CODY McDonald came off the bench to fire the Canaries to a 2-1 victory in tonight's match with Walsall at the Banks's Stadium as City extended their lead at the top of the League One table.
Trailing to Troy Deeney's 34th-minute opener, Chris Martin's 18th goal of the season looked to have rescued a point for City on 78 minutes - but things got a whole lot better for the Canaries with McDonald firing the winner five minutes from time.
The three points extended City's lead at the top of the League One table after promotion rivals Leeds United crashed to a 3-0 defeat at play-off chasing Swindon Town.
After the match boss Paul Lambert once again praised the spirit of his promotion-chasing troops. Lambert told First News: "The players have been incredible, they were dead on their feet after Saturday and on a heavy pitch tonight, what a big, big result that was.
"Walsall are a good side. This is a difficult place to come, Chris (Hutchings) has got them playing really well, there won't be many teams come here and get a result, not many teams will come here and win. There was a bit of tiredness in our performances but I thought we were terrific."
The impact of substitutes McNamee and McDonald was also praised by the City boss.
"It has been tough for a lot of the lads to get into the football team but credit to the lads who came on tonight they were excellent."
Lambert handed striker Oli Johnson a first start in place of the suspended Grant Holt at the Banks's Stadium. Former Academy player Danny Kelly took Johnson's place on the bench. They were the only changes from Saturday's hard-fought 1-0 win over Brentford at Carrow Road.
City took the game to the hosts from the off and on a spongy surface forced three corners inside the opening 10 minutes.
After trying to run off a thigh injury a few minutes earlier, left-back Adam Drury limped off on 15 minutes to be replaced by Stephen Hughes who came into midfield with Simon Lappin slotting in at left-back.
City went close to opening the scoring on the 20-minute mark as Wes Hoolahan fed the ball through to Oli Johnson and the City striker lifted the ball over on-rushing 'keeper Clayton Ince, but sadly a covering defender was on hand to clear for a corner.
As the game progressed it became a more even affair with former Ipswich man Matt Richards at the heart of several promising Walsall forays into the City half.
Walsall took the lead on 34 minutes when striker Troy Deeney latched on to a through-ball down the middle of the pitch and escaped the attentions of Michael Nelson and Gary Doherty before rounding 'keeper Fraser Forster and slipping the ball into an empty net.
Shortly after the hour-mark Lambert made his second change of the game - this time a double substitution as Anthony McNamee and Cody McDonald replaced Korey Smith and Oli Johnson.
City levelled the match in the 78th minute as Clayton Ince appeared to misjudge a Hoolahan corner and among a host of players on the back post, Chris Martin prodded the ball home from close range.
Things got even better for City seven minutes later when Cody McDonald put the visitors in front. A Norwich corner was half-cleared by the Walsall defence and the loose ball was then played back in by Hoolahan to McDonald who fired past Ince.
Final score: Walsall 1 City 2
"Yessss!!! Super Chris & Super Cody! We are top of the league!!!!" - chrisbetts18
90+4: Forster claims well again as Walsall put late pressure on City's defence. Parkin gets first yellow card of game tripping Chris Martin on far left.
90+2: Forster makes an important save at his near post as Darren Byfield cuts in and has a shot.
90th: Five minutes additional time have been added. 'Lovin' it!!!!' - whatcrisis
88th: Under pressure Forster manages to punch away another Walsall corner. Michael Nelson receiving treatment in the City box, stoppage in play.
87th: Sam Parkin replaces Till for the Saddlers.
85th: Free-kick comes in from Russell and is cleared for a corner. Walsall initially clear but Hoolahan puts the ball back in and finds McDonald who slots it past Ince - 2-1!!!
83rd: Darel Russell tests Ince with a fierce shot from outside the box.
81st: Walsall corner by Till which Forster punches clear.
80th: City look the brighter now passing it about - another good break by Hoolahan thwarted.
78th: Hoolahan delivers the corner, Ince misses and with confusion in the box Chris Martin equalises at the far post.
77th: McNamee puts in a ball from the left after some trickery and the defender clears for a corner.
76th: The home side with all the momentum at the moment - come on City!
74th: Free kick to the Saddlers midway in City's half. Richards plays a short ball and a one-two with Byfield but his resulting shot is wild and wide.
72nd: Ball from the left from Vincent is tipped away by Forster as it looks to be drifting into the far corner. The referee blows for a free-kick to the Canaries as there seems to be some pushing in the box for the corner.
70th: O'Keefe comes on for Mattis. Walsall free-kick well claimed by Forster.
69th: Hughes clears a Walsall corner off the line and Russell Martin scrambles the loose ball clear.
67th: McDonald wins a corner straight away. Ince clashes with his near poist and clears for another corner, but this time Nelson connects and it's well high over the bar.
66th: Double substitution - McNamee replaces Korey Smith and Cody McDonald comes on for Oli Johnson.
65th: Lappin curls an effort round the wall but Ince claims comfortably.
64th: City in posession passing it amongdt themselves looking for an opening but not able to find a way through. Hoolahan wins free-kick on edge of Walsall box.
