[Sport] A scintillating first-half performance helped runaway Championship leaders Norwich to a club record ninth successive victory at Nottingham Forest.

[_Happy boy]

Daniel Farke's visitors were without influential playmaker Emi Buendia but took an early lead when top scorer Teemu Pukki skilfully worked some space to drill in from 15 yards.

Three minutes later it was two, former Forest loanee Kieran Dowell lashing a half-volley into the bottom corner from 25 yards after a one-two with Lukas Rupp.

The Canaries should have been further ahead by the break though the game fizzled out after the interval, Tim Krul rushing out to deny Lewis Grabban as the home side struggled to create.

Norwich are now 10 points ahead of second-placed Watford with nine matches to play and a further three clear of Swansea, in third, who have a game in hand.

Relive Wednesday's EFL action
Chris Hughton's Forest, meanwhile, are without a win in five and are still looking over their shoulders despite having a nine-point buffer over the bottom three.

Buendia missed out after his partner gave birth but Dowell filled his role excellently.

Finland striker Pukki ruthlessly scored his 22nd Championship goal of the campaign after a crisp Rupp pass, but that was outshone by Dowell's powerful strike from range.

Ryan Yates headed Forest's only first-half chance wide, with Pukki finding the side-netting and Kenny McLean forcing a good save from Smith as the sublime Canaries showed the gulf in class.

The hosts were without injured keeper Brice Samba, with Anthony Knockaert and Joe Lolley also out, but have now won only one of their past seven league games at the City Ground.

Pukki came closest to a third for the Norfolk side but his effort from a tight angle was well saved by Smith, who was making his first Championship start of the season.

Nottingham Forest manager Chris Hughton told BBC Radio Nottingham:

"We didn't get it right with our intensity, especially in the first 20-25 minutes of the game.

"We never got close to them in the first half. They had too much of their own way in that period. We were up against a better team that played better than us.

"It was a difficult evening for us. Our performance in the second half was better, but over 90 minutes it shows where they are and where we are."

Norwich head coach Daniel Farke:

"When the games come thick and fast, you can forget about what you are doing, but we need to also experience the joy because nine wins on the trot is outstanding.

"Maybe, in a few years' time, we can sit back with a glass of wine and look back on how we have written some history and done something really amazing. But now is not the time to be too proud of ourselves because we need to stay focussed.

"We still have some strong teams left to play and you never know what can happen with the coronavirus situation, but I thought we were fantastic in this game.

"We also created an unbelievable amount of chances, had 22 shots on goal, made more than 700 passes and kept a clean sheet. We did that by working unbelievably hard in the second half and not making any mistakes, so I'm delighted."