Norwich manager Dean Smith hailed Bristol City as the bravest side to have visited Carrow Road this season and praised Nigel Pearson's continued development of his team.
The Robins came up short against the promotion hopefuls at Carrow Road after Teemu Pukki took advantage of two Kal Naismith errors in the first half but the visitors were arguably the better of the two sides on the evening.
Their relentless first-half pressure was rewarded on the stroke of half-time when Tommy Conway headed City back into the contest. It was Norwich's third that delivered the killer blow at a crucial time when Josh Sargent scored from a corner against the run of play just after the hour mark.
City didn't let their heads drop and Antoine Semenyo provided the visitors with another glimmer of hope with 13 minutes to play but despite a late barrage of attacks, Norwich clung on for a 3-2 win and the three points.
After the game, Pearson praised his side's positive approach and made statement of the boldness of going man for man at the back. Those comments were echoed by Smith who admitted the Robins made life uncomfortable for them throughout.
"There were never any comfortable parts. Fair play to Bristol City, they've been the bravest team that have come here so far," the former Aston Villa manager said. "They left three for three at the back and I felt we got two goals ahead probably because of how brave they were but the quality that we've got up there as well to play against them.
"I thought for 20/25 minutes we were good but the scoreline probably affected us too much. I thought we dropped off it too much.
"They moved the ball well but we never really got up to the ball because we were quite comfortable at 2-0 and that's not like us and it's not where I want us to be. In this league, we need to make it difficult for teams to come here.
"They were brave, on a good run of form themselves but we've got quality in our team. I felt the way both teams pressed at times there were a lot of unforced errors on the pitch. I felt both teams could have been better on the ball."
Smith also thought Semenyo's goal should have been disallowed for a foul on Max Aarons by Nahki Wells in the build-up on the left touchline. The home crowd were incensed with the decision to allow play to continue and greeted the referee with a chorus of boos at the full-time whistle.
He added: "It's a foul on Max. He's pulled him round the neck and pulled him over. The referee probably felt he was in a bit of a blind spot on the other side to the linesman. Having watched it back it's a definite pull back but we've still got to do better.
"Marcelino (Nunez) has time on the ball, he looks over his shoulder and he gets robbed. That should have been a penalty but then the referee plays on and they score the goal."
Norwich certainly would have felt a sense of relief when the final whistle blew following six minutes of injury time. It was a performance that further proved evidence of the progression being made in the City side, something that came as no surprise to Smith.
"I was impressed with them," he said. "I've been impressed with a couple of games I saw over the weekend as well watching them.
"It doesn't surprise me though I've known Nigel a long time and he's a very good coach. He knows how to develop a team and build a team and they've got a good system and the front three are a handful for anyone."
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