Norwich City recorded back-to-back victories with a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night.

Jacob Sorensen his first City goal on the stroke of half-time with a fierce effort after Forest failed to clear a cross.

Anthony Knockaert's cross-cum-shot saw the visitors equalise on 72 minutes but City regained their advantage when Emi Buendia's deflected effort wrongfooted Brice Samba to make it 2-1.

They held on in the closing stages to secure a tenth league victory this season and strengthen their position at the top of the Sky Bet Championship in the process.

Daniel Farke named two changes to his starting eleven from Saturday’s win over Sheffield Wednesday, with Christoph Zimmermann and Josh Martin coming in to replace the injured Ben Gibson and Przemyslaw Placheta.

There were welcome sights on the bench for the Canaries, with Jordan Hugill, Kieran Dowell, Todd Cantwell and Kenny McLean all returning.

Usual start from City dictating the play in possession. Patience forced Sow into a rash challenge on six minutes, leading to City being awarded with a free kick in a dangerous position, but Mario Vrancic curled over.

City started to up the ante around ten minutes in, with Vrancic sending a stinging drive straight at Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba and Emi Buendia then having a shot defletced wide off Teemu Pukki.

City continued their dominance with the ball throughout the first-half, but had to be wary of Forest’s threat on the counter and from aerial balls. Sammy Ameobi nodded a Cyrus Christie cross just wide on 22 minutes, before Joe Lolley cut in from the right and struck low onto the post five minutes later.

Following that Forest flurry, normal service resumed but City still continued to find room in-between the Forest defence and midfield in short supply.

However, Chris Hughton’s side’s resistance was broken in the final minute of the first-half. Sorensen fed Marco Stiepermann in the area and his cross deflected off a Forest body and into the air – Sorensen was the most alert of the players on the pitch and he rifled the ball past Samba to give the Canaries a deserved lead at half-time.

That goal gave the game a more open feel in the second-half, with Forest keen to push higher up the pitch to force an equaliser.

City almost profited from that just minutes after the restart, with Stiepermann has a low strike destined for the bottom corner saved well by Samba. The rebound was crossed in by Pukki and Buendia swivelled but couldn't get a shot away.

Lolley then curled a free kick narrowly over before Pukki linked up well with Stiepermann but sent a low shot wide from a tight angle at the other end.

Forest's second change brought them an equaliser on 73 minutes. Knockaert had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes but his left-footed cross curled past the jumps of both City and Forest men in the box all the way into the far corner.

The scores were only level for five minutes, though. Farke brought on Alex Tettey and Todd Cantwell to change things up and the latter was involved straight away. He did well to create room for Buendia on the edge of the box and the Argentine's effort took a big deflection before heading into the bottom corner.

City navigated their way through the closing stages to record another important victory, and open up a 3 point lead at the top of the championship table, as they seek to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Norwich XI: McGovern (GK), Aarons, Hanley (c), Zimmermann, Vrancic, Buendia (McLean, 82), Stiepermann (Tettey, 76), Sorensen, Skipp, Pukki (Omotoye 90+3), Martin (Cantwell, 76)
Subs not used: Barden (GK), Hugill, Dowell, McLean, Omobamidele
Goals: Sorensen (45+2), Buendia (77)
Bookings: Skipp (54), Buendia (59), Aarons (74)
Red cards: None

Nottingham Forest XI: Samba (GK), Christie (Jenkinson, 86), Figueiredo, Worrall (c), Ribeiro, Ameobi, Cafu, Sow (Mighten, 86), Lolley, Arter (Knockaert, 71), Taylor (Guerrero, 63)
Subs not used: Smith (GK), Mbe Soh, Dawson, Ioannou, Swan
Goals: Knockaert (72)
Bookings: Sow (27)
Red cards: None

HT: 1-0
Venue: Carrow Road
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Darren Bond