--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-07-26T08:55:41.717Z last_updated: 2026-07-25T14:33:29+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/norwich-city/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZWRwMjQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvMjY0MDk4MDkuZnVsaGFtLTAtMi1ub3J3aWNoLWNpdHktcHJlLXNlYXNvbi1tYXRjaC1yZXBvcnQvP3JlZj1yc3M --- # City continue unbeaten pre-season with Fulham win - **Source:** - **Published:** 25 Jul - **Club:** Norwich City - **Original URL:** https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/26409809.fulham-0-2-norwich-city-pre-season-match-report/?ref=rss Norwich City defeated Premier League outfit Fulham 2-0 in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Motspur Park on Saturday afternoon. The result capped a productive training week in the capital for the Canaries, who also played out a goalless draw with AFC Wimbledon on Wednesday night. Anis Ben Slimane broke the deadlock after 19 minutes from close range before Harry Darling nodded home the second just after the hour mark. Philippe Clement opted to rest the majority of his frontline options during the week, instead naming a strong XI to face the Cottagers. Vladan Kovacevic, Ruairi McConville and Pelle Mattsson were restored to the starting XI, while World Cup returnees Slimane, Jose Cordoba and captain Kenny McLean all made their first appearances of pre-season. Jovon Makama and Kellen Fisher were absent after picking up contact injuries, joining Lucien Mahovo on the sidelines. Norwich started brightly in the south-west London sun, with Danish duo Oscar Schwartau and Mathias Kvistgaarden at the heart of a swift breakaway before finding Slimane, who fired into the side-netting. Kvistgaarden, who has impressed in recent weeks, played a key role in the opener, pressing high to win possession deep in Fulham territory before teeing up Slimane to slot home. Matej Jurasek almost doubled the lead after being played through by goalscorer Slimane, but the Czech winger saw his dinked effort batted away by veteran goalkeeper Bernd Leno. The hosts' best chance of the opening period fell to Kevin, who weaved his way into the box before seeing his effort cleared by a City player. Fulham, under new manager Álvaro Arbeloa, made wholesale changes at the break in their first friendly of the summer, with Tom Cairney and Emile Smith Rowe among those introduced. It did little to alter the flow of the contest, however, as Clement's side continued to pose the greater attacking threat. Kvistgaarden tested Benjamin Lecomte with a low effort shortly after the restart, but the Fulham goalkeeper, on for Leno at half-time, got down well to save. Vladan Kovacevic, who had enjoyed a quiet afternoon, was called into action just before the hour mark, pushing Ryan Sessegnon's deflected strike past the post before comfortably claiming Farhaan Ali Wahid's curling effort from distance. The sucker punch then came for the home side as Jacob Wright’s corner was flicked back across goal by unmarked striker Dylan Jones, allowing Darling to head into an empty net. Free-kick specialist Cairney had the chance to reduce the deficit after Smith Rowe was bundled down just outside the penalty area, but the Scot fired wide. Jones looked to add a third late on when he was set clear by playmaker Paris Maghoma, only for the former Plymouth Parkway man to drag his effort beyond the far post. The referee brought an end to proceedings with Norwich still unbeaten in pre-season, as attention now turns to next Saturday’s Carrow Road clash with La Liga outfit Osasuna before Cambridge United visit Colney ahead of the Carabao Cup opener against MK Dons. Statement signing Andre Brooks is expected to return to action against the Spanish side, while Ante Crnac is likely to feature for the Under-21s during their trip to Boreham Wood next Friday evening. Fulham: Leno (GK) (for Lecomte 46); Tete (for White 46), Amissah (for Andersen 46), Bassey (for Cuenca 46), Nwoko (for Araujo 25, for Sessegnon 46), Reed (for Cairney 46), Lukić (for Harris 46, for Dibley Dias 75), King (for Zepa 46), Iwobi (for Smith Rowe 46), Kevin (for Ali Wahid 46), Muniz (for Kusi-Asare 46). SUBS: Lecomte, Borto, Andersen, Cuenca, Sessegnon, Araujo, White, Smith Rowe, Dibley-Dias, Harris, Nwoko, Ali Wahid, Zepa, Kusi-Asare. Bookings: Kevin Norwich City: Kovačević, Stacey (for Gibbs, 65), McConville (for Alves, 65), Cordoba (for Darling, 46), Chrisene (for Ozcan, 65); McLean (C) (for Field, 46), Mattsson (for Wright, 65); Jurasek (for Forson, 46), Slimane (for Maghoma, 46), Schwartau (for Baumann, 65); Kvistgaarden (for Jones, 65) SUBS: Grimshaw, Gibbs, Alves, Darling, Ozcan, Field, Wright, Forson, Maghoma, Baumann, Jones, Ansen, Medic, Glossop, Towler Goals: Slimane (19), Darling (61) Bookings: Mattsson The Pink Un was not present at the fixture due to the hosts' decision to deny media access.