59th: Oli Johnson wins City a corner but once again City are crowded out when the ball comes in.
57th: City continue to go forward but passing is proving hard going on this tricky pitch.
54th: City break forward with Korey Smith but his shot is charged down and falls to Hoolahan who once again feeds Hughes but the Scot sends his shot both high and wide.
53rd: Hoolahan plays the ball into Hughes who neatly flicks the ball on but with no-one making a run the balls goes though to Ince.
51st: Hoolahan crosses in from the left but Korey Smith is just a few inches to short to reach the ball which sails out for a goal kick.
50th: Chris Martin lets fly with a shot that goes just inches wide of Ince's left-hand post.
49th: Deeney goes close again for Waslsall after City fail to clear ball on the edge of their own area.
47th: Korey Smith's cross into the Walsall box is cleared and falls to Russell Martin who sends an effort over the crossbar.
47th: The City fans do all they can to rasise their team early in the second half.
46th; Walsall get the second period underway.
Half-time: Walsall 1 Norwich City 0
45th: City win a free kick near the corner flag but neither Nelson or Doherty are able to make contact with Darel Russell's ball into the box.
44th: There will be one minute of added time.
41st: Forster is at full stretch to collect a deep cross from Walsall full-back Rhys Weston.
38th: City go in search of an equaliser as Oli Johnson sends a cross into the near post which Stephen Hughes meets with a looping header that sails over the crossbar.
34th: Goal for Walsall, Troy Deeney latches on to a through ball and breaks away from Doherty and Nelson before rounding Forster and slipping the ball into the empty net.
32nd: Doherty plays a long ball out of defence looking for Chris Martin on the left wing but his pass is over hit.
30th: Hoolahan jinks forward and wins a corner but Walsall's Deeney is on hand to head clear..
27th: Walsall press with Richards but the Canary defence fly in with some great blocks.
24th: Mark Bradley manages to work himself some space on the edge of the Norwich box but luckily stumbles as he looks to take his shot and the ball runs easily to Forster.
23rd: City win another corner - Johnson working the ball in the box. Ince again manages to punch clear the delivery through a sea of heads.
22nd: Ball thread through to Johnson who lifts the ball over Ince but the covering Saddlers' defender clears.
21st: Richards has shot blocked on edge of the City area by Darel Russell. The ball comes back in the Norwich penalty area but it's well caught by Forster.
18th: Darel Russell takes and Ince glances it away from the head of Michael Nelson. Hoolahan puts it back into the danger zone and Chris Martin takes a swing but no connection and it drifts to safety.
17th: Free-kick to City about 25 yards out. We hear that Leeds are currently 1-0 down at Swindon - come on City!
15th: Drury is walking along the touchline with physio Simon Spencer - first subsitution Stephen Hughes comes on for the left-back - Simon Lappin drops back into the defence with Hughes replacing him in midfield.
13th: Walsall work the ball down the right with Byfield and Mattis, but the Canaries finally clear - slight concern there as Drury seemed to pull up but he's back in action now.
11th: Neat control by Johnson on the edge of the Walsall box who lays the ball back to Lappin, but the Scot's shot isn't strong enough to trouble Ince and he easily collects.
10th: Saddlers free-kick on right after Nelson catches Mattis, but it's well dealt with.
9th: Walsall clear the danger with Nelson challenging.
8th: Another corner for the Canaries. Lappin delivers for Ince to punch clear. City win back possession and a cross comes in from the right which is headed out agaiin for a City flag-kick.
7th: Good movement again with Hoolahan linking up with Johnson but the young striker is hustled off the ball by Smith.
6th: Drury blocks a Byfield shot and Russell Martin cleans up by clearing up field.
4th: Canaries build a good move through midfield which ends in a corner - Chris Martin having a shot blocked by Till. Corner comes in but it's cleared.
2nd: Walsall have free-kick. Russell fouling Bradley about 25-yardsd out. Richard takes but headed clear by Nelson.
1st: Straight swap for the game - Oli Johnson comes in for Holt, partnering Chris Martin. Walsall in possession, throw-in on right.
The Canaries kick off the game. Come on City!
The teams are coming out onto the pitch - a great reception from the Canary fans, probably around 1.200 have made the trip tonight.
Team news:
Paul Lambert has given striker Oli Johnson his first start for City tonight as the Canaries face the first of three games without top striker Grant Holt following his red card on Saturday.
Russell Martin has overcome the knock to his hip and also starts. Young professional Danny Kelly comes onto the bench following his strike for the under-18s in their 2-2 draw with Southampton at the weekend.
CITY: Forster, Drury (Hughes 15), Nelson, R. Martin, Doherty (c), Hoolahan, C. Martin, Lappin, Russell, Smith (McNamee 66), Johnson (McDonald 66). Subs not used: Gill, Kelly, Whitbread, Rudd (GK).
WALSALL: Ince, Weston, Smith, Mattis (c) (O'Keefe 70), Deeney, Bradley, Till (Parkin 87), Vincent, Richards, Byfield, McDonald. Subs not used: Sansara, Nicholls, Taundry, Westlake, Gilmartin.
