Norwich 3-1 Bournemouth: Matt Jarvis scores on debut in Canaries win

Norwich swept past fellow Premier League newcomers Bournemouth at Carrow Road with Matt Jarvis on target on his debut.

Cameron Jerome opened the scoring for the Canaries in an even first half before Norwich put the game out of sight with two counter-attacking goals in the second, Wes Hoolahan with the first before Jarvis curled home to make it 3-0.

Bournemouth pulled a goal back with just under 10 minutes to go, centre-back Steve Cook heading home from a corner.

The first goal always looked like being important. Norwich got it and survived a good spell of Bournemouth pressure before half-time, culminating in Callum Wilson hitting the post.

However, after the break they were always in control and picked the visitors off, time and again on the break.

The first half saw both sides battling for dominance during the opening stages with neither side really able to gain a foothold in the first 15 minutes.

It was Bournemouth who eventually managed to settle and assert themselves on the game, albeit without creating any chances of note.

Norwich always posed a threat though and showed a glimpse of what was to come when they broke out quickly allowing Hoolahan to slip in Jerome with a clever reverse pass. The striker shot into the side netting but when the pair combined again shortly afterwards, the Canaries were in front.

Nathan Redmond passed a ball down the right channel to Hoolahan who nicked it past Smith before driving into the box and cutting it back for Jerome to tap into an empty net.

Bournemouth responded well and were largely camped in the Norwich half for the rest of the opening period. They could even have been level at the break as Wilson stabbed the ball against the post in stoppage time after Tommy Elphick nodded a deep free-kick into his path.

Replays showed, Jerome actually got the slightest touch on Wilson's effort to prevent it from finding the net.

The Cherries came out with the same positive approach in the second half but it soon become clear that such an approach would prove to be their downfall.

Hoolahan had already been able to break into space and set Jerome up for a shot from 25 yards before he doubled Norwich's lead seven minutes into the second period.

Norwich won the ball back in Bournemouth's half, quickly shifted it inside to Hoolahan and the Irishman was able to advance unchallenged to the edge of the area before firing left-footed into the far corner.

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With Eddie Howe's side now forced to come forward even more, Norwich were in their element and the final goal came after Jonny Howson stole the ball on the halfway line and ran through with two men in support, he opted to go right to Jarvis and the winger cut back onto his left foot and curled to ball expertly into the far corner beyond the reach of the helpless Artur Boruc.

That rather killed the game with almost 25 minutes remaining. Bournemouth, who brought on Glenn Murray to make his debut for the club, continued to try and attack although their belief was visibly deteriorating with every minute that went by.

They did manage to pull one back when Cook headed home unmarked after a short corner but there was little to suggest a late revival in the closing stages.

Indeed, it was Norwich who almost added a fourth. Another debutant, Dieumerci Mbokani, and Robbie Brady both being denied by Boruc before the final whistle.

Soccer Saturday Verdict - Paul Merson

Norwich were very good. I was disappointed in Bournemouth, they didn't really get going through any part of the game. They could not stop Wes Hoolahan today. He played in the hole and when you play in that role you have to hurt people, and he did.

I forgot about Matt Jarvis, he looked lively and I thought Simon Francis had him but he cut inside and bent a lovely ball into the far corner.

Bournemouth will be pulling their hair out and will wonder how they can go and put four by West Ham then today look poor. If you give Bournemouth time on the ball they'll pass it around, they didn't let them do that. They got right in their faces and it's hard for them to pass the ball when they're under pressure. Callum Wilson was isolated and it was a disappointing day for him.

Player ratings

Norwich: Ruddy (6), Wisdom (7), Martin (6), Bassong (7), Brady (7), Redmond (7), Howson (8), Tettey (7), Jarvis (7), Hoolahan (9), Jerome (7).

Subs: Dorrans (6),Olsson (5), Mbokani (6).

Bournemouth: Boruc (6), Francis (5), Elphick (5), Cook (6), Smith (5), Ritchie (5), Surman (6), O'Kane (4), King (5), Stanislas (4), Wilson (6).

Subs: Murray (5), Kermorgant (5), Gosling (5).

Man of the match: Wes Hoolahan