ROBERT Earnshaw helped City to an extraordinary smash-and-grab job at the Hawthorns, grabbing the points in a game which saw the home side hit the woodwork six times without scoring.
The vital moment came midway through the second half when Earnshaw rose to meet an excellent cross from Jurgen Colin to head into the bottom corner of the net on his first return to West Brom since leaving them in January.
City defended resolutely after that, but had the frame of the goal to thank an incredible six times in the match for helping them to a clean sheet. However, it was fair to say the Canaries earned their luck, by producing a solid display and passing the ball extremely well at times.
Twice in the final few minutes Albion smashed efforts against the bar as the Canaries hung on for their second away win of the season.
City boss Peter Grant made one change from the side which beat Sunderland last weekend.
In at right midfield came the combatitive figure of Andy Hughes in place of Paul McVeigh, otherwise it was a case of 'as you were', with Dion Dublin continuing at centre-back in place of the injured Gary Doherty and Craig Fleming.
For the home side John Hartson missed out on the squad altogether due to an achilles injury, while midfielder Nigel Quashie was out with an ankle knock.
It was the Baggies who kicked off the match, looking to preserve an unbeaten home record in the league.
The Canaries started the game brightly, keeping the ball well in West Brom's half as the home side pressured them.
And on four minutes they registered the first effort on goal, Safri driving a low shot wide of Russell Hoult's goal, who was marking his 200th game for the Baggies.
The first corner of the game went to the home side on six minutes, with Drury sliding in on Watson.
Fortunately the near post kick was easily headed away by Etuhu, with City able to break well through Safri.
He carried the ball across the half way line before finding Earnshaw, who in turn played in Huckerby on the left on the overlap.
He lost his footing as he tried to deliver a cross from just outside the area, but recovered well to pick out Robinson just inside the area.
Under pressure, Robinson was able to connect with a volley, but the shot was blocked by a blue and white shirt.
On 10 minutes Hoult was forced into his first real action of the half.
A good run by Huckerby saw him pull the ball back to Drury on the left, and he sent in a first time ball to the far post.
This was met by Hughes with a dipping header, and Hoult had to be at full stretch to push the ball over for a corner.
It was an encouraging move by the Canaries, who were looking full of running and confidence in the opening exchanges.
City almost carved out another good opening on 17 minutes, again through Huckerby.
His touch and pace took him past Davies with ease on the left, with Hughes, Robinson and Earnshaw making up the numbers in the box.
But Huckerby's low cross was just behind all three, allowing West Brom to clear their lines.
Two minutes later and Drury had to be alert to clear the ball from inside his own six yard box after Kamara had struck a dipping cross from the left looking for Phillips.
And West Brom were beginning to pose more of a threat. On 26 minutes a corner by Norwich was cleared straight to Koumas just outside the area, and the Welsh international went on a powerful run through midfield, which took him to the edge of City's area.
He unleashed a shot, which Shackell did well to block, with Greening eventually sending a shot over the bar.
The moment certainly brought the match to life though, and two minutes later Hughes had to clear off his own line from Kamara after Gallacher had failed to cleanly collect a through-ball.
But 30 seconds later the Scottish international made amends brilliantly, getting down low to punch a Koumas shot away to safety.
It was proving to be a hectic few minutes for both sides, with lapse defending at the back by West Brom letting in Earnshaw, with his shot deflecting off Davies and wide for a corner.
On 31 minutes Gallacher again was tested, this time by Greening, whose shot from 20 yards took a slight deflection off Shackell on its way through. But Gallacher watched it all the way, getting down low to clutch it to his chest.
Dion Dublin was carrying on where he left off against Sunderland with another commanding performance at the back, and on 36 minutes he had to sharp to slide in and block a low cross along the six yard box from Kamara.
The resulting corner was never convincingly cleared, and it fell to Watson eight yards out, who could only drag his shot agains the foot of the post.
Moments later and West Brom twice came within inches of taking the lead. First Gallacher missed a low ball into the box, with Colin scrambling the ball off the goal line via a post.
And then Koumas let fly from 25 yards, his shot beating Gallacher - but not the crossbar, with the ball bouncing back into play before being hacked clear.
West Brom might now feel aggrieved not to be ahead after hitting the post twice in such a short space of time. But credit to Norwich, who were standing toe-to-toe with their opponents.
