On Grand National day, the knowledge it will take a Devon Loch-style collapse now to prevent Norwich City returning to the Premier League after three seasons away. Taking advantage of an early kick-off, Daniel Farke's side moved eight points ahead of Leeds United in second and, more crucially, 10 ahead of Sheffield United in third. While both Yorkshire clubs have the opportunity to trim that gap later on Saturday, surely there can be no doubt that Norwich will be back in the top-flight come August. Emiliano Buendia celebrates scoring Norwich City's opening goal against Queens Park Rangers at Carrow Road Buendia scored his eighth goal of the season from close range following a right-side cross by Max Aarons Stiepermann celebrates with striker Teemu Pukki after handing the promotion-chasers the lead after only six minutes Championship Premier League Championship League One League Two Scottish Premiership Scottish Div 1 Scottish Div 2 Scottish Div 3 Ligue 1 Serie A La Liga Bundesliga Managerless Queens Park Rangers were risible but the way Norwich ripped them apart in the first-half at Carrow Road was the very definition of ruthless. Two ahead within 12 minutes thanks to goals by Emiliano Buendia and Marco Stiepermann, they carved through the Rangers back line repeatedly. It was game over when Teemu Pukki netted his 25th league goal of the campaign late in the first-half and though they stepped off the gas after the break, this was a cruise for their eighth straight win. Buendia senselessly got himself sent off 20 minutes from time for a terrible challenge on Josh Scowen but Farke had little else to complain about. Indeed, even with 10 men Pukki added a fourth five minutes from time. Tom Trybull lofted a pass forward and, as Onel Hernandez got across to block off Joel Lynch, Pukki sprinted clear to finish well. Make that 26 goals for the season and a deserved standing ovation as he was replaced moments later. Having hit winning form at the perfect moment in the demanding and draining Championship season, Norwich are now odds-on to not only gain promotion, but win the title. As for QPR, there's no denying that having looked high and dry a few months ago, they're right back in relegation turmoil. It had been another chaotic week to add to the collection at Loftus Road, with Steve McClaren sacked on Monday following a torrid run of just one win in 15 Championship matches. Despite his protestations that Rangers would remain a second-tier club next season, the former England manager suffered the chop and caretaker John Eustace rang the changes. Five to be precise in their starting line-up. By contrast, Norwich manager Farke has become a creature of habit in the past couple of months and his settled side - unchanged here for an eighth successive outing - hasn't skipped a beat with seven straight wins at the perfect time. Marco Stiepermann fires home from the edge of the penalty box to double Norwich's advantage after just 12 minutes Stiepermann celebrates with team-mates Teemu Pukki and Onel Hernandez after doubling Norwich's lead early on The German playmaker celebrated his eighth goal of the campaign with a jubilant leap into the air at Carrow Road Championship leading scorer Teemu Pukki scored Norwich's third goal after QPR had given the ball away close to their goal Finnish striker Pukki celebrates what was his 25th goal of the Championship campaign after a typically composed finish Match facts Norwich City (4-2-3-1): Krul; Aarons, Zimmermann (c), Godfrey, Lewis; Trybull (Rhodes 89), McLean; Buendia, Stiepermann (Cantwell 80), Hernandez; Pukki (Leitner 87) Substitutes not used: McGovern (GK); Vrancic, Klose, Hanley Manager: Daniel Farke Scorers: Buendia 6; Stiepermann 12; Pukki 38, 85 Sent off: Buendia 71 Queens Park Rangers (4-4-1-1): Lumley; Rangel, Furlong, Lynch, Bidwell (Leistner 34); Wszolek (Osayi-Samuel 75), Cousins, Cameron (Scowen 59), Freeman (c); Eze; Wells Substitutes not used: Ingram (GK); Manning, Hemed, Smith Caretaker manager: John Eustace Booked: Lynch, Furlong Referee: Scott Duncan (Tyne & Wear) Attendance: 26,796 This always had the potential to be a mismatch and that was evident from the way Norwich were carving open the rejigged Rangers back line in the opening minutes. The opener took just six minutes to arrive and stemmed from a marvellous cross-field pass by young centre-half Ben Godfrey. There have been whispers that Manchester United and Liverpool are courting the 21-year-old and his potential was plain to see in the way he picked out Max Aarons on the opposite flank from 60-yard range. Aarons was afforded ample time and space to control, glance up at the options in the middle and delay his cut-back so Buendia could peel away from his marker. The in-form Argentine swept the ball into the bottom corner and Norwich were on their way. The Canaries fancied an easy afternoon and one became two after only 12 minutes. Buendia fed a pass into Stiepermann, who had a pocket of space to advance into just outside the Rangers box. Using two pink-shirted defenders as a screen, his whipped low shot really should have been saved by Joe Lumley but the keeper seemed to spot it late and could only help it home. Two-down and only 12 minutes on the clock, it threatened to become a messy afternoon for the visitors. Lumley had to get down sharply to keep out a Hernandez strike after the Cuban cut infield from the left, while Hernandez should have unselfishly squared to Pukki when slipped through by Kenny McLean. Pukki did opt to pass to Hernandez when McLean sparked another break a few minutes later, but he dragged the shot wide. Buendia then adroitly controlled a chipped ball over the Rangers defence but couldn't beat Lumley from a tight angle. Buendia is shocked after receiving a straight red card for a rash challenge on Josh Scowen during the second-half That didn't stop Norwich adding to their goal tally, however, as Pukki added a fourth goal for the 10 men late on Luke Freeman of Queens Park Rangers finds himself sandwiched between keeper Joe Lumley and Norwich's Kenny McLean Ebe Eze of QPR tries to control the ball under pressure from the Norwich midfielder Kenny McLean during the first-half The third goal was simply inevitable and it was an irony that it arrived off the back of a rare Rangers attack, with Angel Rangel giving the totally redundant Tim Krul something to think about with a volley. As so often this season, QPR were the creators of their own downfall, with Toni Leistner dawdling on the ball close to his own box, then passing to Luke Freeman who underhit a back pass. The alert Buendia accepted the invitation, slipped a pass through to Pukki who was never going to miss. It was the Finn's 25th league goal of a magnificent campaign, the first Norwich player to reach that milestone since Chris Sutton in the 1993-94 Premier League. Norwich already have the best goal difference in the division and there seemed little appetite to further boost their tally early in the second-half. It allowed Rangers the chance to attack, with their travelling support greeting two early second-half corners with ironic cheers. From the second of those, Krul kept out a Darnell Furlong header at the near post. Then an unexpected black mark on the afternoon as Buendia slid in late on Scowen after the QPR man had cleared from defence. Referee Scott Duncan had little option but to brandish the red card following consultations with his assistant. Farke looked furious in the dug-out, Buendia's rashness inexplicable at three goals ahead. After Pukki set the seal on a handsome victory, the home fans chanted 'We've gonna win the league.' You should probably start to believe them. Norwich's Marco Stiepermann squirms away from the challenge of Rangers' Luke Freeman during the opening 45 minutes Delighted Norwich fans show their green and yellow colours in the stands as their team made a flying start to the match All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility