Manchester City survived Samir Nasri's sending-off and a spirited Norwich City comeback to claim maximum points in an entertaining Carrow Road clash this afternoon.
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An early Edin Dzeko double saw the Premier League champions surge into a two-goal advantage, which was halved by an Anthony Pilkington reply.
Nasri's dismissal gifted Norwich the ascendancy, but Sergio Aguero restored City's cushion with a well-taken third.
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Russell Martin netted for the Canaries either side of a Mark Bunn own goal, but the 10-man visitors hung on to keep in touch with rivals United at the top of the table.
Dzeko, handed a start ahead of Carlos Tevez, opened the scoring after two minutes when he smartly volleyed home from Nasri's cross.
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A simple finish from Aguero's square pass doubled the Bosnian's tally after just four minutes, but City's afternoon was to get progressively more difficult from that moment.
Pilkington's deflected free kick, awarded suspectly following Vincent Kompany's challenge on Robert Snodgrass, pulled one back for Norwich.
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After being on the receiving end of a heavy Sebastien Bassong tackle, Nasri responded angrily and saw red for lunging his head in the direction of the Cameroonian defender.
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Aguero's classy dink over Bunn shortly after the interval eased City's worries but stand-in captain Martin kept Norwich in the contest with a close-range header.
Dzeko was denied a hat-trick when Bunn saved his low drive at the near post, but the ball bounced off the woodwork and into the net off the goalkeeper's shoulder.
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Another Martin goal, an effort steered in past Hart following a goalmouth scramble, ensured a nervy finish for the visitors.
However, City hung on to secure a vital victory and inflict a third straight loss on Chris Hughton's Canaries.
Joe Fish
