NORWICH City put up a brave display at home to the Premiership leaders but succumbed to two second half goals in a 3-1 defeat at Carrow Road.

The City fans had erupted in jubilation midway through the second half when Leon McKenzie equalised Joe Cole's first half opener - only the ninth Premiership goal Chelsea had conceded all season.

And brief hopes of a shock were ended on 70 and 79 minutes when substitute Majeja Kezman and then Ricardo Carvalho sealed the victory for Jose Mourinho's title chasers.

Norwich now face even more of an uphill battle to stay in the Premiership, with the Canaries now six points away from safety.

City stepped out at Carrow Road today to face a side many already have down as Champions for this season.

Jose Mourinho's league leaders Chelsea had only lost once this season, away at Manchester City, and conceded just eight goals along the way - an amazing effort defensively.

But even though the feat looked tough before kick off, City boss Nigel Worthington was handed a major boost ahead of the match with the new Darren Huckerby had recovered from a calf strain in time.

Huckerby was doubtful before the match with a calf strain which ruled him out of Monday night's 3-2 defeat to Manchester City.

But the fleet-footed forward was back on Worthy's teamsheet today for the visit of the league leaders, replacing the suspended Mattias Jonson on left midfield.

Otherwise it was the same side which lost out to the last gasp Robbie Fowler winner earlier in the week, with young Jason Shackell given a chance to continue his Premiership education at the back with Craig Fleming.

Up front Leon McKenzie and the impressive Dean Ashton were given the chance to try and breach the toughest defence in England.

For Chelsea, Mourinho named Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba as his loan striker, with Damien Duff and Joe Cole supporting from wide.

Prior to kick off, City's joint majority shareholder Delia Smith took her place in the lower Barclay for the match, sitting among the fans as she had promised to do earlier in the week following her unexpected half time "announcement" during Monday's match with Man City.

She was afforded a hugely friendly welcome by supporters, with many queing up for autographs and a chance to pat her on the back as a show of support.

City kicked off the match in wet conditions attacking a fully vocal Barclay, with the fans now well into a chorus of "Delia's Barmy Army".

Immediately City were on the attack, winning a corner inside the first 15 seconds through McKenzie down by the Snakepit.

Huckerby's deep cross to the far post was only half cleared by Terry, allowing Stuart to knock over another cross, which was this time dealt with.

On two minutes the visitors registered the first shot of the afternoon, with Duff striking a rising effort over Green's bar and into the crowd sitting in the Norwich and Peterborough Stand.

City looked far from overawed by their billionaire visitors, with both Ashton and McKenzie again looking a lively partnership.

On six minutes the £3m man from Crewe tried his luck from 20 yards, the ball ballooning over Cech's crossbar off a Chelsea boot.

But while it looked a corner all the way, referee Mark Halsey simply awarded a goal kick.

But two minutes later and young Jason Shackell denied the visitors first blood with a terrific goal-line clearance.

The chance came from Stuart giving the ball away in central midfield to Lampard, and he sent a first time ball through to Duff who had a clear run on goal.

Duff's chip over Green as he entered the area looked perfect, but Shackell was covering well and headed the ball clear for a corner.

But despite the let-off, the Blues were beginning to put the pressure on City's leaky defence.

Shackell again showed his growing confidence on 12 minutes when Drogba turned neatly in the area, only for the 21-year-old to poke the ball away from him as he shaped to shoot.

The ball then broke to the edge of the area, where Lampard let fly with a trademark thunderbolt which whistled inches over Green's bar.

As expected, Chelsea were bossing possession, with statistics showing it 70-30 in favour to the visitors.

But City's defence had so far stood firm, largely thanks to some brave block tackling on the edge of the area.

However, City's tackling was rewarded with the first yellow card on 20 minutes when Drury was booked for clumsily bringing down Tiago a few yards outside City's box wide on the left.

But on 21 minutes Norwich fell behind to a wonderstrike from Joe Cole.

Cole first beat Holt to a challenge and then did Edworthy in a 50-50 before unleashing a ferocious left foot effort which was past Green before he could move.

On the balance of play the scoreline was probably fair, but City would still be disappointed with the way someone the size of Cole managed to out-muscle two of their players.

Six minutes later and Cole almost added his and Chelsea's second of the game.

But his first time volley from just inside the box after a fine run and cross from Duff was well over.

On 32 minutes Makelele tried his luck from the edge of the box, but his shot was well blocked by a wall of yellow shirts.

But five minutes later and Chelsea defender Glen Johnson could consider himself very lucky to stay on the pitch after an altercation with Huckerby.

Johnson went down all too easily after going shoulder to shoulder with Huckerby inside the City box, with referee Halsey awarding a goal kick.

With Huckerby upset at Johnson's dramatic fall, the Chelsea player quickly got up and shoved Huckerby in the chest.

A brief melee ensued, with the outcome being simply a talking to to both Huckerby and Johnson, when it looked as if the Chelsea star deserved at least a yellow card.

