Nottingham Forest 0-2 Norwich City: Pukki & Dowell score as Canaries win

A scintillating first-half performance helped runaway Championship leaders Norwich to their ninth successive victory at Nottingham Forest.

Three minutes later it was two, former Forest loanee Kieran Dowell lashing a half-volley into the bottom corner from 25 yards after a one-two with Lukas Rupp.

The Canaries should have been further ahead by the break though the game fizzled out after the interval, Tim Krul rushing out to deny Lewis Grabban as the home side struggled to create.

Norwich are now 10 points ahead of second-placed Watford with 10 matches to play and a further three clear of Swansea, in third, who have a game in hand.

Chris Hughton’s Forest, meanwhile, are without a win in five and are still looking over their shoulders despite having a nine-point buffer over the bottom three.

Buendia missed out after his partner gave birth but Dowell filled his role excellently.

Finland striker Pukki ruthlessly scored his 22nd Championship goal of the campaign after a crisp Rupp pass, but that was outshone by Dowell’s powerful strike from range.

Ryan Yates headed Forest’s only first-half chance wide, with Pukki finding the side-netting and Kenny McLean forcing a good save from Smith as the sublime Canaries showed the gulf in class.

The hosts were without injured keeper Brice Samba, with Anthony Knockaert and Joe Lolley also out, but have now won only one of their past seven league games at the City Ground.

Pukki came closest to a third for the Norfolk side but his effort from a tight angle was well saved by Smith, who was making his first Championship start of the season.