Gary O'Neil suffers nasty gash after sickening clash of heads with Norwich team-mate Robbie Brady

Norwich slumped into the Premier League relegation zone with a 2-1 defeat by Chelsea, and there was further pain at Carrow Road for Gary O'Neil and Robbie Brady.

With their side trailing the Blues in the latter stages, O'Neil and Brady went up to contest a high ball with Chelsea midfielder Willian. 

The Canaries duo collided heads in mid-air resulting a nasty head gash for O'Neil while the Republic of Ireland defender ran to the sideline with blood streaming from his mouth. 

Norwich defender Robbie Brady (left) clashes heads with team-mate Gary O'Neil in mid-air 

The Canaries pair were contesting a high ball with Chelsea midfielder Willian before their collision 

O'Neil suffered a deep cut after Brady's teeth sank into his forehead 

Russell Martin speaks with referee Lee Mason as O'Neil receives medical treatment 

Canaries keeper John Rudd checks in on his team-mate Brady after the clash of heads 

Amazingly, O'Neil, having left the field to have his head stitched up, returned to fray to see out the contest. Brady lost two teeth as a result of the sickening collision. 

Chelsea defender Kenedy had fired the visitors into an early lead at Norwich HQ after just 39 seconds - the fastest Premier League goal of the season. 

Kenedy got the Chelsea off to a flyer at Carrow Road by scoring the opener within 40 seconds

The 20-year-old Brazilian, who filled in a left back for the Blues, drilled the ball into the bottom corner 

Diego Costa chips onrushing goalkeeper Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy to score Chelsea's second goal

Diego Costa doubled the Blues' advantage just before the break. 

Nathan Redmond pulled a goal back for Norwich in the 68th-minute but the in-form visitors held out for another vital victory. 

Nathan Redmond pulled one back to give Norwich hope, lifting the ball past Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois