A FOUR-GOAL salvo from Spurs frontman Darren Bent clinched victory as City met Carling Cup holders Tottenham Hotspur at Carrow Road.

For the Canary fans in the 25,000 sell-out crowd it was a first chance to see new signing Dejan Stefanovic play for Norwich - and the match also saw home debuts for Sammy Clingan, Wes Hoolahan and Elliot Omozusi.

After Juande Ramos' side had edged in front thanks to an own goal from Stefanovic, City pulled level courtesy of an opportunist strike from Jamie Cureton following Ledley King's error.

But on a night when Dimitar Berbatov watched the game from the sidelines amidst mounting transfer speculation, former Ipswich man Bent restored Tottenham's advantage before the break and then fired home three more in the second half.

EQUALISER: Cureton celebrates with
home debutant Wes Hoolahan

Earlier the first goal of the night arrived in the 10th minute, as a cross from Dos Santos deflected off Stefanovic and crept into the net through Marshall's legs. City quickly fought back, and just five minutes later Cureton equalised after receiving the ball from Otsemobor and captialising on King's mistake.  

The Canaries looked set go in level at the break but Bent scored his first of the night in the 44th minute, picking up O'Hara's pass to the right-hand corner of the box and drilling a low shot across Marshall into the far corner.

The 56th minute saw a cross from Spurs sub Assou-Ekotto come in low to Bent, who clinically finished past the City 'keeper. Within 14 minutes he had completed his hat-trick after good work from Dos Santos. Bent made if 5-1 in the 76th minute to complete the scoring.

Norwich City: Marshall, Otsemobor, Bertrand (Russell 38) , Clingan, Omozusi, Stefanovic (Shackell 60), Fotheringham (C), Cureton (Martin 68), Hoolahan (Chadwick 80), Pattison. Subs not used: Nelson (GK), Eagle, Smith, Daley.

Tottenham: Gomes, Gunter, Zokora, King (C) (Assou-Ekotto 45) , Jenas, Gilberto (Bale 60), Modric (Lennon 45), O'Hara, Dos Santos (Taarabt 80), Bent, Dawson (Huddlestone 23).