SUPER-SUB Chris Martin headed home a priceless late goal to clinch all three points in a tense battle against second-placed Leeds United.
Chances were at a premium as the division's two heavyweights slugged it out - but fellow substitute Stephen Hughes picked out Martin with a pinpoint cross and stooped to head home his 21st of the season in the 89th minute.
To complete a torrid afternoon for the visitors, their own subsitute Tresor Kandol was given his marching orders by referee Lee Probert only seconds after coming on.
After the match City boss Paul Lambert told First News: "That was two really good sides going for it and our lads were terrific.
"From the outside looking in people were talking about the significance of the game, but from our point of view it was important in the sense that there are now eight games to go and it puts a bit of pressure on the teams below."
Lambert praised the way Chris Martin responded to the disappointment of being dropped to the bench to keep his head and grab the all-important strike a minute from time.
"I just felt he'd been looking a little bit tired so I had a word with him during the week and he responded brilliantly in training and today. People forget he's still a young lad but he's been excellent for us and that's the response you're looking for.
"It was a terrific finish because the ball wasn't right on his head, he had to duck and dive to get it and it was a great goal.
"I'm delighted for the fans as well. They've had a few barren years since they came down from the Premiership and you could hear from the noise today how delighted they were. It was billiant and they have been brilliant all season."
City started brightly and forced two early corners in the first couple of minutes as they looked to take the game to the visitors.
But as the game entered the tenth minute an accidental collision between Michael Nelson and Luciano Becchio left the Leeds player unconscious as physios and paramedics rushed straight on to the pitch to his aid.
After a lengthy stoppage of at least four minutes, the Argentinian striker was carried off down the tunnel to sympathetic applause from both sets of supporters and was replaced Mike Grella.
The stoppage impacted on the tempo of play and there were no incidents of note in a tense period until former Ipswich man Richard Naylor was booked for a foul on Holt on the edge of the area in the 37th minute.
Five minutes later Snodgrass was also cautioned by referee Lee Probert as he led in with his arm on Adam Drury.
In the 44th minute Korey Smith's snapshot was blocked by the diving figure of a United defender and when the ball fell to Holt he skied his shot from the edge of the area well over.
Within seconds of the restart Korey Smith became the first Norwich player to be booked for a challenge on Doyle in the Leeds area.
In the 57th minute a superbly-weighted ball from Hoolahan bounced through to Stephen Elliott but he couldn't keep his 14-yard half-volley down and it flew high and wide.
In the next move Leeds sub Grella jinked into the area as the City defence was caught flat, but failed to connect cleanly with his shot and Forster saved comfortably.
As the game moved past the hour-mark Lambert brought on 20-goal striker Chris Martin for Elliott.
In the 65th minute Snodgrass had the best chance yet for the visitors as he hit an angled first-time shot from 16 yards which flashed just wide of the far post.
Five minutes later Canary skipper Holt was booked for a foul on Leeds wide-man Robert Snodgrass.
Lambert made another change in the 72nd minute as Anthony McNamee replaced Wes Hoolahan in midfield.
Shane Lowry was booked for a trip on McNamee just three minutes later as the winger threatened to break clear - but within seconds it was three cautions each as Drury was shown a card for a foul on Beckford.
Korey Smith picked up a knock as the game entered the last six minutes of normal time and when it was clear he couldn't continue he was replaced by Stephen Hughes - Bradley Johnson coming on for Kilkenny for Leeds.
And Hughes was to play a major part in the goal which at last edged the Canaries in front in the 89th minute.
Grant Holt won a big header in the centre of the park to find the substitute in space on the right. The Scottish international whipped in a low cross to the near-post which Chris Martin stooped to head home into the far corner superbly.
There was time for more drama as Leeds threw on Tresor Kandol in a last desperate gamble - only for him to make one of the shortest appearances you will ever see as he was dismissed within a minute for raising his hands to Darel Russell.
