Ten-man Barnet lost their second EFL Checkatrade Trophy match 5-0 against a strong Norwich City side which included a Portuguese international.

Bondz N’Gala was dismissed after 33 minutes following a challenge on halfway. Josh Murphy scored on the stroke of half time before adding a second in the 56th minute to leave the Bees facing an uphill struggle. 

Spanish midfielder Sergi Canos added a third in the 69th minute to take the game away from the Bees. Nelson Oliveira, a full Portuguese international, bagged a fourth 11 minutes from time. Murphy then wrappd up his hat-trick at the death. 

Ten of the 18 players included in Barnet’s matchday 18 by Martin Allen came through the Bees’ academy and six of those were handed starts. Jack Taylor, younger brother of Harry, made his full debut for the Bees in the central of midfield. 

Josh Vickers, Mauro Vilhete, Bira Dembele and Elliott Johnson kept their places in the starting XI from the weekend. Alie Sesay, N’Gala, Ryan Watson, Nana Kyei, Fumnaya Shomotun and Justin Amaluzor came into the side.

Barnet made a bright start with Kyei, Amaluzor and Shomotun all causing the Canaries problems when the Bees went forward.

However, it was the Canaries who had the first real chance when Murphy was slipped through only to shoot straight at Vickers.

After 33 minutes the Bees were reduced to ten men when N’Gala challenged Murphy near the halfway line.

But, if anything, going down to ten men galvanised Barnet and five minutes later Allen’s side had their best chance.

Watson whipped a free-kick in from out on the right flank and Kyei met the delivery with a firm header which Canaries keeper Paul Jones held.

Just as the half looked set to end goalless, Norwich went in front. Murphy advanced down the left and into the penalty area before bending low beyond Vickers to give the visitors the lead.

Barnet boss Allen made one change at half time, bringing Ben Tomlinson on in place of Shomotun up front.

The Bees had the first chance of the second half, Amaluzor picking out Taylor on the far side of the penalty area. The young midfielder tried an audacious chip but the ball was cleared off the line by a Norwich defender.

Just a few seconds later the Bees were 2-0 down as Norwich countered at pace. Murphy received the ball from Oliveira on the right-hand side of the penalty area and squeezed beyond Vickers to double the visitors’ lead.

Oliveira tried to get in on the act a couple of minutes later but could not beat Vickers with a low shot from 25 yards.

Norwich added a third with 21 minutes to go, former Liverpool midfielder Canos, a £2.5m signing from Anfield this summer, rattling home with the aid of a big deflection which deceived Vickers.

Oliveira thumped home a fourth 11 minutes later, lashing beyond Vickers from 25 yards after cutting inside onto his right foot.

A minute from time Murphy completed his hat-trick, firing low across the face into the corner of the Barnet net following a slick move which was instigated by Pritchard.

Next up for Barnet is a trip to recently relegated Doncaster Rovers in EFL League Two. 

Barnet: Vickers; Vilhete, Sesay, N’Gala, Dembele, Johnson; J. Taylor, Watson (Muggleton 65), Kyei; Shomotun (Tomlinson HT), Amaluzor (Mason-Clark 59).

Substitutes: Stephens (GK), Fonguck, Cojocarel, Payne.

Norwich City: Jones; Efete, Godfrey, Odusina, Ramsay; Thompson (c), Grant; Canos (Morris 76), Pritchard, Josh Murphy; Oliveira (Jaiyesimi 84).

Substitutes: Killip (GK), Cantwell, Ashley-Seal, Middleton, Adams. 

Referee: Kevin Johnson.

Attendance: 457 (80 Norwich City supporters).