Scott Marshall praised the battling spirit of his players as a young Norwich City Under-21s side came from behind to clinch a well-deserved victory in the Barclays U21 Premier League at Colney on Monday.

Cameron King hit the winner just three minutes from time, after Ramil Sheriff, who was later sent off, had equalised for the Canaries just after the hour mark.

'I think we deserved it over the whole game,' Marshall told the club's official website.

'It was a young group today and they showed a good bit of spirit after going down to 10 men. In the last few minutes we went 2-1 up and we were expecting a backlash, but every time the ball came into our box the lads got on the end of it to get it away.

'I think the sending off might have been a bit harsh and we went a goal behind from a penalty that might not have been a penalty – I'll have to have a look at both of those again.

'We were much better in the second half – we looked like we were in control of it and even though we went 1-0 down we still kept the ball, were a nuisance, and looked like we could create something.

'Cameron King got the winner, and he's a young one. He's had a little run of games now in the Under-21s and he's doing well for a first year scholar.'

City went close in an even opening period, striker Jamar Loza heading Jacob Murphy's corner narrowly wide early on, but it was the visitors who went ahead through Adam Blakeman's 49th-minute penalty, awarded for a foul by Adel Gafaiti on Sanmi Odelusi.

Just five minutes later Gafaiti came within inches of making amends as his downwards header from a Michael Clunan ball was somehow scooped off the line.

The Canaries were camped in the Bolton half, and finally got their reward in the 64th minute as Sheriff rose highest to meet Clunan's free-kick with a powerful header that gave Wanderers' 'keeper Robert Lainton no chance.

However, just nine minutes later the City captain was given his marching orders for what the referee deemed to be a dangerous tackle on Bolton midfielder Lester, leaving Marshall's side with 10 men.

Despite the disadvantage, City continued to pile forward and got a deserved winner shortly before time when King's exquisite volley from Jacob Murphy's right-wing corner flew past Lainton.

• City: Steer; McNeil, Barker, Gafaiti, Sheriff; Clunan, Hall-Johnson (Norman 81), King; Josh Murphy, Jacob Murphy, Loza. Subs not used: McGeehan, Matthews, Hodd, Morris.

• Bolton: Laintion, Hampson, Kellett, McQuade, Threlkeld, McKee, Lester, Kelly, Odelusi (Clough 80), Wolstenholme, Blakeman (Youngs 80). Subs not used: Woodland, Fielding, Maher.