Norwich City have beaten Manchester City 3-2 this afternoon, on the final day of the Premier League season.
City came from behind twice, but couldn't reply the Jonny Howson's excellent winner.
The hosts started slowly and went behind to an Anthony Pilkington goal before equalising through Jack Rodwell.
Rodwell got another in the second half, replying to Grant Holt's goal but Howson won the game for the visitors with a solo effort.
Norwich survived a late onslaught from City but were able to hang on for a final three points.
See how the action unfolded with Sports Mole's live coverage below.
Good afternoon, and welcome to the Sports Mole's live coverage of the Premier League final day game between Manchester City and Norwich City.
It has been a bit of a disappointing for both these sides, particularly Manchester City, who will finish a long way behind rivals Manchester United at the top of the league.
On top of that, they were beaten by Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup final and had another underwhelming Champions League campaign. All of this led to Roberto Mancini's sacking during the week, and I'm sure most City fans will already be thinking about next season.
Norwich on the other hand, would have liked to have secured their safety before the final week of the season, nevertheless, they're safe from relegation and could finish as high as tenth.
Chris Hughton will also be looking to next season, with Norwich having already agreed a deal for Sporting Lisbon striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel, who will add some firepower to the Canaries' attack.
It's a tough one to call today. With both sides effectively looking ahead to next season already, we should get two relaxed sets of players, meaning a slow tempo, low-scoring game or one where both sides throw caution to the wind.
You would have to favour the hosts though. They've got the better players and in the end, I think that will make all the difference.
Talking of which, the home side could be without Sergio Aguero and Kolo Toure, but Pablo Zabaleta will return from suspension while Vincent Kompany and Matija Nastasic could come back in after being rested for the win over Reading on Tuesday.
Norwich have no new injury worries after their win over West Bromwich Albion last week.
FULL TEAMS...
Manchester City: Hart; Zabaleta, Richards, Lescott, Kolarov; Yaya Toure, Milner, Rodwell; Tevez, Dzeko, Nasri
Norwich City: Ruddy; Whittaker, Martin, Bennett, Garrido; Johnson, Hoolahan, Howson; Pilkington, Holt, Snodgrass
So, there's no place for Kompany in the 18-man squad for City, while David Silva and Aguero are amongst the substitutes. Zabaleta does return at right-back though.
Luciano Becchio and Elliot Bennett are among the Norwich substitutes.
The teams line up in similar fashion, with three central midfielders in a fluid 4-3-3. City have picked a strong team, and I think the likes of Yaya Toure, Carlos Tevez and Samir Nasri will make the difference.
Looking over the statistics for this game, it looks like it can only go one way...
City have the best defence in the league this season, while only Stoke City and Queens Park Rangers have scored fewer than Norwich this season, despite their 4-0 win last weekend.
On top of that the Canaries have not won away for nine games, the worst current run in the Premier League, and the hosts have only lost once at the Etihad this season - to Manchester United.
As I said earlier, let's hope that both teams focus on attack and we get some goals.
There have been rumours this week that City have agreed a deal for Radamel Falcao, so the likes of Tevez and Dzeko will probably be playing for their places next season.
Make sure you check out the rest of the Sports Mole website as we'll have live coverage of all ten Premier League games today.
One question today, is do City have enough creativity without Silva and Aguero? Nasri and Tevez will provide for Dzeko, but I think the Citizens miss something without Aguero, and in particular Silva.
I'm hoping Norwich perform like they did last weekend. With the pressure off, they put four past West Brom in an exciting performance, and something similar would really provide City with a problem.
The players are out and going through the pre-match handshakes.
Man City kick us off...
The City fans a singing the name of Roberto Mancini as their side plays the ball between their back four.
A nice exchange of passes between Johnson and Hoolahan releases Holt for Norwich, but the assistant referee's flag is raised.
A good counter attack down the Norwich left releases Snodgrass, who switches the ball to Pilkington. The right winger turns inside and lays the ball for Johnson, whose shout deflects for a corner, but Snodgrass' delivery is poor.
Even share of possession so far. City look dangerous on the left with Nasri and Tevez linking well but the visitors have held firm so far and continue to provide a counter-attacking threat.
Tevez picks the ball up in the centre of the Norwich half and plays it wide to Nasri, who flicks it down the line for Kolarov, but his cross is blocked away for a corner. The left-back goes to take it but Norwich clear the ball.
CHANCE! Hoolahan receives Garrido's throw in and plays a clever ball into the feet of Holt, who turns Lescott well but shoots wide with his left foot.
SAVE! Milner does well to keep the ball in, in the left corner before playing the ball back to Nasri, who whips the ball into the near post where Dzeko's flick is caught well by Ruddy.
City force Norwich all the way back to their goalkeeper and regain the ball in midfield. Howson wins in back, but plays a poor pass to Holt which is cut out by Richards.
Norwich have a couple of penalty claims turned down, first Zabaleta brings down Pilkington, and from the resulting corner, the winger's shot at the back post strikes Toure's arm. Snodgrass delivers a second corner, and Bennett rises highest, heading towards the back post but Lescott clears it off the line.
Rodwell finds Nasri on the left, who after turning his marker, plays the ball to Kolarov whose cross is deflected for a corner but again Norwich clear.
GOAL! Manchester City 0-1 Norwich City (Pilkington)
Yaya Toure loses the ball to Johnson on the edge of the box, before Hoolahan wins a 50/50 with Lescott allowing the ball to break into the area for Pilkington to run onto and fire past Hart into the bottom corner.
GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 Norwich City (Rodwell)
Manchester City reply immediately, playing the ball around in the final third before Nasri fires the ball into the feet of Dzeko, who flicks it into the past of Rodwell. The midfielder takes a touch to steady himself and smashes the ball into the right corner from the middle of the box.
