A PASSIONATE second-half display by both the Canaries and their fans saw City power to a 3-0 win over Lee Clark's Huddersfield for their seventh straight win at Carrow Road - and cut the deficit on second-placed Charlton to four points.
In the battle of League One's top-scoring sides, the Terriers were out-gunned as goals from Wes Hoolahan, Chris Martin and Gary Doherty capped a rampant second-half display by Paul Lambert's side and kept up the pressure on league leaders.
With Charlton held to a 4-4 draw by ten-man Millwall - City's Boxing Day opponents - in a dramatic game at The Valley, this win was a crucial one.
Huddersfield held the territorial advantage in the first half and went close to taking the lead when dangerman Jordan Rhodes' diving header was saved by the legs of Fraser Forster.
But buoyed up by some great vocal support from the Canary faithful amongst a 25,004 crowd at Carrow Road, the Canaries responded with fire and determination after the break.
Hoolahan got the ball rolling with the crucial breakthrough on 57 minutes, beating Terriers' skipper Peter Clarke on the edge of the area before drilling home a low shot into the bottom corner to put City in front.
And the Irishman turned provider in the 74th minute, hitting an angled pass which Nathan Clarke failed to intercept, allowing Chris Martin to advance one-on-one against 'keeper Alex Smithies before calmly slotting it past him for his 13th of the season.
Five minutes later the game was over as a contest as Simon Lappin's corner was only half cleared and Gary Doherty kept up his great scoring run with a thunderous first-time drive from 12 yards for his fifth strike of the campaign.
After the match City boss Lambert commented: "I knew there'd be some tiredness after Southampton so I knew we'd have a tough test against a really good side. But I've got to say the spirit and the desire not to get beat when things are going against you was absolutely brilliant.
"I said to them at half-time 'you'll get your second wind now so go out there and grab it' and I thought their commitment was extraordinary.
"After the disappointment of the Southampton game, which was really really tough, to come back as they did today was absolutely terrific. It's a big, big win for us."
Full-time - It's all over at Carrow Road and City make it seven home wins in a row in the league. City were made to work for the win after a below-par first half performance but were much improved in the second half with goals coming from Wes Hoolahan on 57 minutes, who then turned provider for Chris Martin on 74 minutes and five minutes later Gary Doherty capped off the win with a fine half-volley. In injury time at The Valley, Millwall have pegged Charlton Athletic back to 4-4 which would mean City close the gap to four points to the second-placed side.
90th - Four minutes of added time to be played here at Carrow Road as we receive word of an equaliser for Millwall at The Valley followed swiftly by a fourth from for Charlton to make it 4-3. MK Dons have just gone behind at home to Brentford.
89th - Chris Martin has a fourth chalked off for offside, to be fair the flag was up before he finished with precision again. Hoolahan again with the defence splitting pass to release him.
88th - Unfortunately Charlton are leading at home to 10 men Millwall, Nicky Bailey scored to make it 3-2 and Robert Snodgrass has given Leeds United the lead at Elland Road against Southampton so City will remain six points behind the Addicks. With Colchester United not playing, Huddersfield losing here at Carrow Road, MK Dons being held at home by Brentford and Bristol Rovers losing away at Tranmere Rovers, a gap opens up to the chasing pack.
86th - Roberts swings in a free-kick, which Forster comes to claim confidently.
84th - Anthony Pilkington is late in on Stephen Hughes as he clears and receives a booking for his troubles.
81st - Chris Martin cuts in off the left and keeps going past two players. He finds himself a yard of space to let fly a right-footed shot thar Smithies just about shovels round the post.
79th - He's just a goal machine!! Gary Doherty chalks up his fourth goal in a week - three games. Lappin delivers a corner from the left, which Holt and Clarke jump for, it falls for a defender to half-clear to Doherty. In not quite as spectacular fashion as midweek, the Doc unleashes a half-volley from 12 yards that flies through the crowd and past Alex Smithies for his fifth of the season. His performance this afternoon has been brilliant and hopefully that should seal his man of the match champagne.
