Mario Vrancic was highlighted for particular praise by head coach Daniel Farke for an 'outstanding' performance during Norwich City's 3-2 home win over Reading.

The midfielder scored his third goal in his 32nd game of the season but his header to put the hosts 1-0 in front was his first league goal and first Carrow Road goal.

Grant Hanley had made it 2-0 with a header with his first City goal as well and James Maddison made sure of the win with a penalty, despite a nervous second half with the lowly Royals pushing hard for an equaliser.

'We were joking a little bit afterwards and asking Grant if that was his first goal in the senior squad but he had some goals! But it's important that we are dangerous out of set-pieces and also that my centre-backs are able to score,' Farke said.

'Mario Vrancic, I mentioned before that I was really pleased with his development and it was sometimes really tough to leave him on the bench in recent weeks, right now he is there and today he was there with an outstanding performance.

'He created many chances and was important for our rhythm and our balance and was even able to score our first goal. I think a well deserved credit for this really good performance and I am pretty pleased with Mario.'

The win brought an end to a run of seven without victory for the Canaries, moving them up a place in the table to 13th after Leeds were beaten 2-1 at home by Sheffield Wednesday, and brought an end to three home draws on the spin.

'You wish that the game was done earlier because there were many chances to have this win done earlier but in general for the supporters I think an amazing afternoon,' the German continued. 'There were many goals, two good sides, many chances, lots of emotions – and a win for us in the end.

'Three goals, we have not been able to score so many too many times so for that I am pleased.'

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The success means City have lost just two of their last 15 league games, building on a 1-1 draw at Barnsley in midweek to head into the international break on a high.

'In general in many of the last games we had just draws because we missed so many chances, after this win we can face a little bit more the longer term,' Farke continued.

'In the last 17 games we have just two losses, one in pretty strange circumstances against Hull, one loss after 120 minutes (and penalties) against Chelsea and a loss against Sheffield United.

'So two losses in 17 games is proof that we are heading in totally the right direction with this performance today and a well deserved win against a good team like Reading.

'Sadly we have had too many draws in recent weeks or we could have been in an even better position, but at least I'm pretty pleased with this performance today and the win, it was important for us.'