Antoine Sibierski earned Norwich a first win of the season on his debut via a 2-1 victory at Plymouth.
Loan signing hits winner against 10-man Pilgrims
Antoine Sibierski earned Norwich City a first win of the season on his debut as the Canaries battled to a 2-1 victory at Plymouth.
Italian striker Arturo Lupoli had given Norwich an early lead before Plymouth were reduced to 10 men in the first half when Krisztian Timar was sent off.
New loan signing Sibierski increased the visitors' lead just before the hour mark, with Paul Gallagher replying with a consolation for Plymouth in the last minute.
The Canaries took the lead after 15 minutes as a flicked-on header from Sibierski found Lupoli and the former Arsenal man moved into the penalty area and clinically finished from 12 yards.
Sibierski, who was winning everything in the air and clearly frustrating the Argyle defence, was then scythed down by Timar with the Hungarian getting a booking for his troubles.
Lupoli had the ball in the net again in the 28th minute as Matthew Pattison hit a long-range effort which bounced down off the bar but the Italian was offside as he tucked away the rebound.
Moments later Plymouth were all at sea as Wes Hoolahan strolled through the defence and found Pattison, who put an easy chance over the bar from six yards.
Things then went from bad to worse for Paul Sturrock's men as Timar hauled down Sibierski to earn a second yellow card and his marching orders from referee Andy Woolmer.
Norwich nearly extended their lead within two minutes of the restart as good work from Elliot Omosuzi and Pattison allowed the former Newcastle man to put in a cross but Lupoli could only hit the bar from the centre of the box.
In the ensuing scramble Ryan Bertrand found himself unmarked 12 yards out but his wild effort flew over the bar.
Plymouth could not get any sort of a foothold in the game and some good passing freed Pattison but the winger put his effort wide when a pass to Hoolahan or Lupoli who were waiting in the middle may have been a better decision.
Lupoli was then withdrawn in the 53rd minute with a suspected ankle knock and Jamie Cureton was brought into the action.
But it was strike partner Sibierski who doubled the lead with an excellent driven free-kick just six minutes later.
Gallagher handballed 30 yards out and Mark Fotheringham rolled the set-piece to the Frenchman who drilled his free-kick low giving Graham Stack no chance.
Sturrock brought on Rory Fallon and handed a debut to Emile Mpenza as he tried to add some attacking impetus to his side but the Canaries continued to lay siege to Stack's goal as Pattison skimmed the top of the bar from 30 yards.
Substitute Fallon found Gallagher who finished well from inside the box in stoppage time but it was no more than a consolation after a woeful home performance from Plymouth.
