Josh Sargent’s stoppage-time goal earned Norwich a 1-0 win at Carrow Road which kept alive their outside hopes of reaching the Championship play-offs – and put a big dent in West Brom’s promotion dream.

Sargent produced a composed finish to net his 13th goal of the season to settle a tight game of few clear-cut chances.

There was still time for goalkeeper Angus Gunn to make a great close-range save to keep out Kyle Bartley’s header, with substitute Ruairi McConville clearing the second effort off the line.

Sixth-placed West Brom, who are now only five points ahead of the Canaries, started well but were largely kept at arm’s length by a determined home side, who had gone into the game without a win in their previous four games.

They could have few complaints about the outcome while Norwich showed they could be more than a match for the best sides in the division on their day.

The Baggies had two good chances to take the lead in the space of less than a minute early on, with Gunn twice being called into action.

The Scotland international got just enough on a low drive from Karlan Grant and then made a terrific stop at his near post to keep out a goalbound header from Torbjorn Heggem.

Norwich posed the occasional threat and carved out probably the clearest chance of the opening period on 16 minutes.

Sargent was put through by Borja Sainz and it took an excellent stop from Joe Wildsmith to deny him, with Ante Crnac firing the loose ball just wide.

The visitors continued to have marginally the better of it, however, and Gunn made another good stop to keep out a low curler from Grant towards the end of the half.

Sainz fired a shot straight at Wildsmith from a good position as the Canaries started the second half strongly but it didn’t last as a competitive game became increasingly scrappy.

The hosts had another chance in the 84th minute when Sargent was brought down on the edge of the area and substitute Marcelino Nunez curled the resulting free-kick just wide.

But Norwich kept pushing forward and got their reward in the second minute of added time.

When the visitors lost possession, Sargent was given a run at goal down the right and held off the chasing Bartley before steering the ball past Wildsmith for a dramatic winner.