BRYAN Gunn's side took three vital points in their bid for Championship safety with a 2-0 victory over Watford at Carrow Road today.

A 15th-minute own goal from Daniel Rose on his senior debut for the Hornets and an effort from Norwich captain Gary Doherty late on was enough to seal the fate of Brendan Rogers' side and move the Canaries out of the Championship relegation zone.

The game got off to a frantic start with the Canaries showing their attacking intentions early on - the first opportunity coming for David Mooney in the first thirty seconds, when the striker broke free and sent the ball goalwards, but Watford 'keeper Scott Loach made a timely collection. Two penalty appeals for handball by Watford defenders followed soon after but were turned down by referee Steve Tanner.

But City's pressure came to fruition after 15 minutes when they took the lead - David Carney slipped the ball through to Jon Otsemobor centrally and as Watford's Daniel Rose slid in to challenge the Norwich right-back, he looped the ball up and over the helpless Loach.

DETERMINED: The Canaries applied pressure to their opponents throughout.

Although the home side continued to dominate, Watford were proving dangerous on the break and striker Will Hoskins rattled the City bar with a thunderous right-footed shot from just outside the box in the 25th minute.

Just after the half-hour mark, Mooney slid in following a Carney corner but the ball seemed to hit his hip and the effort was bundled just wide. Minutes later Alan Gow's shot from 25 yards took a slight deflection, flashing just inches past the Hornets' post.

Half-time: Norwich 1 Watford 0

Minutes after the second half began, Hoskins linked up with Tommy Smith but the Watford striker blazed the ball high and wide from a strong position inside the Norwich box.

With the Canaries applying further pressure to the visitors, the 56th minute saw an angled drive from Gow, but the Scotsman's effort narrowly missed the Watford goal.

A cross from Carney into the box was headed away by the Watford defence, only for the ball to fall to Sammy Clingan - latching on to the rebound, the Northern Ireland international's superb first-time volley was sent just past the post. Moments later, Alan Lee showed pace and power to drive past the Hornets' defence and unleashed a left-footed drive which rebounded back off the upright and away to safety.

After 74 minutes Jason Shackell met a Clingan corner, only for midfielder Jon Harley to clear off the line with his right foot, after stopper Loach was left well-beaten.

Alan Lee looked to further City's lead with 10 minutes to go, his angled shot hitting the back of the net, but the assistant referee had already raised his flag to indicate the Irishman was offside.

But then the Canaries did double their score in the 84th minute when Clingan's corner fell to Jason Shackell, the defender's headed effort hitting the bar but City skipper Gary Doherty was on hand to nod in the rebound.

Full-time: Norwich 2 Watford 0

City: Marshall, Otsemobor, Shackell, Clingan, Carney (Croft 66), Doherty (c), Gow (Lappin 86), Mooney, Russell, Bertrand (Drury 86), Lee. Subs not used: Nelson (GK), McDonald.

Watford: Loach, DeMerit (c), McAnuff, Doyley, Harley, Smith, Hoskins, Mariappa, Williamson, Jenkins, Rose (Cork 46). Subs not used: Lee (GK), Cauna, Henderson, Stepanov.