A minute later and their defensive resolve almost paid dividends as Earnshaw danced past two challenges on the edge of the area, only to shoot straight at Hoult.
But on 40 minutes City were given a real let off. McShane's cross from the right was perfect for the unmarked Phillips six yards out. But with the goal at his mercy, the prolific marksman sent his header inches wide of Gallacher's left post when it looked easier to score.
Phillips would have tucked away countless tougher chances during his brilliant career, and the sight of him with his head in his hands said it all.
On 42 minutes Jurgen Colin became the first name in referee Graham Laws notebook for taking down Koumas just outside the centre circle.
A minute before half time Safri followed him for a foul further up the pitch on the same player.
It had been an entertaining 45 minutes and certainly an open one, with the fact both sides were entering the break goalless the most amazing part.
Half time: West Brom 0-0 Norwich City
The sides returned to the pitch for the second period unchanged.
On 47 minutes West Brom created the first half-chance.
Dublin pushed Phillips to the ground wide on the left, conceding a free kick which Koumas swung into the box.
In his efforts to clear, Colin appeared to catch Carter with a high boot in the box. But no penalty was awarded, although Carter was left needing treatment.
Moments later and there was more uncertainty in CIty's box. Koumas again was the creator, knocking a low cross along the six-yard box and Shackell showed great technique to clear under pressure and avoid putting through his own net.
On 51 minutes Greening became the third player to enter the notebook for bringing down Huckerby as he tried to carry the ball over the halfway line.
City's first opportunity of the half came on 53 minutes. Huckerby earned a free kick wide on the left, and Robinson swung in a testing ball.
Dublin rose the highest to meet it, but his header under pressure drifted wide of the near post.
But on 58 minutes Earnshaw did hit the target with a header - putting the Canaries in front.
The chance came from an excellent cross by Jurgen Colin from a central position, with Earnshaw ghosting in at the far post to nod past Hoult and score on his first return to the Hawthorns.
West Brom looked for an instant response, with Shackell having to head over his own bar from a Carter corner.
You sensed there would now be a response by the home team, who would now have to show plenty of character as West Brom went about defending their unbeaten home record.
On 63 minutes Tony Mowbray added another attacking dimension to his side, replacing Watson with Nathan Ellington, pushing him alongside Phillips and moving Kamara to the right.
And Kamara made his presence wide known almost immediately, stinging Gallacher's hands with a near post shot from 20 yards.
To their credit, Norwich were keeping their heads under pressure well, and with 23 minutes remaining even brought a few choruses of Ole from the visiting fans as they frustrated the home side with some nice passing.
On 70 minutes Huckerby embarked on a great run through the heart of West Brom's defence. But as he approached the opposition's box he was taken wide, and could only fire high and wide with his left foot.
Two minutes later and Phillips had Gallacher scrambling across his line with a deflected shot which went behind for a corner.
On 74 minutes West Brom hit the woodwork for the fourth time in the match. A corner from the right was swung in by Carter, and Curtis Davies rose highest to power a header against the crossbar before City were able to clear.
It was proving an end-to-end affair as the game entered the final 10 minutes, with West Brom beginning to turn the screw as they hunted an equaliser.
And on 86 minutes the West Brom fans were left with their heads in their hands once again when the Baggies hit the woodwork for the fifth time in the match.
Dublin conceded a free kick all of 30 yards from goal, and there seemed to be little immediate danger. But Koumas hit an awesome shot, which beat Gallacher all ends up only to come back off the woodwork again.
Quite how West Brom had failed to score so far remained a mystery, with City well and truly riding their luck now.
WIth four minutes left Andy Hughes was replaced by Paul McVeigh.
And as the fourth official signalled three minutes of added time, the home side again hit the woodwork - making it six times the frame had come to City's rescue.
Greening collected the ball just into the box and hit a shot into the ground. Shackell stuck out a leg, deflecting it into the air and onto the top of Gallacher's bar.
Full time: West Brom 0-0 Norwich City
West Brom: Hoult, Watson (Ellington 63), Perry, Davies, Greening, Albrechtsen, Kamara, Carter, Koumas, McShane (Hodgkiss 83), Phillips. Subs: Steele, Nicholson, Wallwork.
Norwich City: Gallacher, Drury, Shackell, Huckerby, Dublin, Earnshaw (Thorne 90), Safri, Hughes (McVeigh 86), Etuhu, Colin, Robinson. Subs: Ashdown, Eagle, Spillane.
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