The Canaries led early through Jonathan Rowe, but were pegged back by Marvin Armstrong’s header.

David Wagner’s starting line-up gave supporters a first opportunity to see new signings Ashley Barnes and Kellen Fisher in action.

Barnet’s team included former Norwich City Academy product Reece Hall-Johnson, who helped the Canaries to the FA Youth Cup title in 2013.

Norwich fans were in good voice from the start having travelled in excellent numbers despite the wet conditions.

They nearly had cause to celebrate inside three minutes after Przemysław Płacheta had the ball in the net with a tidy finish, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

City forced their first corner after 12 minutes; goalkeeper Laurie Walker eventually clearing under pressure from Jonathan Tomkinson.

Barnet were next to have a goal disallowed as the flag denied Harry Pritchard an opener after 14 minutes.

Norwich began to threaten as Rowe cut back inside from the right and fired over with a left-footed shot in the 21st minute.

Liam Gibbs was forced to clear as the ball was knocked down in the City area, and followed up quickly with a smart tackle. Barnet attacked the resulting corner but failed to capitalise.

A lofted Ben Gibson pass looked to set Płacheta clear, but the attack was cut out by the Bees’ defence.

Norwich were ahead just past the half-hour mark as Jacob Sørensen released debutant Fisher, who found Rowe in space in the right channel. He fired a low shot across goal, leaving the Barnet ‘keeper with little chance.

Harry Pritchard nearly levelled for the Bees in the 36th minute, his shot flying high over Tim Krul’s goal from a one-on-one position.

Barnet were back in the game on 38 minutes however as Marvin Armstrong headed them level.

Second half

City fielded an entirely different XI for the second half, including recent signing Jack Stacey.

Indeed, it was Stacey with the first meaningful moment of the second half as he burst down the right and fired across the box, forcing the Barnet ‘keeper to make a clearance.

Tony Springett went through one-on one in the 48th minute but slid his shot narrowly past the left-hand post.

The offside flag denied Barnet again after Sam Barratt had converted from close range in the 53rd minute.

Springett had another shot blocked from a Christos Tzolis pull-back after 64 minutes as Norwich began to increase the pressure on the Barnet goal.

Stacey was involved again in the 66th minute as his whipped cross found Abu Kamara, who produced another smart stop from the Bees’ goalkeeper with his improvised flick.

Archie Mair saw his first real action as he collected a looping header on 70 minutes.

Flynn Clarke won possession in the final third and released Stacey, whose pull-back found Tzolis in space in the box but his shot was too high.

A Marcelino Núñez strike from outside the box stung the palms of the Barnet ‘keeper late on, but a winner ultimately proved evasive.

Norwich City (first half): Krul, Fisher, Gibson, Tomkinson, Mumba, Gibbs, Sørensen, Rowe, Płacheta, Hernández, Barnes.

Norwich City (second half): Mair, Stacey, Warner, Hills, McCallum, Clarke, Manning, Springett, Tzolis, Núñez, Kamara.