Norwich City 3-1 Millwall: Jonathan Rowe scores in fourth match as Canaries extend unbeaten start

Midfielder Jonathan Rowe scored for a fourth match running as unbeaten Norwich eased past a below-par Millwall at Carrow Road.

The visitors’ defence was culpable for Norwich’s second, allowing Josh Sargent a free run to meet Gabriel Sara’s free-kick and glance a header in off the right-hand post.

Jack Stacey’s near-post cross broke to Barnes who drilled a low finish into the far corner for his 100th league goal before Millwall substitute Aidomo Emakhu swept in a fine stoppage-time consolation.

After seeing their play-off push fade away last season, Norwich have started with intent, securing seven points and scoring nine goals from three league games to move up to third, while Millwall, in 16th, have lost their past three games in all competitions.

Millwall looked content to contain Norwich’s attacking instincts, but the Canaries moved the ball with pace and found joy down the left, with Sargent drilling an early 20-yard shot inches past the left-hand post.

And so it proved again in the 25th minute when Rowe cut in from the channel and played the ball into Barnes – making his 500th career appearance – whose deft touch teed up the 20-year-old’s fourth goal of the season.

Sara once again impressed, forcing Millwall goalkeeper Matija Sarkic to parry his free-kick around the post before swinging in another set-piece for Sargent to net his second of the season three minutes after the break.

Barring a stoppage-time attacking flurry, the Lions offered little threat, but were almost gifted a way back in when Norwich lost possession playing out from the back.

Yet Zian Flemming’s shot was blocked and the Canaries then broke to land a 56th-minute sucker-punch third to kill the game as Barnes opened his account for the club.

The fight went out of Gary Rowett’s deflated side whose defeat could easily have been heavier, with Sarkic denying Sargent a second and Christian Fassnacht planting a free header over the bar.

Emakhu drove to the edge of the box and swept a fine finish inside the far post to deny Norwich a first league clean sheet of the season, but that and a succession of corners was too little, far too late.