Gillingham had some big players missing for their pre-season trip to Norwich City and found it tough going against the Premier League new boys.

Pierre Lees-Melou and Adam Idah put the home side two goals ahead after a dominant 45. Gillingham improved after the break but Lukas Rupp added a third, Idah made it four and Jacob Sorensen completed the scoring.

Gillingham were visitors to Carrow Road in 2010 when Norwich wrapped up the League 1 title and there was a buzz around the place again - this time with fans belatedly celebrating their promotion back to the top-flight.

It was the first time supporters had been in the ground since December and they had fun at Gills’ expense.

Gills boss Steve Evans was happy to accept Tuesday’s tough challenge just days before the start of their league campaign and had expected his side to be given the runaround. That’s exactly what they got.

The match for Evans was all about getting minutes into his players, having had pre-season disrupted by Covid. Gillingham’s team included former Birmingham City attacking midfielder Dan Crowley but it was more about who wasn’t involved that would be of concern to fans with the season days away.

Captain Kyle Dempsey, newcomer Ben Reeves, Alex MacDonald, Ryan Jackson and Robbie McKenzie were all absent.

Along with Crowley - who was on loan at Hull City last season - Evans also named trialist Mustapha Carayol in the XI and Rob Hall on the bench.

Gillingham struggled for a touch in the opening minutes as Idah headed a chance over and David Tutonda slid in to block a shot from Lees-Melou. Crowley got on the ball a couple of times to relieve the pressure but Norwich soon took the lead.

Frenchman Lees-Melou tried his luck from 20 yards, the ball seemed to move in the air, catching out keeper Jamie Cumming and hitting the back of the net with nine minutes played.

Billy Gilmour put a chance narrowly wide after dropping his shoulder to create an opening on the edge of the Gills box. Cumming also tipped over a shot from Dimitris Giannoulis. The chances kept coming with the Gills goalie denying Max Aarons and watching as Gilmour put another over the bar.

Norwich’s second goal, on 36 minutes, came moments after a rare chance for the Gills. Carayol won a corner, fellow trialist Crowley whipped the set-piece in and Vadaine Oliver’s header came off the bar.

The home side quickly responded and a fine bit of skill from Todd Cantwell created the second goal, with a keepie uppie in the box before an overhead kick left Idah with an easy finish.

Gillingham had a more physical edge after the break in a bid to stop the likes of Cantwell from bossing things. The Norwich man went to ground several times during the early stages of the second half as the visitors started to see more of the ball.

Half-time sub Danny Lloyd wasn’t afraid to run at the Norwich defence and he fired an angled effort wide for the Gills.

Despite Gills’ improvements, Norwich added a third goal on 62 minutes when Gilmour played a fine pass for Giannoulis and he teed it up for Rupp to score the third.

Already short of numbers, particularly in attack, there will be concern after John Akinde went off after 70 minutes seemingly injured. He had come on at the break.

A fourth goal came on 73 minutes when Idah turned in the box before smashing the ball past Gills’ busy keeper. Cumming was at full stretch moments later to deny Cantwell.

Norwich went 5-0 up in the 89th minute when Sorensen headed in from a Cantwell free-kick.

Norwich: Krul, Aarons, Omobamidele, Gibson (Zimmermann 63mins), Giannoulis, Rupp (Sorensen 63mins), Gilmour (Adshead 86mins), Lees-Melou (McLean 63mins), Cantwell, Dowell (Tomkinson 80mins), Idah. Sub not used: Gunn.

Gillingham: Cumming (Chapman 78mins), Bennett (Lintott 63mins), Tutonda, Ehmer, Tucker, Phillips, O’Keefe, Carayol (Hall 63mins), Lee (Lloyd 46mins), Crowley, Oliver (Akinde 46mins (Sithole 71mins)). Sub not used: Maghoma.

Referee: Andy Woolmer

Attendance: 10,692 (68 away)