PAUL Lambert's on-song Canaries lashed four goals in a half for the second game running to demolish the challenge of high-flying Bristol Rovers at Carrow Road.
Following Tuesday night's scoring blitz in the last 15 minutes to end the resistance of Leyton Orient, it was four goals inside the opening 45 minutes that stunned a previously in-form Pirates side this time round.
Grant Holt (2), Chris Martin and Wes Hoolahan from the penalty spot did the damage in a scintillating first half - and Jamie Cureton, for the second time in consecutive games, came off the bench to score in second-half injury time against his former club to make the final score 5-1.
Chris Martin justified Lambert's decision to give him a starting role by slamming home a 25-yard free-kick for his second goal in consecutive games after only nine minutes.
Rovers were handed a way back into the match in the 26th minute when Jens Berthel Askou was controversially adjudged to have fouled Chris Dickson in the box and Jeff Hughes rammed home the resulting spot-kick.
But the balance of power swung back in the Canaries' favour when referee Andy Hall pointed to the spot again just five minutes later - this time deciding Wes Hoolahan was illegally impeded in the area by Byron Anthony. Hoolahan made no mistake from the spot and City were ahead again.
In the 33rd minute they were 3-1 up as Simon Lappin's corner was deflected to Grant Holt waiting to pounce at the far post - and the Canaries' leading scorer gleefully swept the ball home from the edge of the six-yard box.
Holt was on the scoresheet again five minutes before half-time, bulldozing his way through the Rovers defence brilliantly before firing home his ninth of the season into the far corner.
Play was more even in the second half, although Holt was perhaps unfortunate not to be awarded another penalty for City immediately after the break when he was bundled over by Byron Anthony only for the ref to rule the foul had taken place inches outside the area.
City remained in control throughout the second half, with further chances for Martin, Holt and Smith right at the death.
The icing on the cake came in injury time, when after some superb footwork in the box the excellent Hoolahan slid the ball across the face of goal and substitute Jamie Cureton blasted home his second in two matches.
The only sour note on a good day for City was what looked like a worrying hamstring injury to Michael Spillane and another knock to Grant Holt which saw him leave to a standing ovation in the closing stages.
HOTSHOT - Holt fires home City's fourth
After the match City boss Paul Lambert told canaries.co.uk he was delighted with the performance of both his players and the fans on another good day at the Carrow Road office:
"The lads were brilliant. The way they are playing at the minute, and to score five, they are certainly playing at the top of their game.
"I think you saw in the Charlton game that even adversity the lads have got belief - I think they've got that in abundance at the minute. Considering where we were when we first came it's been excellent but the lads are the ones who have turned it around and they deserve the credit. The supporters and the players have been magnificent."
Lambert was particularly pleased that after Rovers were handed a controversial equaliser, the City players and fans continued to keep the pressure on:
"It's important after conceding to go up and try to score as quickly as possible and we did that, pushed on by the supporters. Once again I have to say I thought they were phenomenal today, the way they got behind us."
Grant Holt's second goal was arguably the pick of the bunch for City and his manager was quick to praise his top scorer: "I've said before that what he may lack in finesse he makes up for with numerous other qualities and he's an absolute handful. His performances have been top quality."
Holt and Spillane both left the field nursing injuries, with Spillane's possibly looking the more serious of the two as the youngster hobbled off clutching his hamstring.
Lambert said: "Grant took a knock to his calf or his shin. I know we've got a game at Gillingham on Tuesday so we'll see how he is and he might get a rest then. Micky's pulled his hamstring so we'll just to find out how bad it is. We might have to go and get one of the kids out of the youth team but we will see."
Full-time - There goes the final whistle, another great day for City, off the back of the 4-0 win over Leyton Orient, City go one better hitting five, beating high-flying Bristol Rovers 5-1 this afternoon at Carrow Road. Grant Holt is awarded the Anglian Man of the Match, but is in treatment so Gary Doherty collects the bottle of champagne on his behalf. Chris Martin got the ball rolling with a splendid free-kick on 9 minutes. Rovers equalised with a more than dubious penalty midway through the first half, converted by Jeff Hughes. Wes Hoolahan restored City's lead from the penalty spot, before a double from Holt made it 4-1 at half-time. Cureton made it five in second half injury time.
90th - Cureton does it again, off the bench to put the icing on the cake. Great work from Hoolahan, exchanging passes with Martin, twists and turns and puts his defender on his backside, looks up and squares it for Cureton, who on the turn slams it into the roof of the net for five.
89th - Bizarre moment, Paul Crichton takes a cap off the head of a steward to give to Declan Rudd as the sun starts to shine at Carrow Road. Rudd doesn't even wear it. At the other end Smith drives forward and just places his shot wide of the post.
