A HEARTBREAKING injury-time winning goal from Jermaine Beckford saw City suffer just their second Coca-Cola League One defeat in their last ten games away to Leeds United this evening.
City looked set to have earned a useful point from tonight's trip to Elland Road after Grant Holt's first-half goal cancelled out Bradley Johnson's opening header.
After the visitors had looked the sharper of the two sides in the opening exchanges, Leeds took a 15th-minute lead when Bradley Johnson rose at the back post to head home a Robert Snodgrass corner.
City deservedly levelled the match in the 38th minute when Grant Holt fired home his 10th goal of the season. The City skipper slid perfectly to meet a Simon Lappin cross from the right and glide the ball under 'keeper Casper Ankergren.
But after Fraser Forster looked to have helped City claim a well-earned point with a couple of superb saves, he scuffed a poor goal-kick in injury time and fired it straight to Beckford, who sprinted forward and slotted home.
The result saw Leeds return to the summit of League One with City remaining in the play-off places.
After the match a bitterly disappointed City boss Paul Lambert said: "It was really absolutely galling.
"I may be biased but we never deserved that and I felt on balance we were the better side on the night. They were brilliant, that's as good as I have seen since we have come here.
On Fraser Forster's fatal lapse at the end, he commented: "He's made two fantastic saves earlier. He's young and though it sounds funny he will be better for it as a player."
Full-Time - A long ball into the box is claimed by Ankergren and Lee Mason blows the final whistle. What a cruel game football is, one minute from time after an even encounter, Beckford strikes to put Leeds back top of the table. Swindon Town come to Carrow Road on Saturday for a 3pm kick-off. Tickets are on sale, if you can't make it, join us on canaries.co.uk for live coverage.
90+3 - Forster's goal kick falls at the feet of Beckford and he has a clear run on goal and buries his finish beyond Forster who comes out to narrow the angle. Heart break for City. Forster is dejected. Paul Lambert can't believe it on the touchline.
90+2 - Huge let off for City, Gradel is put in away down the right, suspicions of offisde but the assistant was clear he was onside. He slips the ball across to Beckford and he slides in but his effort rolls wide.
90th - Four minutes of time to be added on. City stand off Doyle just outside the box but he puts his left-footed effort comfortably over the City bar.
89th - Leeds had the ball in the City net a couple of minutes ago, not sure what the award was for, good finish in the bottom hand corner though but the whistle had already gone, although half the stadium weren't aware and went up to celebrate.
88th - Beckford runs at Otsemobor in off the left flank and pokes an effort goalwards which Forster takes on one knee with ease. It is all Leeds I'm afraid.
85th - Jason Crowe becomes the fourth Leeds player booked and the sixth of the evening to enter Lee Mason's book.
84th - Forster down low to his left, a fairly routine save but well held from Gradel, he has injected them with pace since his introduced.
83rd - Fraser Forster! Beckford through one-on-one, mortgage's being staked all over Leeds but Forster sticks out a big hand to his right to deny Beckford.
81st - Otsemobor shows good strength and pace to shut the door in the face of Beckford but Leeds have taken hold of the game as we head into the final 10 minutes.
80th - Robert Snodgrass, just back from injury is withdrawn for Max Gradel - who like Vokes was signed on loan this afternoon, Gradel arriving from Leicester City.
77th - Russell commits a foul over on the far touchline, clumsy challenge and nothing more, the referee signals to Russell one more and you're in my top pocket, the midfielder has been booked already don't forget.
74th - Second change of the match from Simon Grayson - introducing Tresor Kandol - a favourite with the home faithful - for loanee Sam Vokes signed today from Wolves.
72nd - Fantastic save by Forster. Lappin is penalised for a foul and the Leeds crowd applaude until they realise they had a good advantage, so the home fans get back on the referee's back. Snodgrass strikes the free-kick left-footed but Forster takes a step to his left to beat away.
69th - Johnson is booked for a late tackle on Otsemobor.
68th - City force a couple of coners, Leeds clear the first and Holt see a shot hit the side netting from the second.
66th - Grant Holt tries his luck with a powerful shot on the turn which Ankergren does well to palm away.
63rd - Doyle in next into referee Mason notebook for a foul on Russell.
