Norwich City: Gallacher, Drury (c), Shackell, Huckerby, Earnshaw, Hughes (Henderson 78), Etuhu, Ryan Jarvis (Johansson 78), Doherty, Spillane (McVeigh 46), Robinson. Subs: Lewis (GK), Charlton.
QPR: Jones, Bignot, Milanese, Shittu, Ainsworth (c), Santos, Cook, Bailey, Furlong, Nygaard, Lomas. Subs: Cole (GK), Bircham, Kus, Munday, Howell.
TWO goals from Robert Earnshaw helped the Canaries to an amazing comeback at Carrow Road after the visitors looked to be taking all three points back to London with them.
Two nil down after 61 minutes thanks to strikes from Gareth Ainsworth and Lee Cook, City looked dead and buried.
But a header from Darren Huckerby set the wheels in motion for the comeback before Earnshaw struck twice - the second coming in the 89th minute - to give Norwich their sixth home win in a row.
Striker Ryan Jarvis was handed his first start of the season at home to Gary Waddock's men.
The 19-year-old had been plagued all season by a troublesome knee injury, but was restored to the first eleven alongside Robert Earnshaw after a substitute outing at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
He was joined in the first team by 17-year-old Michael Spillane, who looked set to continue at right-back after an impressive senior debut at Hillsborough.
Paul Gallacher was passed fit after suffering a knock to his hip at the weekend, with 18-year-old Joe Lewis on the bench alongside Paul McVeigh, Ian Henderson, Simon Charlton and Jonatan Johansson.
The Canaries got off to a lively start, with Jarvis earning a corner inside the first two minutes off Danny Shittu.
The resulting kick was cleared to the edge of the box, and Spillane almost capped his home debut with a long-range goal, but Jones comfortably clutched the ball out of the sky.
It was the home side who were enjoying the better of possession inside the first 10 minutes, but had yet to bring a save out of visiting 'keeper Paul Jones.
Likewise, Gallacher was enjoying a quiet home senior debut so far, with Doherty and Shackell snuffing out the danger in front of the former Scottish international.
On 13 minutes the Rs had the first glimmer of a chance when skipper Ainsworth crossed to the far post, only to see the giant figure of striker Marc Nygaard glance a header well wide.
It was a muted atmosphere at Carrow Road so far, with neither team having anything to play for as the season entered its final disappointing stages.
But Norwich were at least looking to pass the ball on the deck, with a passage of play involving at least 12 moves bringing "oles" from the crowd in the Barclay.
It ended with Robinson being knocked to the deck 15 yards from goal, and Earnshaw could only scuff the free kick well wide.
It really had been a half devoid of any chances, and Huckerby summed City's attacking efforts up on 38 minutes when he sent a shot high into the Barclay after a free kick was touched short to him by Robinson.
But on the stroke of half time QPR went into the lead.
Nygaard found Lomas, who in turn played a ball into the box for Ainsworth.
The angle was tight for the visiting captain, but he lashed a fine shot into the bottom corner to give his side the lead going into the break.
It was a miserable way to end a truly lacklustre 45 minutes of football.
Worthington wasted no time in making his first change of the afternoon, bringing on Paul McVeigh in place of Spillane, with Hughes moving to right-back.
It later transpired Spillane had picked up a groin injury.
And within two minutes of the re-start City should have drawn level.
Etuhu produced an excellent defence splitting pass to put Earnshaw in the clear.
He easily out-sprinted his marker, but could only flick the ball wide of the post as Jones came out to narrow the angle.
On 50 minutes City had another good chance to level.
This time the opportunity fell to Jarvis in the area, with Huckerby's cross being deflected into his path on the penalty spot.
But the young striker took too long to control the ball, allowing Shittu to get back and clear.
On 53 minutes QPR twice almost doubled their lead.
First Nygaard sent a deflected effort wide of Gallacher's left post. And from the resulting corner the big striker sent in a powerful header, forcing the 'keeper into a brilliant point blank save.
It looked as if the rebound would be a formality, but Jarvis was on hand to bundle the ball off the line.
Four minutes later only a last ditch tackle prevented Earnshaw from getting his shot away in the box.
Etuhu again made the opening, feeding Huckerby in the inside left channel.
His square ball looked certain to find the Welsh international, but Shittu had got back well to cover.
Moments later and Huckerby saw a close range effort palmed away by Jones after he had wriggled into space in the box.
On the hour mark Norwich had a lucky escape.
Gallacher chose to punch a corner from the left, and it seemed a strange choice as the ball bounced off the back of Doherty and onto the top of the bar.
But City's luck was short lived as QPR doubled their lead on 61 minutes.
Hughes gifted the ball to Cook 30 yards from goal away on the right, and he first skipped past the challenge of Dohery before turning Shackell on the edge of the box and planting a left foot shot into the far corner.
It was a well taken goal, but the City fans were clearly not impressed, launching into a chorus of "what a load of rubbish".
Cook again came close to scoring on 67 minutes, but his 20 yard free kick was easily held by Gallacher.
There were ironic cheers on 77 minutes when Jones had to produce his best save of the game - from the head of his own player.
Hughes cross to the far post looked simple enough for Ainsworth to deal with, but under no pressure he headed back to his own goal where Jones had to produce a fingertip save to turn the ball over.
But a minute later Norwich did get a goal, and arguably it came from an equally unlikely source - Huckerby's head.
Hughes cross from the right was weakly punched away by Jones, and Huckerby got up well to loop the ball back over the prone 'keeper's head and into the bottom corner.
It at least gave City fans something to celebrate on an otherwise difficult afternoon.
It was to be Hughes' last contribution of the match, with the former Reading man making way for Ian Henderson.
Ryan Jarvis was also substituted, with Johansson brought on in his place.
On 85 minutes only an excellent save from Gallacher stopped QPR getting a third.
Shittu's downward header from Ainsworth's corner looked a certain goal, but Gallacher got down brilliantly to scoop the ball over the bar.
And the save proved crucial, as City went straight up the other end and grabbed an equaliser.
Johansson's low cross from the right was meant for McVeigh, but the Northern Irishman miscued his shot.
Fortunately, Earnshaw had gambled and was on hand to thrash the ball into the roof of the net from six yards out.
At the other end Gallacher had time to make another superb stop, denying Furlong from six yards out after it had looked a simple tap-in for the veteran forward.
And as the game entered the 89th minutes, City snatched a goal which looked like giving them what had looked to be an unlikely winner.
Huckerby took a short corner to McVeigh, and he looked a great cross to the far post which was headed back by Doherty.
And there was Earnshaw getting ahead of team-mate Earnshaw to head home from close range.
It was an amazing comeback for the Canaries, who had looked dead and buried after Cook scored the second for the visitors.