86th - Millwall have added a fifth against Tranmere Rovers and Kayode Odejayi adds to his brace in the midweek win over Charlton Athletic by putting Colchester United ahead at home to Huddersfield Town. If it stays like that, it means we will go above Huddersfield into 7th in the table.
85th - The referee calls over Andy Williams and Adam Drury, the Rovers' sub appeared to have a little kick out at Drury after the left-back made a clean sliding challenge. Just a word from Andy Hall though.
82nd - Paul Lambert signalling to Grant Holt - who appears to be struggling - to come off. Jamie Cureton prepares himself on the touchline. Armband handed to Gary Doherty and on comes Cureton. Hughes goes very close for City, the Scotsman hits a shot right-footed from just outside the area, clean crisp strike, inches wide of the right-hand post.
77th - Here comes Stephen Hughes for Darel Russell.
76th - Stephen Hughes is pacing the touchline waiting to come on for City.
75th - Still goalless in the other two big games in League One between Leeds United and Charlton Athletic and the other between Colchester United and Huddersfield Town.
71st - Paul Trollope plays his last card, Darryl Duffy replaces Chris Dickson in attack.
70th - Holt looking for the hat-trick, sweeping half-volley but saved well low down by Andersen, a minor spillage but the Danish 'keeper recovers to gather back in as the big man looks to follow in his initial shot. Goal pictures from Hoolahan penalty and Holt's first added, see below.
69th - Danny Coles gets in behind Smith from a long diagonal ball forward, controls well on his chest and goes for power at the near post but into the side netting.
66th - Rudd is there to save at his near post from Kuffour.
65th - Carl Regan looks offside but no flag, from a tight angle he opts for a shot but Rudd is there to palm round the post.
63rd - The Barclay End chanting for Paul Lambert to give them a wave and he duly obliged. Cue cheer!
62nd - Lappin shoots wide on his left foot from the edge of the area and in the next attack, Hoolahan twists and turns, creating space for himself and as he looks like to fire off a shot is challenged.
61st - This afternoon's attendance is 24,117.
60th - Adam Drury is booked for a foul on Andy Williams.
58th - Dominic Blizzard comes on for Chris Lines for the visitors.
56th - Andy Williams is brought on by Rovers for Mark Wright.
53rd - The Canaries really should be 5-1 up. A lovely pass with the outside of his boot from Russell frees the overlapping Drury and his pinpoint cross finds Martin unmarked six yards out - but he can only send a glancing header wide.
50th - A moment of concern for City as Michael Spillane pulls up chasing down the touchline clutching his hamstring. He limps off and is immediately replaced by Paul McVeigh, Korey Smith dropping to right-back.
49th - A lovely bit of skill from Gary 'Docrates' as he shimmies inside his man and feeds the ball to Spillane, whose cross into Chris Martin strikes the arm of the Norwich striker and a free-kick for handball is awarded.
46th - City get us underway and straight away they nearly win a penalty! Holt is tripped by Byron Anthony and the ref indicates a free-kick right on the edge of the box. Replays suggest City are unlucky not to have their second spot-kick awarded. Hoolahan takes the free-kick but his whipped-in cross is collected by the diving Andersen.
Couple of pictures added, see below, Chris Martin striking the free-kick which opened the scoring and him celebrating over towards the Snake Pit.
In common fashion this season, the two City goalkeepers return early as birthday boy and more commonly goalkeeping coach Paul Crichton warms up the two 'keepers, keeping them sharp with some handling work and fielding high crosses. As Rudd takes his position in the Barclay Stand goal, he receives a warm ovation. Happy 41st Birthday to Paul Crichton.
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Just bring you some half-time scores. In the other big games in League One, top of the table Leeds United are drewing 0-0 with Charlton Athletic and Colchester United versus Huddersfield Town is also goalless. Ipswich got a equaliser at the end of the first-half through Liam Rosenior after Iain Hume had put Barnsley in front at Oakwell. Millwall have heaped the pressure of John Barnes as they lead Tranmere Rovers 4-0 at the break.
Half-time: Norwich City 4, Bristol Rovers 1
45+2 - Chris Dickson reacts fastest to a quick Rovers free-kick but blazes well over from 16 yards.
45th - Spillane shows good awareness to slide in and deny Kuffour at the expense of a corner. The flag-kick is comfortably collected by Rudd.
40th - Goal for City and it's all about the power of Grant Holt. The City top scorer simply will not be denied as he bulldozes through the Rovers defence, shrugging off the challenge of Byron Athony before crashing a 16-yard shot into the far corner for his 9th of the season.
39th - Spillane does well to win a free-kick on the right and when it is taken quickly to Hoolahan his shot is well saved.