62nd - Leeds force a corner off of Otsemobor. Snodgrass take but Johnson puts his header on to the roof of the net.
58th - Russell is cautioned for tackle on Snodgrass which results in a free-kick just outside the City box. Adam Drury heads away the free-kick.
56th - Tempers flare between Russell and Snodgrass but referee Mason is soon on the scene to calm things down with no need for a card.
55th - City force another corner but the Leeds defence soon clear Lappin's ball into the box.
52nd - City force a corner, Lappin's flag kick is met by Doherty who heads over.
50th - It's fast end-to-end stuff with the home crowd baying for free-kicks at every given chance.
47th - The PA confirms tonight's attendance at Elland Road as 19,912. Must be 1,200 Norwich fans here tonight.
46th - Leeds start brightly with Beckford breaking through on goal but City are saved by a linesman's flay for offside.
Half-Time - Referee Lee Mason blows for half-time here at Elland Road, the sides go in level with Grant Holt cancelling out Bradley Johnson goal.
45th - A minimum of two minutes of added time to be played at the end of this half, it's flown by.
40th - "There's only one Grant Holt!!!" - whatcrisis
38th - Another free-kick fro City from the right for a foul by Hughes on Martin. Taken short, played around, Hoolahan tries to work an opening, can't so lays it off for Lappin to deliver. And what a delivery, to the back post where Grant Holt makes the run to slid in and divert past sub 'keeper Ankergren. Tenth of the season for Holt.
36th - Doherty with a great tackle on Beckford, one step ahead of their leading goalscorer and City break until Hughes of the Andy variety takes down Martin, not sure whether it was cynical or he was just too slow. Free-kick eludes everyone though.
35th - Snodgrass with the free-kick from the left, deep and Naylor wins the header round the back but Forster makes a comfortable save.
31st - Leeds in the ascendency at the moment. Beckford collects the ball 30 yards from goal and is direct, beats Askou, just, but his powerful shot from the edge of the area goes over.
29th - Jonathan Howson steps away from Lappin and takes aim from 25 yards but like his midfield partner Doyle, he sees his effort sail over and fail to trouble Forster.
26th - Great back tracking from Stephen Hughes, the midfielder had hold of Snodgrass' shirt to bring with but quickly remembered he was booked earlier and stayed with the Leeds man to dispossess him. Forster's kick from the backpass drops at the feet of Doyle who tries his luck from long range sails over.
23rd - A Leeds corner from the left is held up as the referee tries to cut out some nonsense in the box. When the delivery does come in from Johnson again wins the header from Snodgrass' delivery but this time over the bar.
21st - Drury does well down the left beating Crowe, just keeping the ball in play, with boss Paul Lambert signalling to the assistant on this near side to keep his flag down. Drury's left-footed cross is almost met by Russell coming in at the far post.
20th - Snodgrass again causing problems down the City left, beating two players and going for the killer ball through to Beckford but intercepted.
18th - Chris Martin goes down looking to latch on to a Wes Hoolahan through ball, he gingerly gets back to his foot with Andy Hughes, looked like they collided on the chase.
17th - Leeds with an early change, goalkeeper Shane Higgs is replaced by Casper Ankergren, assuming an injury.
16th - Leeds on the counter attack down the right, Snodgrass with the cross to the edge of the box and Michael Doyle with the left-footed shot that Darel Russell throws himself at to block.
15th - Robert Snodgrass' corner to the back post is met by Bradley Johnson, his header beats Forster from close range and Leeds United take the lead at Elland Road - a simple goal really.
14th - Strong running in behind from Beckford against Doherty forces a corner from their right.
12th - The Leeds defence hasn't got going yet, Holt controls just outside the box and crosses for Hoolahan around the penalty spot and he takes a touch, gets the ball out of his feet before testing Higgs, thought he was going to repeat the Carlisle match. Cleared for a corner, which Lappin takes, Holt wins the header but wide for a goal kick.
10th - Chris Martin is allowed a similar amount of time and space as Vokes to collect, turn and fire off a shot, but his is wide.
9th - Captain Richard Naylor is back with us with a head bandage, so Leeds return to full compliment.
8th - Sam Vokes is allowed to turn and get his shot away from 20 yards but over Fraser Forster's bar.
