Norwich have moved out of the bottom three in the Championship following a 1-0 success over Plymouth.
Mooney strike sinks Pilgrims at Carrow Road
Norwich City have moved out of the bottom three in the Championship following a crucial 1-0 success over Plymouth.
David Mooney grabbed the only goal of the game eight minutes after half time as the Canaries moved two points clear of the dreaded drop zone.
Bryan Gunn's men finished the match a man light following Darel Russell's injury-time dismissal, but Norwich held on for the crucial three-point haul.
The home side started brightly and Wes Hoolahan had two shots blocked before Sammy Clingan saw a shot from 20 yards comfortably saved by Romain Larrieu.
Just over
Minutes later Plymouth failed to clear their lines and Hoolahan turned the ball into the box but Jason Shackell could only flick the ball just over the bar.
Norwich were dominating and should have been in front when Hoolahan played in Alan Gow who rolled his shot past Larrieu and just wide of the post.
Shackell came close to giving the Canaries a deserved lead when he met Clingan's corner but his header went just wide.
Plymouth did improve slightly before the break and Paul Gallagher had a free-kick blocked before David Gray dragged a shot wide.
The visitors continued where they left off and began the second half brightly with Jamie Mackie testing David Marshall with a shot from 25 yards.
Canaries in front
However, Norwich went in front with 53 minutes gone when Clingan's corner found Gary Doherty at the far post and he nodded into the path of Mooney to score.
Doherty almost doubled the lead minutes later but he headed over from Clingan's cross before Gow shook off his marker but fired wide.
Just after the hour mark Jon Otsemobor embarked on an impressive run and beat a series of challenges before firing wide.
Plymouth should have made Norwich pay for their profligacy when Chris Barker's cross fell to Rory Fallon but he stabbed wide from close range.
The visitors pressed for an equaliser but were unable to find a way through as Norwich held on for what could prove a decisive three points in the battle against the drop.
