Rovers failed to spoil Norwich City’s promotion party as their winning run ended at four at Carrow Road.

Two long range strikes in the opening quarter set the Canaries on their way to victory, and the Premier League, as Marco Stiepermann and Mario Vrancic found the target.

Lewis Travis’ first senior goal shortly after brought Rovers back in to it, but only the woodwork, and some good saves from Jayson Leutwiler prevented the hosts from winning by a bigger margin.

Rovers weren’t short of effort, but Norwich proved why they are Premier League bound, and more than likely as champions.

Tony Mowbray made two changes from the team which beat Bolton, with Elliott Bennett recalled at right, and as captain, with Danny Graham leading the line.

That meant Jayson Leutwiler kept his place in goal, while Jack Rodwell continued alongside Lewis Travis in the middle of the park.

The home crowd were in party mood even before kick off, and their side responded as they dominated from the off.

Whether a deliberate ploy, or because space was opening up for them, Norwich’s main attacking outlet came down their left.

It was from there that Teemu Pukki chested down for Stiepermann whose early sighter flew well over the bar.

Onel Hernandez was next to take aim for a Norwich side not scared to shoot when the chance presented, with his strike dragged wide of the target.

That tactic was to prove decisive in the 13th minute though as Stiepermann’s daisy-cutter found its way past Jayson Leutwiler from 25 yards.

There were eyebrows raised again that the Canadian was preferred to David Raya, and the stand-in stopper appeared slow to get down.

He did make amends though five minutes later, somehow getting across to deny Pukki at the far post when he looked certain to tap-in a Hernandez cross.

That came moments after the home crowd were baying for a red card when Lenihan brought down the Finnish striker, albeit 40 yards from goal, which may well have been the decisive factor as to why the colour of the card was yellow, and not red.

The atmosphere stepped up a notch midway through the half when Vrancic doubled the advantage. He gave Rovers enough chance to close him down, but when they didn’t he picked out the top corner from 25 yards with a stunning strike.

Rovers were struggling for possession, never mind territory, but two minutes later hauled themselves back in to the game.

It was another strike from outside the box, this time from Lewis Travis who side-footed home from 20 yards for his first senior goal.

That did little to stop Norwich’s flow though, as Stiepermann should have grabbed his second, and Norwich’s third, on the half hour mark, only to shoot straight at Leutwiler from 12 yards out from Pukki’s pull back.

There was hope for Rovers on the break though, as despite Bradley Dack and Graham struggling to get in to the game, the threat came down the flanks. From the right, Adam Armstrong whipped in a cross which just needed a touch to turn it home, but that wasn’t forthcoming.

The lively Buendia blasted wide from a tight angle, before from an almost identical position, Hernandez fired in Norwich’s 16th shot of the first half, but couldn’t get it on target.

Rovers made a switch at the break, with Ben Brereton on for Graham.

But it was the hosts who continued to carry the greater threat, with Leutwiler doing well to get down low to keep out an overhead kick from Buendia.

There was nothing he could do but stand and watch 10 minutes as Hernandez skipped inside Bennett before taking aim, though his shot cannoned against the bar.

Bradley Dack’s night was somewhat summed up by a free kick midway through the second half, only to fly high, and not very handsomely, over the top.

He was replaced not long after by Harry Chapman as Rovers remained in the game heading in to the final 20 minutes. 

Norwich were sensing a third to kill the game off though, with Hernandez unselfishly cutting the ball back, only for Bell to clear. From the next attack, Leutwiler saved from Pukki low down to his left.

While the scoreline was 2-1 though there was life for Rovers who had a sight of goal when Armstrong’s cross was met by Williams. The defender had more time than he thought when heading wide.

They were struggling to get a hold of the ball for long enough to threaten an unlikely equaliser despite a few late flashes from Chapman. 

Their best opening saw Rothwell blast over as a Conway corner was only cleared as far as him. 

Norwich: Krul, Aarons, Godfrey, Zimmermann, Lewis, Vrancic, McLean, Hernandez (Leitner, 90), Buendia, Stipermann (Tettey, 90), Pukki (Rhodes, 90)

Subs: McGovern, Klose, Hanley, Cantwell

Rovers: Leutwiler, Bennett, Lenihan, Williams, Bell, Rodwell (Conway, 58), Travis, Armstrong, Dack (Chapman, 71), Rothwell, Graham (Brereton, 46)

Subs: Raya, Nyambe, Mulgrew, Evans