New head coach Philippe Clement's first Norwich City lineup included the returning Jack Stacey, while Josh Sargent marked his 150th appearance for the Canaries.

Within three minutes City were behind as Demarai Gray rolled the ball across the six-yard box for Marvin Ducksch to side-foot home from close range.

After weathering a sustained period of Birmingham dominance, the Canaries' first chance came in the 18th minute when Mathias Kvistgaarden drove from halfway towards the Birmingham penalty area with the ball at his feet, trying a left-footed shot that was saved down low by James Beadle.

The home side's lead was doubled in the 21st minute when Jay Stansfield converted a cross from former Norwich City loanee Patrick Roberts.

The 2,000 travelling fans had something to sing about on 33 minutes when Kvistgaarden pulled a goal back, firing into the net from Jack Stacey's cross after the Canaries' best move of the match.

Almost immediately afterwards, Sargent found himself in a good position but was unable to get a shot away. The ball eventually fell to Oscar Schwartau, whose shot was saved behind.

Birmingham's two-goal cushion was restored when Ducksch scored his second in the 44th minute, converting the rebound after Vladan Kovačević saved from an Iwata header.

After 54 minutes, City gave the ball away to Gray near the halfway line and his pass put Stansfield in behind; the striker's deft finish over the advancing Kovačević went in off the underside of the bar for Birmingham's fourth and his second.

Jovon Makama had a shot saved on 58 minutes as the visitors tried to find a way back into the game.

Kellen Fisher burst forward to supply substitute Emi Marcondes on 63 minutes but the midfielder's shot was comfortably saved.

Iwata's fine strike cannoned off the upright as Birmingham nearly added a fifth in the 65th minute.

Marcondes met a corner at the near post minutes later but his header was saved behind; from the resulting corner Shane Duffy's volley was also saved.

Sargent had a decent chance on 85 minutes when Marcondes fired the ball across goal, but the American couldn't react quickly enough and his shot was steered high.

Norwich failed to carve out any further meaningful opportunities and will now look to bounce back at home against Oxford United on Tuesday night.

Birmingham City: Beadle; Iwata (Osayi-Samuel 87), Klarer (C), Neumann, Cochrane; Doyle, Leonard; Gray (Anderson 73), Roberts (Koumas 90+2); Stansfield (Dykes 88); Ducksch (Furuhashi 73).

Unused subs: Allsop, Robinson, Fujimoto, Cashin.

Goals: Duksch (3, 44), Stansfield (21, 54).

Bookings: Neumann (14).

Norwich City: Kovačević; Fisher, Duffy, Darling, Stacey; McLean (C), Topić; Schwartau (Forson 73), Makama, Kvistgaarden (Marcondes 60); Sargent (Mundle-Smith 88).

Unused subs: Grimshaw, Medic, Mattsson, McConville, Wright, Springett.

Goals: Kvistgaarden (33).

Bookings: Makama (30), Stacey (35).

HT: 3-1

FT: 4-1

Venue: St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park

Referee: Anthony Backhouse

Attendance: 28,080