38th - Simon Lappin is booked after he is adjudged to have caught Chris Lines late in the centre circle.
36th - A superb deep ball from Gary Doherty sees Adam Drury stretch to cross it in inches before it went out for a goal-kick - Rovers are appealing for the corner but Korey Smith rises well only to glances his header wide under pressure.
33rd - City forcing back-to-back corners. The first is cleared away and Spillane wins the second. Lappin's inswinger squeezes through at the near post and falls to Grant Holt at the far post and he doesn't miss from there, five yards out. Manager of the Month curse striking for Paul Trollope?
31th - Penalty to City! Hoolahan scores! Hoolahan controls the ball inside the box, flicking it over Byron Anthony, who runs into the Irishman knocking him to the ground and Anthony Hall has no hesitation in pointing to the spot for a penalty.
27th - Martin almost restores City lead. City attacking with real purpose, a sense of injustic perhaps, Hoolahan skips away from a couple of challenges and crosses deep to Holt, who headers back across goal and Martin is there but his header goes over.
26th - Penalty to Bristol Rovers! Great penalty by Jeff Hughes, high into the top-left corner. Jens Berthel Askou the adjudged offender and is booked for what the referee has signalled to be pulling. Looked more like Dickson slipped when trying to back in and spin away from the Dane rather than any contact from Askou causing him to fall.
24th - Declan Rudd gets down quick low to his right to tip Jo Kuffour's almost inadvertent shot round for a corner. Good reflexes and agility to get down to it.
21st - Martin twangs the bar but is ruled offside anyway so it doesn't matter but incisive play. Holt robbed Aaron Lescott and fed the run of Korey Smith out wide right, his first time ball behind the defence put Martin in, cue flag, not seen yet, so Martin cut back inside Danny Coles before seeing his thunderous effort, clip the top of the bar and over.
17th - Lovely teasing cross from Martin, who showed good strength to win the ball initially but the ball curls towards the 'keeper, bending away from Hoolahan running in.
16th - "
15th - Martin fouled and City take the free-kick quickly to Lappin who strikes from 20 yards left-footed but he drags his shot wide of Andersen's left-hand post.
10th - City have the ball in the net again but referee Andy Hall rules the goal out. Long free-kick forward, Holt won the flick on and Martin controlled before stabbing in off the post. Referee indicating Martin used an arm to control Holt's flick.
9th - Free-kick to City, 20 yards out. Chris Martin takes and what a strike, City lead. Straight into the top corner, Mikkel Andersen had no chance.
5th - Early signs would suggest Martin alongside Holt in attack and Hoolahan in midfield at the point of the diamond almost with Russell holding, Lappin and Smith the other two midfielders playing narrow. Width looks like it will come from the full-backs getting forward.
4th - Spillane is forced to head behind for another Rovers corner. Russell heads off the line, ball come back in and Askou with a high clearance for another throw.
3rd - Rovers force a corner through Regan. Captain Stuart Campbell with kick, which first Doherty then Russell head clear, Throw-in, far side, the Bristol Rovers right.
2nd - Grant Holt wins a free-kick for City, 35 yards from goal, Simon Lappin will take left-footed from the right. Inswinger and Holt being held stoops to head but wide, that's what you call tight marking.
1st - Bristol Rovers get us underway at Carrow Road , City attacking the Barclay Stand first half. Korey Smith start in there winning possession from Jo Kuffour.
Don't forgot you can listen to the match live on Canaries Player - we are currently running a free 14 day trial so why not take advantage!
The Coca-Cola League One Player of the Month award went to Brighton's Nicky Forster - ahead of Grant Holt. Will the big man win City's Anglian Player of the Month award? You decide!
Team news from Carrow Road - one change from the midweek win over Leyton Orient, opening goalscorer Chris Martin starts in place of Paul McVeigh. Declan Rudd retains his place in goal so the available again Fraser Forster is on the bench.
For Bristol Rovers - who have won four of their five away league matches and are unbeaten in five - start with Chris Dickson - who has scored three goals in three matches, on loan from Charlton Athletic - alongside Jo Kuffour in attack - five in ten starts. A decent return from their strikers following the sale of main man Rickie Lambert to Southampton at the start of the season.
CITY: Rudd, Drury, Holt (c) (Cureton 82), Doherty, Hoolahan, Spillane (McVeigh 50), Martin, Lappin, Russell (Hughes 77), Smith, Askou. Subs not used: Forster (GK), Adeyemi, Daley, McDonald.
Rovers: Andersen, Regan, Wright (Williams 57), Lines (Blizzard 58), Coles, Campbell (c), Dickson (Duffy 71), Hughes, Anthony, Kuffour, Lescott. Subs not used: Evans (GK), Elliott, Reece, Swallow.
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