75th - Instant double change by Lee Clark, Jim Goodwin and Lee Novak are replaced by Tom Clarke - the third Clarke on the pitch - and Theo Robinson respectively.
74th - Responding to Wes Hoolahan drawing level with 12 goals for the season, Chris Martin notches to pull away to 13. Wes Hoolahan the architect with an absolutely delightful ball through, of all 35 yards. Nathan Clarke tried to step out to intercept the pass but couldn't connect and Chris Martin got goal side of left-back Joe Skarz, showed good strength to hold him off, looked like he was going to round Smithies but instead placed his shot over the legs of the 'keeper.
72nd - Former Ipswich man Gary Roberts is booked by referee Christopher Sarginson - well who else would book him? - for a late sliding on Hoolahan, which came through the back off the Irishman to win the ball.
70th - Simon Lappin down the right but his cross is blocked and a combination of Joe Skarz and Peter Clarke consort to concede a corner, looked liked Skarz's clearance cannoned off the chest of his centre-back. Lappin's delivery though is cleared away at the near post.
69th - Lee Novak peels wide right and whips in a cross which Doherty stoops to head clear in front of Jordan Rhodes. Gary Roberts' delivery is cleared and Grant Holt wins a free-kick over in the far corner to alleviate the pressure.
66th - Jordan Rhodes receives a pass on the left edge of the penalty box in space. He shifts inside on to his right foot and curls an effort which is comfortably saved down to his left by Forster.
64th - A long free-kick from Lee Peltier is won again by Gary Doherty. Jim Goodwin is first to it with a wayward shot.
60th - Inches wide from a second! Stephen Hughes at the second bite of the cherry hangs up a cross from the right, which Nathan Clarke heads away. Simon Lappin knocks it down for Darel Russell who first time drives in a low shot, which comes off the heels of Peter Clarke in a crowded penalty box, wrong-footing Alex Smithies in the Town goal but dribbles agonishingly wide of the post.
59th - Gary Roberts hits a deep free-kick from the left which Peter Clarke meets with a good header - but Forster rises to make the catch well.
57th - GOOOOAAAAAALLLL!!! Wes Hoolahan jinks superbly through the heart of the Huddersfield defence, skipping past Terriers captain Peter Clarke before rifling his 12th goal of the season low into the far corner, giving Smithies no chance.
56th - After a quiet first half the home fans have really responded this half. Great atmosphere now.
55th - Huddersield give the ball away to Hoolahan but Nathan Clarke gets across to hack it out for a throw.
53rd - Lee Peltier is booked for impeding a City throw illegally.
52nd - We may have just witnessed the City miss of the season. Wes Hoolahan for once finds some space to get in behind the visiting defence. He spots Chris Martin unmarked at the far post but as his pass falls invitingly to the striker five yards out he somehow sidefoots wide with the goal gaping. He perhaps thought he was offside, but no flag is raised to spare his blushes.
50th - With City still finding it tough to break through a well-drilled Huddersfield outfit the Barclay and Snakepit respond with a sustained spell of chanting to try and lift the lads.
48th - Lappin concedes a free-kick wide right after a foul on Pilkington. Pilkington drives a clever low pass to the edge of the box and Rhodes meets it first time with a crashing drive which flashes just wide.
47th - Nelson is caught slightly out of possession but as the ball nearly falls to Rhodes on the edge of the box, Doherty gets back well to clear.
46th - Jordan Rhodes is left hobbling after a crunching challenge from Nelson.
46th - City get us underway attacking the Barclay End.
Half-time - City make a substitution during the break, Stephen Hughes replacing Tom Adeyemi in midfield.
Half-time - Nick Gibbs from Aviva has just presented representatives from EACH - Community Chest Challenge winners for the Tranmere Rovers game - with a cheque for £18,629.86, doubling the money they raised through various mechanisms, including the auctioning off of the signed match-worn shirts on eBay and a ground collection. EACH will also receive £2,000 from Norwich City for the pitch hire from Football Aid to add to the fund.
