Here is Paddy’s verdict on Dean Smith’s Norwich City, who stopped the rot but did nothing to convince they can still avoid another departure from the Premier League.

• Tim Krul 7

Fantastic reaction stop to push Joel Veltman’s header up and over his bar from seven yards. His Dutch international colleague even patted the grounded Krul on the back after his acrobatics. Dealt with everything else that threatened his goal with an assurance and confidence absent in the majority of his outfield team mates.

Comfortable low take from Tariq Lamptey in the sixth minute. Punched Pascal Gross’ inswinging corner clear from under his own bar. Perhaps got in Neal Maupay’s head with his delaying tactics prior to the skied penalty.

Helped Maupay’s cross-cum-shot to safety in the second half before secure handling to gather Solly March’s rising shot and Alexis MacAllister’s stoppage time effort from outside the area.

• Sam Byram 5

Rush of blood when he reached up and handled a cross to concede a penalty missed by Maupay. The look to the heavens was telling, although Smith sought to offer some mitigation as he got a nudge from Lewis Dunk.

Recovered his poise thereafter. Mopped up a weak header from Grant Hanley and was then powering forward at the other end to fire in a cross Robert Sanchez punched clear.

Snapped in sharply on March and showed his awareness to head Gross’ inswinging cross clear. Good tussle with Leandro Trossard after the interval, with Brighton working overloads down his flank.

• Grant Hanley (C) 6

Singled out by his head coach for special praise. Positionally sensed danger better than any of his other team mates. Set the tone when he cut out Gross’ early cross at his near post. Brave in the 64th minute to throw himself in the way of Trossard’s strike at the near post, before taking a whack for his troubles.

Blocked another Trossard effort in stoppage time. Peacemaker when Ben Gibson and Mathias Normann exchanged words in a testing second half spell of home pressure.

• Ben Gibson 6

Good block to cut out a Lamptey cross in the 34th minute. Vital headed clearance in the 41st minute, with Veltman attacking a Brighton corner. Likewise first to react when Danny Welbeck glanced a header goalward after the interval.

Had one sniff at the opposite end when he met Billy Gilmour’s free kick, but his deflected header spiralled into Sanchez’s arms.

• Dimi Giannoulis 5

Looked in for a tough afternoon with Lamptey the out ball in the first half. But stuck to his task. Tracked the full back in the 17th minute followed by a composed turn out of trouble and clip into Teemu Pukki.

Travelled deep into Brighton territory to win a throw. Big block when Welbeck had a shot in the 21st minute. Up in support again when he picked out Pierre Lees-Melou in the home area, who dallied too long and went down looking for a penalty.

• Mathias Normann 4

Cuts a despondent figure now. Rolled a simple pass towards Dimi Giannoulis out of play. Felt hard done by he was not awarded a free kick when breaking forward, after latching onto Lees-Melou's quick throw.

Brought down Welbeck with a mistimed lunge but the free kick struck the Norwich wall. Copped an earful from Gibson in the 78th minute after he was squared up and easily skipped past by Trossard.

• Billy Gilmour 5

Another tour that largely passed him by. Best moment was the quick thinking to release Pukki to tee up Milot Rashica. Plus a deft piece of skill to pluck a Brighton diagonal ball out of the air to halt a home counter, and then a composed thread to Jon Rowe.

But there was also a lack of precision when trying to spring the same player earlier in the half and Kenny McLean inside the opening 10 minutes. Drifted a free kick onto Gibson’s head for a chance from a free kick.

• Pierre Lees-Melou 4

Another City midfielder incapable of exerting any sustained influence on the game at his level. On the end of a naughty lunge from Lamptey that went unpunished in the eighth minute. Nipped in ahead of Gross to clip a ball over the top for Rashica to charge forward.

Conceded a free kick when he mistimed a challenge on the same player. Had a shooting chance just before the interval but went down in the box hoping for a spot kick as Brighton players converged.

• Kenny McLean 4

Deployed in an advanced position at the tip of a diamond but unable to offer an attacking threat, in tandem with either Rashica or Pukki. Swinging long range effort dragged wide in the 31st minute.

Dropped deeper when Lees-Melou departed. Late half volley was deflected into the side netting.

• Teemu Pukki 4

Must be hugely frustrated operating in a side unable to provide any decent service. Perhaps explained why he opted to shoot after robbing Jakub Moder, with Normann screaming for him to square it.

Did provide one sliver of quality when he hurdled Dunk before picking out Rashica, who simply had to score.

• Milot Rashica 4

Clinical for his country in the recent international period. A wild lash though when Pukki set him up for a chance to grab all three points at the back post. Again offered the hint of a threat with his pace but again without the end product.

Did get beyond Pukki in the 19th minute before swivelling to curl a cross McLean failed to connect with. Later in the half opened up his body cleverly to invite Giannoulis forward in a move that ended with a chance for Lees-Melou. Exquisite reverse ball for Pukki in the second half.

Subs:

• Jonathan Rowe (for Lees-Melou, 61) 5

Had Marc Cucurella and Pascal Gross back pedalling with a dart into the Brighton penalty area.

• Christos Tzolis (for Rashica, 80) n/a

• Kieran Dowell (for McLean, 90) n/a