Full-time - Injury-time passes by like a blur and referee Lee Probert blows the full-time whistle, which is greeted with a huge celebration! Millwall beat Stockport County 5-0, so City are now 11 points clear of both the Lions and Leeds United. Next up for City is Tranmere Rovers on Good Friday, live on Sky and Stockport County here at Carrow Road on Easter Monday.
90th - Simon Grayson responds by sending on Tresor Kandol for Andy Hughes and he is promptly sent off in the first minute of stoppage time for raising his hand around the face or neck of Darel Russell. I'm not sure if Kandol even touched the ball. Four minutes of time to be added on.
89th - Two substitutes combine to give City a late lead here at Carrow Road! Grant Holt with a little deft header down for Stephen Hughes. The Scotsman takes the ball on down the right flank, look up into the box and picks out the run across the face of goal from Chris Martin and how's that for a header, glanced into the far corner, giving Shane Higgs no chance.
86th - Neil Kilkenny is withdrawn for Bradley Johnson. Shane Higgs does very well under pressure from Grant Holt to hold a high, hanging cross.
85th - Here comes that change, Stephen Hughes replaces Korey Smith.
83rd - Doherty wins yet another header and Korey Smith is limping. Stephen Hughes has been sent out to warm-up. Hughes is stripped off, ready for action.
77th - Adam Drury is now into Lee Probert's notebook for a foul on the halfway line with Leeds threatening to counter.
76th - One of McNamee's first touches of the afternoon sees him sent tumbling by Shane Lowry, who picks up a booking for the challenge.
72nd - Second change of the afternoon from Paul Lambert and Anthony McNamee replaces Wes Hoolahan.
71st - Grant Holt picks up his ninth booking of the season for a foul on Robert Snodgrass in front of the away fans.
69th - Jonathan Howson takes up possession after City fail to clear but his effort from 25 yards is watched wide by the vigilant Forster.
66th - Chris Martin tries to turn in the box, but is well marshalled by Neil Collins. Ball breaks to Hoolahan, whose cross hits Andy Hughes full in the face. Lappin's corner is turned away at the near post. Darel Russell picks up the pieces but his shot from 25 yards is comfortable for Higgs.
65th - This afternoon's attendance is 25,445.
64th - Ball played into the box towards Grella and Beckford but Nelson wins the header. The ball falls to Snodgrass, but his effort arrows wide of the far post.
62nd - Here comes the change and it is Chris Martin and he replaces Stephen Elliott in attack for City.
61st - Chris Martin is being readied in front of us.
58th - Grella with half a chance himself. He cuts in off the right flank, inside two defenders but doesn't catch the strike cleanly and dribbles through to Forster.
57th - The unusually quiet Hoolahan, has time to create and create he does. The dinks a lovely little pass over the top for Elliott to run onto. At an angle, he takes it on first time but his half-volley doesn't trouble Shane Higgs, in for Casper Ankergren, one of five changes from the Monday night defeat to Millwall, who currently lead Stockport 3-0.
56th - Lappin takes from the right and Doherty rises highest but off the side of his head and out for a goal kick. Mike Grella tries his luck from distance but Forster fields very well.
55th - Darel Russell shows good strength in midfield to emerge with the ball and drive at the Leeds defence. He shifts it right to Russell Martin to cross but it's block, behind for a corner.
46th - Leeds kick off with City attacking the Norwich and Peterborough Stand in this second half. Korey Smith is booked right at the start of the half for a foul on Michael Doyle.
Half-time - Referee Lee Probert, who had refereed the half very well, blows for half-time with the scores goalless here at Carrow Road.
45th - City's turn to push Leeds back and the ball drops to Korey Smith to strike but his effort is blocked and falls kindly to Holt on the edge of the area, but his side-foot volley clears the bar. The fourth official has indicated five minutes of stoppage time to be played, mostly for the injury to Luciano Becchio.
41st - Robert Snodgrass soon follows his skipper for leading with his elbow in an aerial challenge with Drury.