The incident seemed to spark Norwich into life, with Ashton at the other end having a powerful effort deflected wide of Cech's near post after a fine knock-down by Stuart.

From the resulting corner, Chelsea failed to clear their lines and Ashton blasted an instinctive effort over the bar from just inside the box.

With the temperature now rising on the pitch, Cole found himself booked on 39 minutes for cynically bringing down Huckerby.

With the clock fast approaching the 45 minute mark, Chelsea seemed content to play keep-ball in their own half and go into the break a goal to the good.

But City were not done with yet, with first Holt beating his man in midfield before Drury nutmegged Carvalho on the edge of the box, with the ball being cleared for a corner which came to nothing.

Half time: Norwich City 0-1 Chelsea

Neither manager opted for any changes at the break, with Nigel Worthington presumably fairly happy with the way his side had managed to contain the league leaders for long periods.

It was Chelsea immediately on the front foot in the opening stages of the second half, once again bossing possession in the Canaries' half.

On 48 minutes Duff won a free kick wide on the left after being felled by Edworthy.

His ball in was dealt with by the City defence, with McKenzie then getting the better of Johnson on the far side of the pitch as the former West Ham defender tried to salvage the situation.

The game was then stopped for a good two minutes to allow Makelele extended treatment after the midfielder found himself on the deck.

From the re-start, Huckerby came out the better in his private tussle with Johnson, with the right-back shoulder charging the City forward off the pitch and conceding a free kick.

Huckerby's ball in was too flat however, allowing Chelsea to clear.

On 56 minutes Chelsea should really have doubled their lead through Drogba.

Duff's free kick from the right found the Ivory Coast international six yards out and unmarked, but he could only direct his glancing header wide of Green's far post.

Two minutes later and Makelele became the latest player to enter the referee's notebook for dragging down Huckerby inside his own half as he attempted to break away.

On the hour mark Green made a great block to deny Drogba after the tall striker had sprinted clear of City's defence.

Granted, the Chelsea star was at an angle, but Green still did well to make himself big and deflect his low shot clear with an outstretched boot.

The save almost proved a vital one, as City came within inches of grabbing an equaliser at the other end.

Huckerby's corner was flicked on by Ashton, and on the far post Fleming came within a whisker of connecting with a diving header.

Instead, the ball went behind for a goal kick.

But Norwich did not have to wait long for something to celebrate, when two minutes later Leon McKenzie pulled City level with a great header.

It was McKenzie who made the chance, winning the ball on the edge of the area before playing it wide to Huckerby.

And McKenzie dashed into the area to get on the end of Huckerby's fine right foot cross to head past Cech and cause Chelsea to concede only their ninth goal of the season.

The goal triggered Mourinho into a double substitution, swapping Drogba and Tiago for strikers Kezman and Gudjohnson.

It was now to be all hands to the pump for City, as Chelsea went looking to regain their lead.

But Shackell in particular was in no mood to concede, and the 21-year-old made a fine near post interception on 69 minutes to cut out Cole's low ball.

Straight up the other end and Cech was forced to stretch to clutch a looping Damien Francis header which seemed destined for the top corner.

But on 70 minutes Chelsea regained their lead.

Sub Gudjohnson lifted the ball over the City defence for Lampard, and while his effort was dragged across goal, there was the other sub Kezman to tap into an empty net and silence Carrow Road.

Worthington responded by bringing on Paul McVeigh in place of Graham Stuart.

But on 79 minutes Chelsea scoring their third of the afternoon and effectively wrapped up the game.

Cole's corner found Carvalho in acres of space in the six yard box, and he headed powerfully past an exposed Green.

It was dreadful defending by City, and yet another conceded from a set piece.

On 83 minutes Chelsea almost added a fourth when Johnson's excellent raking crossfield ball sent Cole running clear.

But as he closed in on Green, he could only send a powerful shot over the angle of post and bar.

With the game entering the final three minutes, City were continuing to try and play football - when they had it - but in truth the game had long since finished as a contest.

Despite this, boss Worthington can take huge heart from the way his players acquitted themselves against a side galloping to the Premiership title.

Jason Shackell in particular looked solid at the back, and the Ashton/McKenzie partnership was also showing much promise.

With one minute left, Ian Henderson was brought on in place of goalscorer McKenzie and joined Ashton up front for the remainder of the match.

Norwich City: Green, Edworthy, Drury, Fleming, Shackell, Stuart (McVeigh 74), Holt, Francis, Huckerby, Ashton, McKenzie (Henderson 90). Subs: Ward, Charlton, Safri.

Chelsea: Cech, Johnson, Ferreira, Terry, Carvalho, Tiago (Gudjohnson 67), Makelele, Lampard, Cole, Drogba (Kezman 67), Duff (Jarosik 72) Subs: Cudicini, Huth.

Golden Goal times: 21.25; 63.48; 70.33; 78.25.