CHANCE! Snodgrass lines up a free-kick just outside the box and curls it over the wall, but Hart is able to tip it over the bar.
Tevez wriggles away from Bennett on the edge of the box and plays the ball right to Milner, but the midfielder's cross is overhit and goes out for a throw on the far side.
Nasri breaks forward and plays the ball left for Tevez, who cuts back inside and wins a corner with his deflected shot. Kolarov takes the corner again but Richards' header bounces into the ground and over the bar.
Tevez finds space again inside the left of the Norwich penalty box. He plays it to Nasri who decides not to shoot, before eventually finding Toure on the left but his cross goes out for a goal kick.
Another good City break, with Tevez bursting through the middle and playing the ball right to Milner, whose cross is just behind Dzeko and the striker drags it wide.
CHANCE! Pilkington's cross is blocked and falls to Snodgrass who shoots across the face of goal, where Martin is unable to get his toe onto the ball and it goes inches wide!
Some neat play between Hoolahan and Holt releases Garrido down the left. Milner gets to him late and Norwich win a free-kick near the corner flag, and after Pilkington gathers it at the far post, City eventually clear the ball.
HALF-TIME Manchester City 1-1 Norwich City
Norwich back on the attack just before half-time, almost forcing the ball in a couple of times, but City were dominant after their equaliser. 1-1 at the break is a fair reflection of the first half.
Despite having a bit of the end-of-season feel to it, there's been some good play from both sides so far. Norwich started and finished the half very brightly, and have probably created the more clear-cut chances.
I've been disappointed with Yaya Toure today, I know it's the last game of the season but he really hasn't made any runs off the ball. Rodwell on the other hand has been everywhere, perhaps another who is playing for his place in the team.
Norwich have been bright throughout the game, despite a period of City pressure in the middle of the half. The moevement of Hoolahan, Snodgrass and Pilkington has caused City's midfield problems and, after missing a couple of half-chances, you'd fancy Grant Holt to put his next one in the back of the net.
The players are back out and Norwich get the second half underway...
SAVE! Hart makes a good save from a close-range Johnson effort after Hoolahan's free-kick. City eventually clear the ball and Tevez starts a counter-attack but is stopped by Bennett.
SUBSTITUTION One I missed at the break, Sergio Aguero has replaced Tevez.
Milner plays a one-two with Dzeko on the edge of the box and pulls the ball back towards Aguero, but Bennett manages to cut it out and Norwich clear.
GOAL! Manchester City 1-2 Norwich City (Holt)
Hoolahan picks out Snodgrass on the right hand side of the box and the midfielder brings the ball down and fires it across the face of goal, with Holt coming in at the back post to fire it into the net.
City are putting the pressure on Norwich now, but can't seem to find the killer pass in the final third. The Canaries are still a threat on the break.
GOAL! Manchester City 2-2 Norwich City (Rodwell)
Rodwell gets his second of the game, breaking through on the left and outrunning Martin before finishing into the far post from a tight angle.
Lescott breaks out of defence and plays the ball wide to Milner, before continuing into the box. Milner finds Zabaleta but his cross is blocked and Norwich eventually clear the ball.
GOAL! Manchester City 2-3 Norwich City (Howson)
The visitors take the lead for a third time, as Jonny Howson breaks from midfield, running past Toure and Lescott before out-muscling Richards and firing the ball beyond Hart into the far corner.
CHANCE! Milner runs free on the right but after seeing his cross blocked, he collects the rebound and fires inches over with his left foot.
Snodgrass whips in a free-kick from the right but Bennett's header is easily caught by Hart.
Snodgrass fouls Nasri but hurts himself in the process, meaning a break in play while he receives treatment. As play resumes, City waste the free-kick.
City are camped in the Norwich half now, they've thrown on Silva but are still unable to find the killer ball against a stubborn away defence.
CHANCE! Silva finds space on the edge of the box and plays the ball to Aguero who turns and plays it wide to Milner, but his cross is deflected away.
SUBSTITUTION Norwich bring on Elliot Bennett in place of Pilkington. It's all City at the moment.
Dzeko almost flicks the ball through to Aguero but Bennett does well to cut it out and clear the ball.
Kolarov finds Aguero in the middle of the box, but despite controlling the ball well, the striker tries to turn for a second time, allowing Martin to get a foot in and clear the ball.
CHANCE! Norwich embark on a rare attack, with Snodgrass down the right, but City win the ball and counter, with Toure finding Aguero in the box, but his shot hits the post!
CHANCE! Substitute Tettey breaks clear for Norwich and beats Lescott to the ball before striking the ball just wide with the outside of his foot.
FULL-TIME Manchester City 2-3 Norwich City
A few boos ring out at full-time from the City fans. They were outplayed for a lot of this game and, despite dominating the last 20 minutes, rarely looked like equalising for a third time.
UPDATE! Just to update you on some other scores on the final day. Arsenal beat Tottenham Hotspur into fourth, with both teams winning 1-0. Elsewhere Chelsea beat Everton 2-1, Liverpool win 1-0 against QPR. Manchester United are drawing 5-5 at West Brom with minutes to go!
Also, can I point you in the direction of the Sports Mole team of the year voting. Who deserves to make the first eleven?
We witnessed an entertaining game today. After a slow start, both sides went for it, and it was actually Norwich who deserved the win.
Hoolahan and Howson were both excellent, with the latter scoring one of the better goals this season for the winner.
For City, this was never a very important match. They secured second place last week, and their fans can look forward to an exciting summer, with a new manager and probably a few new signings.
Make sure you stick around for Sports Mole's analysis from this game, as well as all the reaction from the other final day Premier League games.
Thanks for joining me and I hope you have a good evening.
Written by
Daniel Cross
Daniel Cross