37th - Naylor cleans out Holt just outside the Leeds box and referee Lee Probert opts to give the free-kick instead of the advantage and books the Leeds captain for the foul. Russell Martin and Wes Hoolahan over the ball. It's Martin with the kick, round the wall but blocked by a defender about 10 yards out.
36th - Beckford has the game's first shot on target, from distance and comfortable for Forster.
33rd - Beckford down the left, faced by Doherty, crosses for sub Grella. As the striker looks to pull the trigger Nelson slides in to dispossess him.
28th - Leeds pressing City back but Snodgrass wastes a good opportunity to cross. Very cagey game after the exciting opening.
25th - Loose pass in midfield allows Drury to beat Hughes to the ball and send Holt away in the left channel, he wins a corner off his counterpart skipper Richard Naylor. Leeds clear the corner and City go back to Forster.
24th - Neil Kilkenny is afforded too much outside the City penalty area and attempts a curler from 20 yards - Forster watches it over his bar.
22nd - Both defences standing firm against the early ball forward at the moment, neither side being allowed to control possession.
19th - City just being forced back by the visitors since the change.
15th - Mike Grella is on for Becchio who is carried off straight down the tunnel.
12th - Worrying moment for Leeds striker Luciano Becchio, who receives a kick to the face from Michael Nelson, as Becchio stooped to head. The way Becchio fell, it looked like he was knocked out cold upon impact and hit the floor hard. Mike Grella has been stripped and looks like Simon Grayson will be pressed into an early change. Both set of phyios, doctors and first aid team on the pitch looking at Becchio currently and he'll be stretched off.
10th - Nice link up play from Lappin, Drury and Stephen Elliott, creates time and space for the Scotsman, but unfortunately he had to take the shot on his unfavoured right foot, narrowly wide.
8th - Jermaine Beckford is allowed to turn and shoot from just outside the edge of the area, his shot takes a deflection and loops out for a corner. Robert Snodgrass, former team-mate of Paul Lambert and Wes Hoolahan at Livingston, takes but Adam Drury volleys clears at the near post.
4th - First shot of the game comes in from Robert Snodgrass, from distance and over Fraser Forster's bar.
3rd - What a tempo and noise to start this game.
2nd - Free-kick, Darel Russell over it, wide left, about 10 yards outside the box. Inswinger, Michael Nelson just misses it, behind Gary Doherty but a corner to City on the far side. Lappin with it. Inswinger and the recalled Shane Higgs punches clear.
1st - City kick-off, attacking the Barclay Stand first half. Early chance for Simon Lappin to cross, towards the near post and Wes Hoolahan is beaten in the air and behind for a corner to City. Simon Lappin delivers left-footed from the left and Neil Collins heads clear. City return it left to Lappin, who is fouled.
The players emerge from the tunnel to raptuous applause. City are in yellow shirts, green shorts and yellow socks, while Leeds United are in all white.
Two changes for City with Adam Drury replacing Michael Rose at left-back and Stephen Elliott in for Chris Martin, both drop to the bench. Leeds give a debut to Neil Collins, signed on loan from Preston North End in the week and steps in for the injured Patrick Kisnorbo, who is out for the season. Collins may well be tasked with marking Preston team-mate Elliott. Former City man Andy Hughes starts for Leeds, who also recall Jermaine Beckford, after he missed the Millwall defeat with a hamstring injury. Full teams:
CITY: Forster, Drury, Nelson, R.Martin, Holt (c), Elliott (C.Martin 62), Doherty, Hoolahan (McNamee 72), Lappin, Russell, Smith (Hughes 85). Subs not used: Rudd (GK), Rose, Whitbread, Johnson.
Leeds: Higgs, Doyle, Naylor (c), Kilkenny (Kandol 86), Beckford, Becchio (Grella 15), Howson, Lowry, Hughes (Kandol 90), Snodgrass, Collins. Subs not used: Ankergren (GK), Dickov, Bromby, Gradel.
Referee: Lee Probert
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