FIVE-STAR City romped to victory over 10-man Barnsley this afternoon, making it three wins out of three at home and unbeaten since the opening day of the season.
The final 5-1 scoreline in no way flattered the Canaries, who in fact could have added more against a Tykes' side who had defender Antony Kay dismissed after just 12 minutes.
His foul on Robert Earnshaw in the box started the goal-fest, with the little Welshman picking himself up to score from the spot.
International team mate Carl Robinson then got his first for City with a 25-yard blockbuster to seemingly make the points safe.
But shortly before half time one-time Canary trainee Paul Hayes came back to haunt his former club with a deflected goal.
This caused a slightly jittery spell for the home side, but the nerves were settled 10 minutes into the second period when Croft smashed home his second of the season.
That really triggered the rout, with the outstanding Huckerby grabbing a long-range goal, before Earnshaw got his second with a close range header.
It was some way for the Canaries to go into the international break, racking up their biggest home win since the 5-0 win over Walsall in the Championship winning season.
As expected, City boss Nigel Worthington reverted to the side which started last weekend's goalless draw at Derby County.
Darren Huckerby, Jason Shackell, Lee Croft, Robert Earnshaw, Youssef Safri and Jurgen Colin were all handed starts after being rested for the Carling Cup match win over Torquay in midweek.
The visitors also welcomed back a number of first team regulars following their Carling Cup win over Blackpool, which went to extra time and penalties.
Martin Devaney, Michael McIndoe and former Canaries youth product Paul Hayes were all back in the starting line-up after finding themselves on the bench on Tuesday night.
Worthy had called for his players to be out of the blocks at 3pm, and it looked like they had listened well when Norwich created an opening inside the first 15 seconds.
Robinson found Earnshaw in space on the left and he jinked into the area before curling a shot straight into the hands of visiting 'keeper Nick Colgan.
After three minutes Barnsley forced Gallacher into action, Marc Richards heading straight into his hands from a cross from the right.
It was proving to be an end-to-end game, and with Barnsley's excellent away record and City protecting a 100 per cent set of home results it was perhaps to be expected.
And on nine minutes the Canaries created a scintillating break to get the Barclay on their feet.
Huckerby just managed to keep the ball in play away on the left after a clearance from Shackell, and he went on a blistering run, going past two Barnsley defenders.
He found Croft away on the right, who in turn played the ball back into the path of Robinson on the edge of the box.
His low shot was blocked by a red shirt before it could reach its target, with Barnsley forced to hack the ball behind for a corner.
It was a slick move, and typical of some of City's flowing football at home this season.
And on 12 minutes the game firmly swung in City's favour as Norwich were awarded a penalty and Barnsley reduced to 10 men.
Huckerby's pace took him into the final third of the opposition's half and he threaded a perfectly weighted ball into the path of Earnshaw in the area.
Just as he looked set to pull the trigger, Earnshaw was shoved to the ground by Antony Kay.
And as it was a clear goalscoring opportunity, referee Iain Williamson had little choice but to give him his marching orders.
Earnshaw kept his nerve to send the penalty into the right corner of the net as Colgan went the wrong way.
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BACK OF THE NET! Earnie puts Norwich ahead early on |
It was Earnie's third goal of the season, and made it an incredible seven home games without failing to find the net.
The goal certainly lifted the crowd, and on 16 minutes Earnshaw should perhaps have done better than fire over the bar after being found by Robinson 18 yards out.
It was now all Norwich, and a minute later Colgan had to be sharp to make a double save, first parrying Huckerby's fierce strike from 20 yards before gathering Dickson Etuhu's follow-up close to his chest.
To their credit, Barnsley stood firm, and on the 20 minute mark forced two corners down at the Norwich and Peterborough Stand, with Brian Howard ending the pressure by blasting well over from 25 yards out.
And on 25 minutes it looked as though Barnsley would have the chance to level matters, with the ball almost reaching an unmarked Richards in the box.
Fortunately, Colin had read the danger and was able to steal in ahead of him.
But on 27 minutes City doubled their lead - and it came in spectacular style.
Croft made a jinking run down the right, committing two defenders, before playing a clever pass inside to Carl Robinson.
The ball bobbled up with his first touch, but his second was more telling, letting rip with a sizzling right foot shot which went into net via Colgan's right post.
