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Norwich City vs Gillingham. Carabao Cup First Round.

Carrow RoadAttendance13,068.

Norwich City 4

  • C Martin (26th minute, 92nd minute)
  • G Holt (32nd minute, 55th minute)

Gillingham 1

  • C Palmer (12th minute)

Comeback Canaries sink Gills

Image: Holt: Hit brace

Grant Holt and Chris Martin both netted braces as Norwich came from behind to beat Gillingham.

Norwich come from behind to easily beat Gills at Carrow Road

Grant Holt and Chris Martin both netted braces as Norwich avoided a Carling Cup first round upset against Gillingham at Carrow Road. Chris Palmer gave the League Two visitors an early lead before captain Holt and fellow hot-shot Martin spared the blushes of the Championship side. It was a welcome return to the starting line-up for Holt, the club's leading scorer with 30 goals last season. The skipper made a brief appearance from the bench following a thigh injury as Norwich lost their opening game of the season to Watford last Friday. But having replaced the ineligible Simeon Jackson - an agreement made after his switch from Gillingham to Carrow Road this summer - Holt was soon back in the swing of things. After David Fox had hit a post for City, the visitors took the lead against the run of play in the 12th minute with Palmer taking advantage of a slip by defender Michael Nelson to beat John Ruddy. Gills nearly doubled their advantage in the 23rd minute when Adebayo Akinfenwa thumped a header from Danny Spiller's free-kick against the bar.

Capitalised

Norwich capitalised on the let-off by levelling three minutes later. Holt played in strike-partner Chris Martin who avoided the presence of a defender to beat Alan Julian. Within six minutes the Canaries had turned things around as Holt headed home Russell Martin's cross from 12 yards. City came close to stretching their lead seven minutes before half-time, Chris Martin seeing his curling 25-yard free-kick hit the crossbar. But 10 minutes after the restart Holt netted his second of the night, finishing off a sweeping move which resulted in Korey Smith's cross being clinically dispatched. Chris Martin claimed his second of the night in injury time, collecting a pass from substitute Oli Johnson before rounding Julian and tapping into an empty net.

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