• Angus Gunn 6
Raced from his line to block tackle Andre Green in the third minute, and got enough of the ball to quieten the home fans appealing for a foul.
Stuck up a hand to palm Fred Onyedinma’s rising strike, that also appeared to clip a post. Rooted to his line as Dexter Lembikisa’s fearsome shot flew into the top corner from 18 yards.
Then needed his centre backs to do their jobs, once Lembikisa’s enticing cross was met by Jordan Hugill. Watching again when Cafu’s curler just cleared his bar in the 72nd minute.
• Jack Stacey 5
Better in the second half in terms of his attacking urges. Latched onto Gabby Sara’s reverse ball but his near post cross was kicked away by Viktor Johansson.
Horrid slice as the Millers’ defender closed in when in a good shooting position in the 82nd minute from Przemyslaw Placheta’s pass. Sloppy on the ball in the first half. Heavy touch lost possession when found by Kenny McLean in a promising position.
• Shane Duffy 5
Once Rotherham worked the overload to produce a Lembikisa cross too slow to react as he let Hugill get across him and glance a header past Gunn from six yards out. Although centre back partner Ben Gibson was stationed behind Duffy and his fellow defenders.
Towering earlier header dealt with a free kick arrowing towards Hugill.
• Ben Gibson 5
Tried to come and meet a throw in heading towards Onyedinma, but his clearing header dropped down for Lembikisa to lash home. Then a fraction behind his defensive partner Shane Duffy as he marked Onyedinma at the near post for the cross despatched by Hugill.
Clubbed a quickly-taken free kick aimed at Christian Fassnacht out of play in the 18th minute. Bailed out by Jon Rowe racing back just before the hour mark, after he was dragged into midfield by Hugill. Stretched out a leg to divert Ollie Rathbone’s low cross but Cafu curled over.
• Dimi Giannoulis 5
Ony glimpse of his attacking instincts came in the 12th minute when he offered for Rowe before a cutback Sara squirted wide of the near post. Found himself on the back foot for the most part and unable to deal with Rotherham’s physicality and aggressive high line.
• Kenny McLean © 5
Stabbed a Sara short corner routine into the side netting in the 48th minute. Buccaneering run past three before he was shoved over just inside the Millers’ half. But on his heels when Gibson’s touch dropped for Cafu to race past the Scot and rifle over.
• Gabby Sara 6
Norwich needed a spark but the Brazilian talisman was unable to provide it on this occasion. Prominent at the start and finish of arguably City’s best passing move of the game, but with his quality should hit the target from eight yards or so.
Weak in the tackle on the edge of his own area as Christ Tiehi clubbed over from 20 yards. Deep corner for Ashley Barnes to head over. Then picked out McLean’s near post run, but the captain’s effort was off-target.
Rising hit from Adam Idah lay-off flew over. Wriggled into the area on the hour mark, after exchanging passes with Jack Stacey, but wanted one touch too many and the shot was blocked.
• Christian Fassnacht 6
Wagner spoke about those penalty box instincts from the Swiss international when he first arrived. Was alive to a slight deflection, after Rowe had committed two and fired a low cross into the six yard area.
Opted not to shoot in the 29th minute, when initially released by Barnes, who ended up forcing the stop from Johansson. Clever first time release set Idah away in the 39th minute, but the moved ended in a tame long range effort.
• Ashley Barnes 5
Felt aggrieved on a couple of occasions in the final quarter not to earn a penalty, after the close attentions of Rotherham defenders in the box. Notably from Rathbone in the 77th minute.
Involved in the build up for Sara’s first half chance. Headed over a deep Sara corner. Then had Johansson going full length to his right to parry his low strike. Tried to get Idah away over the top, but far too much weight on his ball. Looping stoppage time header gathered by Johansson.
• Jon Rowe 6
Found himself in reverse gear during a very robust opening quarter from the hosts, led by raiding right back Lembikisa. Did take his marker the other way in the 11th minute, but the cross was intercepted.
Rolled in the overlapping Giannoulis for Sara’s big chance. Got himself out to block two further Lembikisa strikes towards the end of the first half, and showed tremendous defensive instincts to halt a Hugill counter in the 62nd minute. His dart and low cross led to Fassnacht’s riposte shortly after half-time.
• Adam Idah 5
Natural inclination was to drop deeper in search of the ball, but Wagner identified afterwards his side’s failure to stretch the pay in that sluggish first half. Teed up Barnes with a far post header, who had a volley blocked.
Weak shot in the 39th minute in a rare sighter and with space to run in behind from Fassnacht’s roll. Tidy lay-off for Sara to unleash a rising left-footed shot. Snapshot dropped on by Johansson in the 61st minute.
Subs
• Przemyslaw Placheta (for Rowe, 64) 6
Did pep up City’s attacking work with a series of deliveries on the run from the left. Whipped in a ball attacked by Barnes, then a deeper cross that was interesting Fassnacht before Cohen Bramall’s back post intervention.
Short slip pass found its way to Stacey, who sliced off-target. Stood up another deep cross in stoppage time met by Barnes, but Johansson clutched underneath his own bar.
• Sam McCallum (for Giannoulis, 77) n/a
• Tony Springett (for Fassnacht, 77) n/a
• Liam Gibbs (for Idah, 77) n/a
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