​Norwich City 3, Yeovil Town 0

Dismal defending condemned Yeovil Town to defeat at Norwich City, as the Coca-Cola League One table-toppers gave their visitors a football lesson.

Before kick-off, Glovers boss Terry Skiverton had emphasised the need to stay in the game at Carrow Road.

However, it took just two minutes for the Canaries to take the lead from a corner as Yeovil froze in front of a boisterous 24,868-strong crowd.

From there on, Skiverton’s men rarely broke into the Norwich half as the home team continued to turn the screw, pressing home their dominance in the second half.

Skiverton said: “I am not really that disappointed, and I thought we were beaten by the better team from start to finish.

“We were not on it right from the start. I told them (the players) to be aware of people and their abilities, but I did not think it was a game like that.

“I thought we lost it on other things – determination, tackles, commitment and that disappoints me more.”

Injury forced Skiverton into making one change to the side that beat MK Dons, with Dean Bowditch failing a fitness test.

Tottenham Hotspur loanee Ryan Mason returned to the starting line-up as the most-advanced player in a diamond-shaped midfield. Gavin Tomlin partnered Sam Williams in attack.

However, Yeovil had not had time to put their new-look midfield to test when sleepy defending allowed in Norwich.

With only two minutes gone, Terrell Forbes’ allowed Grant Holt to win a header from a corner, sending the ball crashing against a post.

The ball bounced back into the six-yard box, providing Wes Hoolahan with the simplest of close-range finishes.

Skiverton said: “The last thing I said to them before we went out there was ‘Don’t let people get in front of you’. That is a cardinal sin.

“If you do that you are dead and you cannot come back. When people get across you and get in header you are asking for trouble.”

The Glovers could have found themselves further behind 10 minutes later, when Norwich’s alertness nearly resulted in a goal.

Anthony McNamee released Holt down the right and he shrugged off the presence of Steven Caulker to cross for Hoolahan.

The attacker, who tormented Yeovil when playing for Blackpool in the 2007 League One play-off final, clipped the ball inches wide from eight yards out.

Such was Norwich’s superiority and dominance it took almost 25 minutes for the Glovers to show any attacking verve. Even then it involved defenders.

Yeovil played a corner short, eventually switching play to the left wing. The strength and determination of Craig Alcock brought the ball into the box, before his path was blocked by a thunderous challenge from McNamee.

On the stroke of half-time both teams were scratching their heads as to how Norwich were not 2-0 up.

Holt played a neat one-two with Hoolahan, as the striker left the Yeovil defence in his wake. After rounding a committed Alex McCarthy and with the goal at his mercy, Holt rifled into the side-netting.

Skiverton rang the changes at the interval, with Andy Welsh replacing Mason and Aidan Downes making his first appearance of the season in place of Arron Davies.

While the changes did not lead to any immediate Yeovil success in the attacking third, it did at least boost the visitors’ chances of containing Norwich, with the hosts testing the Glovers’ defence less than in the opening 45 minutes.

However, with 65 minutes gone, Yeovil’s sloppy defending nearly returned to haunt them.

Impressive athleticism from McCarthy allowed the keeper to tip Hoolahan’s 20-yard shot over the crossbar, moments before the on-loan Reading keeper clung on to Michael Rose’s long-distance drive.

This good work was undone on 69 minutes, when McCarthy’s poor punch from McNamee’s cross presented Holt with an easy finish for his 26th goal of the season.

The England Under-21 squad member could only graze the ball, before Holt lashed home despite Alcock’s goal-line header.

Six minutes later Yeovil crumbled again as Holt nipped in to collect a stray pass from the visitors. He pulled the ball back for the unmarked Chris Martin.

McCarthy got behind the shot but could only look on as the ball ricocheted off his body and over the line.

Norwich City (4-4-2): Forster; Russell Martin, Nelson, Doherty, Rose; McNamee, Hoolahan (Gill, 87), K. Smith, Lappin; Holt (Johnson, 77), C Martin (Elliott, 77). Subs not used: Rudd, Hughes, Spillane, McVeigh

Yeovil Town (4-1-2-1-2): McCarthy; Alcock, Caulker, Forbes, N. Smith; Kalala; Davies (Downes, 46), MacDonald; Mason (Welsh, 46); Williams, Tomlin (Murtagh, 87). Subs not used: Richard Martin, Murray, Hutchins