City’s Carabao Cup journey ended in a Round Two defeat courtesy of an early second-half Przemysław Placheta goal.
The Polish forward scored in the 49th minute a Ashton Gate and the visitors held on to the lead to secure their place in Round Three.
It was a disappointing evening for the Robins who were looking to take the positivity from last Friday’s 1-1 draw with Hull City into the EFL’s premier cup competition.
And they started brightly with Anis Mehmeti – one of five changes from the side that started at the MKM Stadium – cutting in from the left and having his shot headed away by Shane Duffy.
Norwich quickly found their rhythm and Adam Idah got on the end of Placheta’s cross but poked the ball wide, while Fisher tried his luck from distance and O’Leary pushed the ball behind for a corner.
O’Leary was in action again, pulling off a superb save from Idah who headed the ball into the ground and goal-bound but the Irish international tipped the ball over the bar.
It wasn’t all one-way traffic with Sykes shooting from distance and a powerful effort from Wells stinging George Long’s palms.
The first half ended goalless but it took just two minutes of the second to show how dangerous Norwich can be, Marcelino Núñez backheeling the ball to Liam Gibbs who shot over.
Two minutes later the Canaries were ahead when Sam McCallum linked up with Placheta, who turned and squeezed the ball in at the far post.
City responded with Harry Cornick racing free down the right and his cross found Mehmeti but he could not get the ball out of his feet before it was cleared while Sykes shot over from long range.
Pearson made double substitions on the 61st and 68th minutes – Matty James and Jason Knight for Sykes and Willians and then Sam Bell and Ephraim Yeboah for Mehmeti and Cornick.
The quartet brought fresh energy, Yeboah especially growing in confidence with every game the Academy graduate plays, as City pressed for an equaliser but they could not find a way through.
Team: O’Leary, Tanner, Dickie, Naismith, Roberts, King (C), Sykes (Knight 61), Williams (James 61), Cornick (Yeboah 68), Mehmeti (Bell 68), Wells. Substitutes (not used): Bajic, Pring, Vyner.
Att: 9,408