball straight into the ground and over. That was a really good chance for Norwich.

CHANGES FOR BOTH

The champions are now far more happy to be rigid. David Silva comes off to be replaced by the hard-working James Milner who will slot in alongside Yaya Toure and Gareth Barry. Meanwhile Jonny Howson replaces Alexander Tettey for Norwich.

CITY PUSHING ON

Sergio Aguero bursts into the Norwich half before drifting past Michael Turner's desperate diving tackle and pulling the ball back for Yaya Toure, whose shot is deflected over.

DEFT FINISH

Yaya Toure picks out Sergio Aguero with a beautifully floated pass which goes in behind Sebastien Bassong. Mark Bunn starts to come out but Aguero chips it over the goalkeeper with a beautiful deft touch. Manchester City now have the cushion they need.

GOOOAAALLL!!!

It's Sergio Aguero! 3-1!

STILL TWO UP TOP

Manchester City are certainly not going to sit back. Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko are both still on the pitch when you would have expected one of them would be sacrificed in order to shore up the midfield. Roberto Mancini though has decided that attack is the best form of defence.

BACK UNDERWAY

Norwich City get us back underway at Carrow Road and neither side have decided to make any changes at half-time. Can ten-man Manchester City hold on to secure a vital win?

HALF-TIME REPORT

Manchester City knew they had to win today to keep in touch with Manchester United at the top of the league and, as you would expect, it was a quick-fire start from them. Within five minutes, they were two goals up and cruising thanks to two good finishes from Edin Dzeko. At that point, few would have believed the visitors to be in a worrying position by half-time but they certainly are. First, Anthony Pilkington pulled a goal back before Samir Nasri was given his marching orders after going head-to-head with Sebastien Bassong, who escaped the same punishment. Now this is a test of City's title credentials.

HALF-TIME

Mike Jones calls an end to an eventful half at Carrow Road with the score being Norwich City 1 Manchester City 2.

MORISON OFF

Steve Morison is injured for Norwich City so young Harry Kane replaces him in attack for the home side.

NASRI RED CARD

Sebastien Bassong puts in a huge tackle on Samir Nasri and the Frenchman doesn't like it, immediately getting to his feet and going head-to-head with the Cameroonian defender. Mike Jones gives Sebastien Bassong a yellow card for the tackle but, after speaking with his assistant, then gives Nasri a red card for his reaction. Disastrous for the visitors.

YAYA PILEDRIVER

More fantastic build-up play from Manchester City ends in Samir Nasri laying the ball off for Yaya Toure on the edge of the box. However his stinging drive whizzes narrowly wide of the post and Mark Bunn breathes a sigh of relief.

PHYSICAL DOMINANCE

Norwich's midfield are finding it extremely difficult to have any influence on the game in the final third. Whenever Wes Hoolahan and Bradley Johnson get themselves in good positions, they seem to bounce off the likes of Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany.

KOMPANY HEADER

Javier Garrido puts the ball over his own bar again as Manchester City mount more pressure. From the resulting corner, Vincent Kompany headed towards goal but Robert Snodgrass cleared on the line.

CITY PARTNERSHIP

Norwich have improved as the half has gone on but Manchester City look dangerous whenever the ball is with Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko. Eyebrows are always raised when Carlos Tevez is left on the bench but this has arguably been the best that the pair have played together. There's been some great link-up work.

BAD TETTEY TOUCH

Steve Morison gets free down the right wing and puts a cross into the Manchester City box. Alexander Tettey meets it but his chest control is far too heavy and the chance goes.

GARRIDO CLOSE SHAVE

Outrageous scenes. Javier Garrido, a former Manchester City player, inexplicably tries to chip his own goalkeeper. Luckily, Mark Bunn is alert and can tip the ball over his own bar but that would have been the comedy own goal to end all comedy own goals. Maybe Garrido thinks he still plays for the champions?

CITY PRESSURE

Manchester City embark on another period of sustained pressure but Norwich are now getting closer to their opponents than in the first five minutes of the match, forcing Yaya Toure and Gareth Barry to pass backwards more often.

SNODGRASS BRIGHT

Gael Clichy goes into the book for a late challenge on Robert Snodgrass, giving Norwich another chance to attack from a set piece. The visitors clear the ball but it eventually falls to Robert Snodgrass who attempts to bend the ball into the net with his left foot from an unlikely angle. The shot dips just wide of Joe Hart's right post.

PENALTY SHOUT

Sergio Aguero goes down in the Norwich penalty area after a challenge from Sebastien Bassong but there's minimal contact. That doesn't stop the City striker protesting to Mike Jones though.