Robinson seemed as surprised as anyone to grab his first in City colours as his team mates swamped him in celebration. It was some strike, and much needed after a spell in which Barnsley had begun to threaten.
indeed, they were Norwich's first goals in the opening 45 minutes this season.
But on 38 minutes Barnsley found a way back into the game and the goal came via the boot of former City man Paul Hayes.
The chance came thanks to an error by Hayes' good friend Jason Shackell, the young defender being brushed all to easily off the ball by Richards down the right.
He got to the by-line, before pulling the ball back to Hayes on the edge of the box.
His shot lacked pace, but it seemed to take two deflections on its way through, beating Gallacher and halving the deficit.
It was a sloppy way for Norwich to let Barnsley back into the game, with the visitors chasing shadows for long spells.
Half time: Norwich City 2-1 Barnsley
Neither boss opted for any changes at the break, with Worthington no doubt hoping his side would cut out the sloppy play which let Barnsley back into the match against the run of play
On 48 minutes it took some desperate defending on the goal line by Devaney to turn the ball over his own bar as Huckerby looked to find Earnshaw after getting to the by-line.
Chances were certainly beginning to come Norwich's way, and on the 52 minute mark Colgan had to save with his legs at the near post after Etuhu let fly inside the box from a difficult angle.
But Barnsley's height was posing a threat in the box, with Hayes sending a far post header into the grateful arms of Gallacher following a corner.
At the other end, on 54 minutes, Croft bent a left footed shot inches wide of Colgan's right post after Huckerby had switched the play delightfully.
And on 56 minutes Norwich should have restored their two-goal cushion. Safri's pass was inch perfect for Earnshaw, who had beaten the offisde trap to skip clear.
But as he closed in on goal, he allowed visiting captain Paul Reid to regain his ground, taking the pace off his shot and allowing Colgan to save.
But just as you feared Norwich might be made to pay for their wastefulness, they finally took one of their chances to make it 3-1.
Huckerby again was the creator, going down the left and leaving two defenders in his wake.
He slid a great low pass along the edge of the six-yard box, and in charged Croft to blast the ball home on the far post for his second of the season.
It was a great move by the Canaries and once again allowed them some breathing space against the plucky visitors
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3-1: City were now well and truly on their way |
It seemed the players were relaxing a little more too, and on the hour mark Earnshaw thrashed a half volley just wide from eight yards on the turn after Barnsley failed to effectively deal with a corner.
Norwich were now in cruise control, running the 10-men visitors ragged.
And it was little surprise when they added a fourth on 64 minutes through man-of-the-match Huckerby.
Another great spell of possession ended with Huckerby collecting the ball away on the left. He took a couple of touches to take himself outside his marker, before sending a thunderbolt into the far corner of Colgan's net.
It was a super strike, and a well-deserved one for Huckerby, the chief tormentor all afternoon.
And the game was soon turning into a rout for the Canaries, with Earnshaw grabbing his second and City's fifth on 69 minutes.
Huckerby added a third assist to his impressive afternoon, drifting a right-foot cross to the far post, for Earnshaw to glance in.
Away went the Welshman on his typical celebration routine, with the diminutive striker surely now sensing his first hat-trick for the Canaries.
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AT THE DOUBLE: Earnie celebrates his second against Barnsley |
Following the goal, Worthy made his first change of the afternoon, swapping the excellent Croft for McVeigh.
On 76 minutes McKenzie replaced Robinson, with Norwich switching to an orthodox 4-4-2 formation.
It was his first home game since handing in a transfer request, but the City faithful clearly didn't mind, giving him a great reception.
Paul Gallacher had had little to do afternoon, but he showed he had kept his concentration on 83 minutes, diving low to his right to push Brian Howard's free kick round the post.
With three minutes of injury time played out, there were no further troubles for City.
FInal score: Norwich City 5-1 Barnsley
Norwich City: Gallacher, Drury (c), Shackell (Fleming 86), Huckerby, Croft (McVeigh 69), Earnshaw, Safri, Etuhu, Colin, Doherty, Robinson (McKenzie 76). Subs: Lewis, Hughes.
Barnsley: Colgan, Hassell, Reid (c), Togwell, Hayes, McIndoe, Howard, Kay, Williams (Tongue 62), Richards, Devaney (Healy 71). Subs: Manonne, Wright, Atkinson.
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