Balraj Landa’s finely-taken second-half goal ensured AFC Bournemouth would finish top of their Premier League Cup group thanks to victory over Norwich City on Saturday.

Landa netted the only goal in the 57^th minute as the win guaranteed home advantage for the Cherries in the last 16 where they will host Leeds United.

Norwich also qualified and will visit Group D winners Chelsea, while Alan Connell’s team ended with an unbeaten record and topped their group for only the second time since the club entered the competition.

Aidan Manning fashioned the first shooting chance for the visitors after three minutes, his effort not troubling Cam Plain as it soared over the crossbar.

Max Kinsey cut out Ken Aboh’s dangerous cross before Dom Sadi’s angled drive was blocked by Canaries defender Waylon Renecke.

Plain saved from point-blank range after the ball had fallen invitingly for Elliot Myles right in front of goal, Aboh’s follow-up deflected over the top.

Gabriel Forsyth’s free-kick cleared the crossbar in the 20th minute, the Norwich defender then preventing Baylin Johnson from getting a shot away following a sweeping move by the Cherries.

Plain clutched Aboh’s near-post header after the striker had met Forsyth’s corner before the Canaries were forced to defend a couple of promising attacks from the hosts.

A crucial interception from Harry Brooke took the ball off the toe of Kian Tydeman as he prepared to pull the trigger having been teed up by Jonny Stuttle.

And Stuttle’s header from a Finn Tonks centre in the 32^nd minute looped over the crossbar before Sadi’s curling effort from the edge of the box narrowly cleared the upright.

Daniel Barden made a smart save to keep out Johnson’s shot in the 34^th minute, the Norwich goalkeeper standing tall to parry and then collect the ball. 

The Cherries were denied an opening goal four minutes into the second half when Barden beat away Sadi’s strike from close range after he had traded passes with Johnson to create the chance.

Norwich were then foiled by a fine save from Plain, the Cherries goalkeeper diving to his right to smother Joe Duffy’s low shot following Aboh’s layoff.

Landa fired the Cherries in front in the 57^th minute, the frontman finishing emphatically into the bottom corner with a right-foot shot from the edge of the box, his eighth goal of the season.

Stuttle, who supplied the assist for Landa, also had a hand as the Cherries went close to doubling their lead, Sadi drilling his shot over the top two minutes later.

Tydeman, set up by Tonks, went close to bagging a spectacular second goal, the frontman clipping the ball up and then scissors kicking it into the side netting.

Plain then thwarted Aboh after the striker had looked to level, the Cherries goalkeeper racing off his line to smother at his feet.

Norwich substitute Alfie Doy got back to clear off the line after Stuttle had taken aim having rounded Barden in the 79^th minute.

Barden got down well to push Karlos Gregory’s around the post after Stuttle had laid Noa Boutin’s cross into his path after 83 minutes.

Aboh fired straight into Plain’s midriff after turning sharply in the box before Barden saved at his near post from Stuttle’s fierce drive in the closing stages.

AFC Bournemouth: Plain, Tonks, Boutin, Brown, Kinsey, Harris, Johnson (Osborne, 58), Sadi, Stuttle, Landa (Gregory, 70), Tydeman.

Unused subs: Crisp (g/k), William, Holman.

Booked: Kinsey, Tonks.

Norwich City: Barden, McIntosh, Forsyth, Wilson, Renecke (Doy, h/t), Brooke, Myles, Manning, Ogwuru (Mundle-Smith, 65), Aboh, Duffy (Djedje, 70).

Booked: Forsyth, Djedje.