GAME ON

Vincent Kompany fouls Robert Snodgrass on the edge of Manchester City's penalty area. The Scot is favourite to take it but Anthony Pilkington takes it and the ball ends up in the back of the net via a deflection off Gael Clichy. Game on.

GOOOAAALLL!!!

Norwich pull a goal back! Anthony Pilkington makes it 2-1!

CITY SLICKERS

The Citizens are enjoying the freedom of Carrow Road at the moment. Norwich just aren't applying pressure to Roberto Mancini's side when they have possession and City are thriving. Sergio Aguero tries to add a third for his side but his attempt from the edge of the area goes a fair way over the bar.

KOMPANY CONTROVERSY

Norwich players aren't too happy about a tackle by Vincent Kompany in the build-up to the goal but it looked fair. Manchester City have now scored 13 goals in their last 187 minutes of football against the Canaries.

GOAL ON THE BREAK

What a start for City this is! Vincent Kompany strides through the middle of the pitch as City break in numbers and slides the ball in for Sergio Aguero. Aguero is forced out wide by Mark Bunn but City players are queuing up to strike the ball into an empty net and the Argentinean picks out Dzeko who puts it in.

GOOOAAALLL!!!

It's 2-0! Edin Dzeko again!

DZEKO FINISH

It takes 90 seconds for City to take the lead. Sergio Aguero breaks down the right wing and crosses the ball in for David Silva. The Spaniard knocks the ball back across goal for Edin Dzeko who strokes the ball into the bottom corner.

GOOOAAALLL!!!

1-0 to City! Edin Dzeko!

WE'RE OFF

Mike Jones gets proceedings underway at a sodden Carrow Road. Norwich City are wearing their traditional yellow and green colours while Manchester City are in their usual blue and white kit. Can the visitors keep in touch with their fierce rivals at the top of the Premier League?

TEAM NEWS

The big team news as far as Norwich fans are concerned is the lack of Grant Holt who isn't named in the matchday squad. Steve Morison takes his place and that is the only change from the team that started the defeat to Chelsea on Boxing Day. Manchester City opt for Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero as their attacking partnership meaning Carlos Tevez must settle for a place on the bench. Gael Clichy returns to the line-up but there is no sign of Mario Balotelli, who has been struggling with illness.

CONFIRMED MANCHESTER CITY LINE-UP

Joe Hart; Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany, Matija Nastasic, Gael Clichy; Yaya Toure, Gareth Barry, David Silva, Samir Nasri; Edin Dzeko, Sergio Aguero. Bench: Costel Pantilimon, Joleon Lescott, Kolo Toure, Javi Garcia, James Milner, Scott Sinclair, Carlos Tevez.

CONFIRMED NORWICH LINE-UP

Mark Bunn; Russell Martin, Michael Turner, Sebastien Bassong, Javier Garrido; Robert Snodgrass, Wes Hoolahan, Alexander Tettey, Bradley Johnson, Anthony Pilkington; Steve Morison. Bench: Declan Rudd, Leon Barnett, Ryan Bennett, Jonny Howson, Elliott Bennett, Simeon Jackson, Harry Kane.

REF WATCH

Mike Jones is in charge of today's match which will be the Cheshire-born referee's 13th of the season. He has handed out 45 bookings and just one red card in those matches. This will be the first time Jones has refereed a Manchester City fixture this season but he has taken charge of two Norwich City games, neither of which the Canaries have been victorious in.

CLICHY RETURNS

City will welcome Gael Clichy back into the squad with the French full back having recovered from a knock. Samir Nasri could also return for Roberto Mancini's side if he has recovered from the hamstring injury which kept him out of the defeat to Sunderland. Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli have been suffering with illness and while the former is likely to be fit for selection, Balotelli looks set to miss out.

NO NEW CANARIES INJURIES

Chris Hughton is likely to start with the same team that lost 1-0 to Chelsea on Boxing Day. Steven Whittaker is still struggling with a hip injury while Andrew Surman continues to be downed by a knee problem. John Ruddy is a long-term absentee but Ryan Bennett, who was named on the bench against the Blues, is available for selection.

MATCH PREVIEW

After consecutive defeats brought an unbeaten run to an end, Norwich City would prefer to face just about any opposition other than Manchester City. Roberto Mancini's men's title bid suffered a blow on Boxing Day as they were beaten at Sunderland and they will be keen to get back on track. City scored 11 goals against the Canaries last season and will be hoping for more of the same in order to keep in touch with league leaders Manchester United. However Norwich have an extraordinary home record this season and will take encouragement from the last time the champions failed to score in two consecutive games - the festive period last season.