6th - City exploit the space down the left as Beckford fails to track the run of Otsemobor, his cross is met by Russell on the turn and Shane Higgs gets behind the ball but has to palm away at the second attempt from on his line. The Leeds reshuffle has Bradley Johnson filling in at left-back with Jermaine Beckford on the left of midfield and Sam Vokes up top on his own. No sign of Naylor returning just yet.
4th - Stephen Hughes catches Jason Crowe late on the touchline and he joins Naylor in the book, having booked Naylor, referee Lee Mason didn't have too many options, two booked inside four minutes, odds on 22 remaining on the pitch at the final whistle?
3rd - Naylor is off down the tunnel, looks like he might need some stitches to close the wound as a head bandage wasn't deemed suitable.
2nd - Short to Lappin, into the box but Askou is penalised for climbing.
1st - We're underway, play played out wide to the left and Otsemobor is in to challenge and wins the throw. Naylor straight through the back of Hoolahan in an aerial challenge and a booking for the skipper. Little to no intent to play the ball and he has cut his head in the preceedings and requires a change of shirt. Leeds to defend the free-kick with ten minus their centre-back and captain.
The captains Richard Naylor and Grant Holt come together for the photographs and coin toss, Holt rejoins his team and City enter a pre-match huddle, Leeds to kick off.
The teams are out, the assistant's check the goal nets, we're just moments away from kick-off, second placed Leeds United versus sixth placed Norwich City - probably the biggest game of City's season and Lambert's reign to date. Who's excited?!
"Again, another attacking team and bench. Have I missed something (again), but what has happened to Korey Smith? Injured?" - crabbycanary - We think Smith is sidelined with a thigh injury.
The City fans are in what was described to us pre-match as the 'cheese-wedge', a yellow area of seating - the rest is all blue - in the corner infill, wedged between two stands. They are currently trying to out sing the Rocky theme music - 'Eye of the Tiger' with some success.
The presumed seven Leeds subs remain out on the pitch warming up, while the City half is empty with the whole matchday squad and staff back in the changing rooms.
We are currently being treated to 'Glory Glory Leeds United' and some classic goals from yesteryear on the big screen to our right. I wonder whether Jeremy Goss' goal here in 1993 in the 4-0 win will make the highlights reel, doubt it?!
Leeds throw Sam Vokes straight in alongside Jermaine Beckford, with Robert Snodgrass returning from injury. Max Gradel is on the bench. Former City player Andy Hughes will continue at left-back, local boy Ben Parker sustained a hamstring injury on the opening day of the season and has been sidelined ever since. Leigh Bromby, who spent time on loan at Carrow Road looks set to move inside to centre-back alongside former Ipswich Town captain Richard Naylor.
Team News from Elland Road, where Korey Smith misses out with what we think is a thigh injury. In comes Stephen Hughes to the centre of midfield. Jon Otsemobor returns at right-back for George Francomb. After playing 45 minutes in the reserves in midweek, Matt Gill takes his place on the bench alongside Declan Rudd back from international duty.
City: Forster, Otsemobor, Drury, Hughes (Gill 90), Holt (c), Doherty, Hoolahan, Martin, Lappin, Russell, Askou. Subs not used: Rudd (GK), Cureton, Adeyemi, McVeigh, Daley, McDonald.
Leeds: Higgs (Ankergren 17), Crowe, Doyle, Naylor (c), Beckford, Howson, Vokes (Kandol 77), Johnson, Hughes, Snodgrass (Gradel 80), Bromby. Subs not used: Prutton, Kilkenny, Grella, Michalik.
It would appear Leeds have completed the loan signings of Wolves' Sam Vokes and Leicester City's Max Gradel, both being eligible for tonight's game. Vokes is a Welsh international striker and Gradel is an exciting winger.
Hello from Elland Road on this Monday night for the live Sky match - if you can't watch on the television, I hope you'll stay with us for the match. A point this evening would see Leeds go back top and a win puts City up to fifth. The big player from the weekend joins us here tonight, that's right the beach ball, four of them are in the goal away to our left. Let's hope they're cleared away from the pitch before kick-off, which is about 45 minutes away, which means teamsheets should be along anytime soon.