Half-time - Elsewhere in League One, it is also goalless between Leeds United and Southampton, and at StadiumMK where MK Dons are being held by Brentford. There is a right olde ding-dong battle being played out at The Valley as Charlton have come back from being two down to Millwall to being level at 2-2 and the Lions will play the second half with 10 men after the sending off of Nadjim Abdou following a professional foul. Steve Morrison notched both the Millwall goals and Deon Burton converted two penalties for Charlton. Colchester United's home game against Carlisle United has been postponed due to the snow. Bristol Rovers are trailing away at Tranmere Rovers. Don't forget Millwall are at Carrow Road on Boxing Day for a 12.45pm kick-off.
Half-time - There goes the whistle and the teams troop down the tunnel to hear what their managers have got to say to them. There's no doubt Lee Clark will potentially be a happier man than Paul Lambert but, crucially, Huddersfield have not capitalised on their territorial advantage in the opening period.
45th - You have to say City have been on the back foot for most of this half. They will be looking now just to survive to the break on level pegging. As one minute of stoppage time is signalled another incisive attack by the visitors ends with Collins cutting into the box and blazing a fierce shot over the bar.
43rd - Gary Doherty was booked for that earlier incident, which has raised the crowd's temperature. It's raised further as Russell Martin is adjudged to have fouled Pilkington. He steps up to take the free-kick but it's a comfortable claim for Fraser Forster.
40th - The Barclay don't like it but referee Mr Sarginson gets it spot on as Gary Doherty fouls Rhodes just outside the area. Rhodes takes the free-kick - about three yards away from where it should have been taken and Russell's clearance is met first time by Goodwin who fires wide.
39th - Hairy moment for Michael Nelson as he stumbl;es and gives away possession to dangerman Jordan Rhodes - but he redeems himself by scrambling back seconds later to slide in and make the block.
37th - A powerful surging run from Darel Russell before the City midfielder finds Chris Martin on the right. The striker cuts inside before drilling a low effort inches wide of the near post.
36th - Doherty floats a free-kick into the area which Holt chests down and shoots goalwards. The effort is going wide but bounces up invitingly for Nelson to try a repeat of the spectacular bicycle kick he netted at Hartlepool earlier in the season - but this time it goes well wide.
33rd - Adeyemi does well to stick with Roberts as he belts down the left flank and slides in at just the right time at the expense of a corner. Pilkington's corner is headed away firmly by Doherty.
31st - There's a break in play as Michael Collins receives treatment after a challenge with Tom Adeyemi on the edge of the visitors' box. He's ok to continue though.
30th - Superb reverse pass from Lappin forces Huddersfield to concede a corner - but their well-organised defence once again comfortably clears Lappin's flag kick.
29th - Lappin delivers a deep free-kick which Holt meets with a firm header but miscued, goal kick to Huddersfield.
27th - Expect to see that on Soccer AM next weekend. When trying to kick the ball back to Fraser Forster, the steward lost his footing and hit the ground, cue mockery from the stands.
25th - A defensive mistake presents a shooting opportunity to Jordan Rhodes, which he takes but Forster pulls his hands away from his dive to watch it wide of his right-hand post.
24th - City enjoy their first real spell of possession in the game on the left, Hoolahan in to Holt, shuffled out wide to Russell Martin who fizzes in a cross but there is nobody coming in on it.
23rd - City break quickly with Tom Adeyemi freeing Chris Martin down the right in space. He cuts in and hangs up a cross at the back post but Smithies claims.
21st - Free-kick to the Terries over on the right-flank. Roberts delivers left-footed and Doherty is again there to win the challenge and also wins a free-kick award.
19th - Lappin takes the corner from the left, Grant Holt jumps for it but misses, it hits the shins of a defender and hacked away. Throw-in taken and Holt does well to win another corner, which Lappin will take. Outswinger, Chris Martin is beaten in the air and Jordan Rhodes clears long downfield.
18th - Roberts trips Chris Martin who intercepted a short clearance. Over on the right. Darel Russell and Simon Lappin over it. Lappin takes and Peter Clarke heads behind for a corner on the stretch.
17th - Big switch of play finds Gary Roberts on the right edge of the penalty box, his cross is turned away by Doherty.
