Norwich 1 Fulham 3: Stefan Johansen, Floyd Ayite and Tom Cairney’s penalty help Cottagers home despite Chris Martin’s red card
Fulham were victorious at Carrow Road despite being reduced to ten men before half time
SLAVISA JOKANOVIC claims Fulham will never surrender in their top-six battle — after clipping the wings of the resurgent Canaries.
Norwich beat promotion challengers Reading 7-1 last Saturday and had not lost at home in 2017.
But boss Jokanovic’s Fulham produced a stunning display — despite having to play the second half with ten men after striker Chris Martin saw red.
Keep up to date with all the latest EFL news as the promotion race hots up
Stefan Johansen gave them an early lead and Tom Cairney doubled it from the spot at the start of the second half.
Norwich sub Cameron Jerome pulled one back with 14 minutes left but Floyd Ayite sealed the points late on.
The only disappointment for Jokanovic will have been that Sheffield Wednesday’s win kept Fulham out of the top six by two points.
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
But he said: “I believe we can do it — why not? I believe in my players.
“After 42 games, now is not the time for us to give up and surrender.
“We want to fight. We showed today a great level of desire.
“And I expect we will show similar in Monday’s game with Aston Villa.
“It’s a good win for us — I’m proud of what my players showed me.
“We were organised, especially defensively in the second half.”
He also plans to appeal Martin’s dismissal on the stroke of half-time.
The ex-Norwich ace was sent-off after an aerial clash with Dutch defender Mitchell Dijks.
As a long ball flew from the Fulham half, the striker’s raised left arm caught the face of Dijks, who went down.
But Jokanovic said: “The situation happened right in front of us.
“Chris touched the guy with his hand — but it’s without any intention. We are going to appeal.”
The defeat was Norwich’s first in 11 home games — and extended their miserable run against Fulham.
The Canaries have beaten the London side only once in 16 matches.
Norwich caretaker boss Alan Irvine felt ref Andy Madley was right with his decision to dismiss Martin.
Irvine said: “I thought he’d thrown an elbow and connected. So I felt it was a red card.”
Norway midfielder Johansen struck for the second game on the trot, netting his 11th of the season with a 20-yard shot after only five minutes.
Then Norwich sub Ryan Bennett shoved over Tomas Kalas in the box, allowing Cairney to bury a penalty three minutes into the second half.
Jerome notched his 15th of the season with a neat header from winger Alex Pritchard’s cross to give Norwich hope.
But Togo forward Ayite had the final say with a cool 89th-minute finish after being released by Chelsea loan midfielder Lucas Piazon.
Irvine added: “I thought we responded well in the first half to the initial setback and we got into the final third on a lot of occasions.
“But the quality of our final cross, pass or decision was just not good enough.
“I still felt we were showing enough and it would come together in the second half.
“But our organisation was poor at that point and it led to the penalty.
“For Ryan to get into the position he did wasn’t good — and he has clearly given the ref a decision to make.
“Fulham are a good team. In the second half they were extremely disciplined.
“They deserved the result they got.”