A STUNNING volley from Jamie Cureton less than 10 minutes from time ensured Norwich returned from Vicarage Road with an excellent point against promotion-chasing Watford.
Substitute Cureton hit a delightful shot into the top corner from all of 25-yards to cancel out Danny Shittu's early first half opener for the Hornets.
City might have counted themselves fortunate to go into the break only a goal down after Watford enjoyed the best of the opening 45 minutes.
But after the break Norwich were a different proposition, inspired by the wing play of Croft, with the former Manchester City man setting up Cureton for his blockbuster.
Watford could still have won it after that, with David Marshall pulling of an excellent one handed save to prevent a spectacular own goal by Dion Dublin, but in the end Norwich were good value for the point.
City boss Glenn Roeder made four changes from the side which lost to Blackpool at the weekend.
Recent signing Juan Velasco was handed his debut at the expense of Jon Otsemobor at right back, with Matty Pattison replacing Kieran Gibbs in central midfield. Despite scoring in the 2-1 defeat to the Tangerines, Jamie Cureton was consigned to the bench with Ched Evans partnering Dion Dublin in attack.
Mo Camara also returned to the starting line-up, with Darren Huckerby missing out through injury as suspected.
The samba-style music in the build-up to the match was hardly in keeping with the weather at Vicarage Road, with snow beginning to fall as the teams took their places in the tunnel. One could only wonder what was going through the mind of Spaniard Velasco as he prepared to make his first appearance in a Norwich shirt, with the Canaries wearing their change red kit.
And it was Watford who almost took the lead inside the first minute. Tommy Smith was given time and space on the right to pick out Nathan Ellington with a low cross, which fizzed across the slick turf, deceiving the visiting defence in the process. But the £3m man could only fire high and wide from 15 yards out.
It was proving to be a tricky start to the game for the Canaries, and they breathed a sigh of relief less than a minute later when an enormous throw from Leigh Bromby found its way into the area before finding the roof of Marshall's net thanks to a near post flick by Henderson.
City had struggled to impose themselves on the match so far, and on eight minutes it took a fine save from Marshall to keep the game scoreless. McAnuff's pass undid the City back four with ease, allowing Ellington to stretch his legs.
His run took him to the corner of the six-yard box, but the Scottish international spread himself well to block with his feet, with Ellington sending the re-bound well over at full stretch.
It really had been all Watford, and so it was no surprise when they took the lead in the 11th minute.
Like so many for the Hornets this season, the goal came from a corner. McAnuff swung the ball across from the left and the giant figure of Danny Shittu rose unchallenged to nod into the net from six yards out.
Norwich had to wait until the 16th minute for their first shot of the game. Evans won a free kick wide left, and Bertrand swung over a free kick which was only cleared as far as Fotheringham on the edge of the area.
The Scotsman's control was good, but his volley lacked power, with 'keeper Richard Lee collecting with ease.
McAnuff was proving to be a real thorn in City's side, with the former Crystal Palace man beating Velasco on 25 minutes, only to see his low shot from just inside the penalty area finish wide of the near post.
To their credit, the Canaries seemed to have weathered the early storm, and on 33 minutes Lee was forced to show good handling again when Pattison sent in a half-volley on the turn from just outside the area.
McAnuff was continuing to terrorise City though, and on 36 minutes Marshall spilled a dipping shot from the winger after he'd again showed some nifty footwork to create space for a shot.
Norwich's best chance of the half came four minutes before the break. Evans won a flick 25 yards out, picking out Dublin just inside the area. For once, the big striker had managed to find a yard of space, but his shot on the volley was straight at a grateful Lee.
Half time: Watford 1-0 Norwich City
There were no changes for either side after the break, with City on the attack within the first minute.
Croft was found with a delightful cross-field ball by Pattison, and he cut inside from the right before chipping the ball towards Dublin, who was lurking in the area. The City man got above Bromby, but his header lacked direction, finishing well wide of Lee's left post.
But two minutes later and the big striker really should have done better with his final product. Again Croft was the creator, darting past his man before finding the 38-year-old with a pass along the ground.
Dublin had time to take a touch, but instead opted for a first time right-foot shot from 16-yards which ballooned disappointingly over the bar.
All the same, it had been a bright start to the second half for the Canaries, who had already created twice as many chances as they'd done in the opening 45 minutes.
Croft was proving a real livewire at the start of the second half, with the winger embarking on a great run which took him from his own half to within 20-yards of the opposition goal. His low shot was struck well, but Lee got down quickly to collect at his near post.
Watford continued to cause problems with their long throws and direct style, but it was now the Canaries looking more of a threat in the final third.
And on 56 minutes Lee was forced into another fine save when a ferocious free kick by Evans fizzed through the wall and threatened to squirm under the Watford 'keeper.
So far Velasco had enjoyed a solid debut, with the Spaniard's nifty footwork taking him past two players as he went over the halfway line on the hour mark, earning generous applause from the visiting fans.
A minute later and Pearce's game came to an end, with Jason Shackell replacing him in the heart of defence.
Velasco's enthusiasm earned him the first yellow card of the game on 68 minutes, with the defender's late lunge on Ellington leaving the former Wigan man in pain and in need of treatment.
On 75 minutes Cureton replaced Camara as Roeder looked to add another attacking dimension to his side.
And six minutes later it paid off as the little striker scored with a spectacular volley to level things.
The outstanding Croft ran at Stewart, cutting inside before finding Cureton 20 yards out. The ball bobbled up off the turf, but Cureton showed the same striker's instinct he showed at Barnsley over a week ago, volleying into the top corner past the despairing dive of Lee.
But City almost found themselves behind again just two minutes later when only an outstanding save by Marshall prevented Dublin from scoring one of the most spectacular own goals of all time.
Henderson's header across to the penalty spot looked to be heading for substitute John, but Dublin showed all the flexibility of an 18-year-old to produce a bizarre scissor kick which looked to be heading into the top corner before Marshall arched backwards and tipped it round the post for a corner.
Dublin was clearly grateful, as his high-five with the 'keeper showed.
Watford were applying some late pressure in search of what surely would prove to be the winning goal, and as the match entered stoppage time only a late block from Dublin inside his own six-yard box ensured a shot from John was diverted over his own bar.
And it proved crucial, as City held on for an excellent point.
Watford 1-1 Norwich City
NORWICH CITY: Marshall, Pearce (Shackell 61), Doherty, Bertrand, Croft (Otsemobor 89), Fotheringham (C), Dublin, Velasco, Camara (Cureton 75), Pattison, Evans SUBS: Gilks, Gibbs
WATFORD: Lee (C), Shittu, Bromby, Mariappa, Sadler (Stewart 72), Eustace, Smith, O'Toole, McAnuff, Henderson, Ellington (John 76). Subs: Poom, DeMerit, Williamson.
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