Norwich City 4
Stevenage 3
Football League Cup (1st Round)

Match report written by Neil Metcalfe, The Comet

Stevenage helped provide the entertainment but Norwich City dumped them out of the Carabao Cup in a seven-goal thriller

Goals from Charlie Goode and Louis Appere had twice dragged Boro level in the first half after Norwich had taken the lead.

A goal from Borja Sainz three minutes after the interval tipped the scales in the hosts' favour, and Onel Hernandez gave City breathing room for the first time on the hour.

An own goal on 88 minutes made for an interesting finish but Norwich took the 4-3 win.

That 15 minute spell at the start of the second period ultimately proved crucial but Boro can at least go back home with the knowledge they caused a good Championship side some serious problems.

There were seven changes from the side that started the opening day win against Shrewsbury Town.

In came Dan Butler, Nathan Thompson, Nick Freeman, Appere, Jordan Roberts, Kane Smith and Goode.

The latter was making his debut and sported the 15 shirt vacated by Terence Vancooten.

Luther Wildin, Dan Sweeney, Tyreece Simpson, Lewis Freestone, Elliott List, Dan Phillips and Louis Thompson all moved to the bench where they were joined by new signing, goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis.

The first half will probably go down as one of the best of the season, even if it is only game two.

Both teams pushed forward and looked for opportunities, and while only the most staunch and grumpy defensive expert would point to what could have been done better, both sides were able to find much success.

Stevenage had started with more of the territory, Norwich were getting chances.

That said the best opportunity fell to Boro, Dan Kemp only swiping Jordan Roberts' low cross, when a firmer contact would have brought a definite goal.

But these were merely jabs in a prize-fight, neither had unleashed their big guns, or not in the opening 20 minutes anyway.

It all changed after that though.

The first had a hint of fortune at the end, the shot by Hernandez woefully miscued but running to Abu Kamara, who prodded it home from a few yards.

Up to that point though, City had put together a fine move, full of good passing and movement that pulled Stevenage from pillar to post.

Not to worry, two minutes later and Goode marked his debut with a firm header after leaving his marker sprawling in a heap on the floor.

Norwich then retook the lead with another quick counter, led by the impressive Jack Stacey.

Hernandez got goal side of Smith and lashed it into the roof of the net.

But as the clock moved into stoppage time, Boro pulled level again, and it was another White set-piece.

It had appeared to go straight in from the right but Appere was on the line to get the slightest of touches.

Kemp had the first chance of the second half but within a minute Norwich were back in front for the third time.

Sweeney had replaced Goode at the break and he made a superb tackle to poke it away from Kamara inside the box.

However, it ran loose to Sainz and after pushing it to his right, he thumped it across goal and into the far corner.

It transformed the Carrow Road crowd, who had been stunned after the second equaliser.

It transformed Norwich too and they started playing with a bit of panache.

The fourth goal though was preventable from a Boro point of view. It was nice close control by Norwich inside the box but they should not have been given as much time.

Hernandez was able to pull it onto his right foot and shoot low inside Cooper's near post.

Boro rang the changes as they tried to change the course of the outcome but while there was possession, there wasn't any clear-cut chances.

A White shot deflected across the area but ran to a yellow shirt and Nathan Thompson fired over from the edge of the box.

They were given a life-line two minutes from the end of normal time when Lewis Freestone's cross was diverted into the net at the near post by Brad Hills.

But while they kept the ball; during stoppage time, too often it went sideways and not forward, meaning no further chances.

A frustrating end but plenty for Stevenage to be proud of.