London: Norwich stepped up their bid for a quick return to the Premier League as Lewis Grabben`s strike secured a 1-0 win at local rivals Ipswich on Saturday.
Grabban was signed from Bournemouth for £3 million in pre-season in a bid to revitalise a Norwich forward line that struggled badly as they slumped into the Championship last season.
The former Millwall striker has made an immediate impact and his fourth goal for his new club arrived in the 24th minute to settle the East Anglian derby at Portman Road and secure Norwich`s third successive victory.
Canaries boss Neil Adams, the surprise choice to replace Chris Hughton last season, believes his side`s strong start proves both he and his players are up to the task of winning promotion.
"I know there were some doubts when I got the job, but it is all about results," Adams said.
"We are a Premier League club -- we should be in the Premier League. We don`t have to sell any players, only if someone offers the right price, and I am delighted with the five players we have brought in."
Nottingham Forest lead the early second tier table with 10 points from four matches after routing Reading 4-0 at the City Ground.
Former Reading winger Michail Antonio bagged a brace for Stuart Pearce`s team and Matty Fryatt and Britt Assombalonga were also on the scoresheet.
"The most important thing for me is not the result, it is how quickly the new faces have settled into the team," Pearce said.
"That is the most pleasing thing for me about the start. You expect it to take time for a new player to fit into the squad. But the new signings have really hit the ground running."
At the other end of the table, things went from bad to worse for Fulham as they were crushed 5-1 at Derby.
Felix Magath`s team, back in the second tier after 13 years as a Premier League outfit, suffered their fourth successive loss as Chris Martin`s double, plus goals from Jamie Ward, Craig Bryson and Simon Dawkins left the woeful Cottagers without a point so far this season.
Magath promised to make sweeping changes to the team and said: "The result was very bad and so now is the time to change.
"I have to react and bring some players in. I am not satisfied with the situation.
"Derby are one of the favourites for this season and you can lose against such a good team but not in this manner."
Blackpool also have nothing to show for their first four fixtures following a 1-0 loss at Wigan, with Oriol Riera breaking the deadlock for the Latics after 35 minutes.
There was late drama at Molineux as Wolves edged out Cardiff 1-0 thanks to a Mark Hudson own goal in stoppage time, while Rotherham won 1-0 at Millwall thanks to a Ben Pringle strike.
Blackburn beat Bournemouth 3-2 and Charlton striker Igor Vetokele`s stoppage-time goal salvaged a 1-1 draw at 10-man Huddersfield.
Troubled Leeds saw Giuseppe Bellusci and Sam Bryan sent off at Watford and the hosts took full advantage to win 4-1, with Fernando Forestieri bagging a brace, Troy Deeney scoring from the spot and Daniel Tozser netting late on.
Brighton beat Bolton 2-1 thanks to goals from Craig Mackail-Smith and Joao Carlos Teixeira, 10-man Brentford drew 1-1 with Birmingham and Atdhe Nuhiu struck twice for Sheffield Wednesday as they won 3-2 at Middlesbrough.
AFP
First Published: Sunday, August 24, 2014, 09:42
