Norwich City 2-1 Sunderland: Leon Barnett & Steve Morison send Paul Lambert's side ninth as pressure mounts on Steve Bruce

Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game

Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets!

Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25

Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200

Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20!

He was involved again moments later, ducking under a long-ball from Leon Barnett which caught Titus Bramble out leaving Wes Hoolahan to nip in behind but he volleyed way over.

The home side were determined to make a nervy start from Mignolet pay dividends as David Fox's low cross into the box almost set-up Elliott Bennett but the goalkeeper bravely got down at his feet before he could tap home restoring any confidence that he might have lost.

The visitors had the lion’s share of the possession in the first half but didn’t do much with it as Sessegnon’s clever ball nearly set up Bendtner but the defence did their job.

The Dane crossed to Craig Gardner who ballooned over from just outside the box and Sessegnon had a shot that went wide of the post as Sunderland started to turn possession into chances.

Marc Tierney crossed in from the left for Morison but Wes Brown expertly stood his ground and the striker was marshalled before he could get on the end of the ball.

Sunderland tried to get into the game, with Sessegnon tackled by Bennett before picking out Bendtner who flicked the ball up and volleyed with his left but John Ruddy prevented a maiden goal for the Dane’s new club.

But it was Norwich who opened the scoring. Leon Barnett tapped home following Bennett and Fox’s one-two which finished a delightful move.

Bendtner went close on the stroke of half-time but the ball trickled wide, which also left him in a heap in the box.

Morison headed home a second for the hosts, beating Wes Brown in the air, after Tierney crossed following great work down the left-hand side from the home side.

Midfielder Bennett terrorised Sunderland’s defence all night and went close with a drive that whistled past the post.

John Ruddy’s point-blank save from Bendtner – after Bradley Johnson’s mistake in the box - saw the ball trickle wide, anything less and Sunderland would have found a way back into the game just after the hour mark.