Albion ease to FA Cup victory over Norwich

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Georginio Rutter scores twice in the first half before goals from Julio Enciso and Solly March seal 4-0 win.

Bruce Talbot

2025-01-11T16:55+00:00

Georginio Rutter celebrates in front of 2646 away fans after putting Albion in front. 📷by James Boardman

Albion returned to winning ways in style as they negotiated a potentially tricky FA Cup hurdle with a four-goal flourish at Carrow Road.

After Norwich had hit the post early on Albion settled and took control. Georginio Rutter opened the scoring with a fine header in the 37th minute and added his fourth goal of the season with an angled effort in first-half stoppage time.

Julio Enciso curled in a fine third on the hour – his first goal of the season – before a special moment for Solly March in only his second appearance since returning after 14 months out with injury. With virtually his first touch March curled an outstanding fourth into the top corner. More than 2,600 Albion fans enjoyed that one in particular.

Georginio Rutter heads Albion in front. 📷by James Boardman

It was a very satisfactory afternoon for Fabian Hurzeler who was able to give Danny Welbeck minutes and a debut for defender Ruairi McConville.

Norwich's best spell came early on and they were denied by the woodwork in the 13th minute when Jason Steele was beaten by Amankwah Forson's left-foot curler from the edge of the box which came back off the left-hand post.

Moments earlier Norwich keeper George Long had blocked Yasin Ayari’s strike from the corner of the six-yard box after Kaoru Mitoma picked out his run with a perceptive pass.

It's two for Georgie as he points Albion in the direction of the fourth round. 📷by James Boardman

Albion’s pace in wide areas nearly led to a goal twice in the space of three minutes – with Rutter left frustrated on both occasions. Yankuba Minteh and then Mitoma produced pull-backs from the line but Jose Cordoba got in the way of Rutter’s first effort and then Oscar Schwartau came to Norwich’s rescue in Albion’s next raid when he blocked the Frenchman’s effort.

But the effervescent Georgie wasn’t to be denied and moments after Long did superbly to keep out Enciso’s volley he opened the scoring. Joel Veltman provided the cross and Rutter rose to head back across Long and into the far corner for his first goal since the Premier League win over Spurs three months ago.

Albion were in control and in first-half stoppage time doubled their lead. Minteh again surged at a retreating defence and Rutter took his pass and smashed an angled effort past Long, the ball deflecting off Callum Doyle on its way in.

Three and easy: Julio Enciso's trademark celebration after he put Albion 3-0 up with a fine finish. 📷 James Boardman.

Minteh’s speed troubled Norwich all afternoon and he raced onto Ayari’s pass eight minutes after the break but was betrayed by a heavy touch in the box which allowed Long to come out and smother.

But Albion did have a third on the hour. Long was in no man's land when Brad Hills undercooked his back pass in the right-back area. Enciso was onto it quickly and curled a lovely low finish from an acute angle in off the far post.

If that was a good goal then March’s effort with his first touch after coming on was even more special. Credit to Welbeck who, fearing he was offside, left Brajan Gruda’s pass to his teammate and March swept the ball left-footed into the top corner from the left-hand corner of the box.

Ruairi McConville challenges Josh Sargent on his Albion debut. 📷 by James Boardman.

Welbeck glanced a header from March’s cross wide from close range in the closing stages as Albion ended the game in complete control.

Albion: Steele ©, Veltman (Moder 78), van Hecke, Webster (McConville 70), Estupinan, Minteh (March 70), Baleba, Ayari, Mitoma, Enciso (Gruda 63), Rutter (Welbeck 63).