13th - Grant Holt brings down Michael Collins for a free-kick to Town, just over 25 yards from goal, slightly right of centre. Jordan Rhodes' free-kick is blocked by the wall and Nathan Clarke's follow-up shot is blocked by Doherty, appeals for handball but nothing doing from referee Christopher Sarginson.
11th - Michael Nelson heads away a long ball, but Anthony Pilkington on the Huddersfield right is first to it and his cross is met by the diving head of Jordan Rhodes, which forces a great reflex save from the big frame of Fraser Forster.
10th - Long ball out of defence sends Chris Martin away down the left, Lee Peltier holds him up, he finds Simon Lappin inside but Jim Goodwin breaks it up with a sliding tackle. Goodwin seems to be anchoring the midfield, perhaps another man-marker for Hoolahan to deal with at Carrow Road.
7th - Wes Hoolahan comes within a whisker of giving City the lead. Chris Martin cushioned down a header to the Irishman, who switched it to his left foot but his low drive whistled just wide of Alex Smithies' left-hand post.
4th - "
2nd - The visitors kept the pressure on and Michael Collins puts in a dangerous low cross that is left and goes behind for a corner, no Town player read the cross. Good start from Huddersfield, not quite so from City.
1st - Huddersfield get us underway, with City kicking towards the Norwich and Peterborough Stand first half. Left-back Joe Skarz plays in Gary Roberts down the line and his cross is headed behind by Gary Doherty. Adam Drury clears the short taken corner with a firm header.
The teams emerge from the tunnel below us to the right. Huddersfield are in red today with dark blue trim, dark blue shorts and socks, with goalkeeper Alex Smithies in a luminous orange shirt. No snow, so the ordinary white ball this afternoon.
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Through the wonders of undersoil heating the pitch is in immaculate condition for the match. If you'd rather listen to commentary of the match then you can on Canaries Player, which is also available as a Christmas gift for the Canary fan in your life, if you still need a Christmas present for them.
City unchanged from midweek, but Lee Clark makes two changes to the side that beat Gillingham last weekend. Back from suspension is Anthony Pilkington and he replaces Lionel Answorth who drops to the bench. The second change sees Jim Goodwin come into the centre of midfield for the suspended Antony Kay.
Despite the snowfall overnight the game goes ahead without a drop of snow on the pitch. The same can't be said elsewhere, all Blue Square Premier games are off, all bar one are off in League Two, Colchester United's home match against Carlisle United has fallen victim to the weather and three in the Championship, Blackpool v West Brom, Cardiff City v Leicester City and Scunthorpe United v Ipswich Town.
"I hope Lee gets a warm welcome, it was very rare to see anything good come out of Roeder's tenure but he was one of them. All the best Lee, but sorry to say were gonna have to stuff ya today." - briang0604
City and Huddersfield lead the country in league goals scored, 45 each in 21 games. For City, Grant Holt has 19 goals in all competitions, Chris Martin 12 and Wes Hoolahan 11. For Huddersfield, Jordan Rhodes has 15 goals this season, strike partner Lee Novak eight and sub Theo Robinson nine.
Paul Lambert names an unchanged side from the midweek Johnstone's Paint Trophy penalty shoot-out defeat to Southampton. Stephen Hughes returns to the bench though after a calf injury. Lee Clark partners Jordan Rhodes - one of two former Ipswich players, Gary Roberts the other - in attack with Lee Novak. Clark also names namesakes - if spelt differently - Peter and Nathan Clarke in his starting line-up and Tom Clarke on the bench.
CITY: Forster, Drury, Nelson, R.Martin, Holt (c), Doherty, Hoolahan, C.Martin, Adeyemi (Hughes 46), Lappin, Russell. Subs not used: Steer (GK), Otsemobor, Gill, McNamee, McDonald, Dawkin.
Huddersfield: Smithies, Peltier, Skarz, Collins, P.Clarke (c), N.Clarke, Roberts, Goodwin (T.Clarke 75), Rhodes, Pilkington, Novak (Robinson 75). Subs not used: Glennon (GK), Butler, Berrett, Drinkwater, Ainsworth.
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