© Reuters/ANDREW COULDRIDGEChampionship - Norwich City v Brentford
NORWICH, England (Reuters) - Norwich City took a huge step towards securing an immediate return to the Premier League when they beat their closest rivals Brentford 1-0 on Wednesday to open a 10-point lead at the top of the Championship with 12 games to go.
Argentine midfielder Emi Buendia got the only goal midway through the first half of a cagey contest but Brentford will be disappointed to have created so little and the home side could easily have doubled their lead as Finnish striker Teemu Pukki was twice denied by goalkeeper David Raya.
© Reuters/ANDREW COULDRIDGEChampionship - Norwich City v Brentford
Norwich have 73 points, 10 clear of Brentford, with the chasing pack of Watford, Swansea, Reading, Cardiff and Bournemouth hot on their heels.
Brentford are bidding to return to the top flight for the first time since 1947 having lost in the playoff final to Fulham last year after a late stumble derailed them when automatic promotion looked a certainty.
(Reporting by Mitch Phillips, editing by Toby Davis)