Norwich lost their first game under David Wagner when Blackburn defeated them 1-0 in the third round of the FA Cup.
After replacing the fired Dean Smith on Friday, Wagner's team outplayed another Championship team for significant stretches before falling short to a Grant Hanley error and a Jack Vale goal in the first half.
Blackburn had won 2-0 just before Christmas, giving them two victories in a row at Carrow Road. It was Norwich's fifth game without a victory, and Wagner will have his work cut out for him when the league season resumes.
Hanley's header from a Gabriel Sara corner was deflected over by the watchful Aynsley Pears after a quiet opening period for Norwich. After being set up by Onel Hernandez, Teemu Pukki then shot just wide before Rovers unexpectedly seized the lead in the 31st minute.
Grant Hanley, a former Blackburn defender, gave them the goal by carelessly leaving Tim Krul's back pass terribly short while not under any time constraints. Dilan Markanday successfully stopped the goalkeeper's hasty clearing, allowing Bradley Dack to square the ball for Vale to roll it into an open net.
Norwich worked hard to equalize as Carrow Road was submerged in a torrential downpour that required the floodlights to be turned on early. Pears had to make a fine save low to his right to stop Sara's well-hit 20-yard shot.
Ben Brereton Diaz, a Chilean international, missed his effort with only Krul to beat as the hosts unsuccessfully challenged for offside. The Canaries made a strong start to the second period with long shots from Pukki and Marcelino Nunez that Pears easily gathered. Pears then had to dive to stop a more dangerous attempt from Hernandez.
As Rovers battled to leave their own half against an almost relentless barrage from the hosts, Max Aarons pierced the goalkeeper's palms with a soaring shot.
With 10 minutes left, substitute Jordan Hugill missed another fine opportunity by firing straight at Pears from a decent position, but Rovers managed to weather the storm and secure their spot against either Forest Green or Birmingham in the fourth round.
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