TEN-MAN City dug deep into their reserves of courage and tenacity as Chris Martin celebrated his new contract with a priceless strike to send the Canaries to the top of the League One table.
With Leeds busy on FA Cup duty at Spurs, Paul Lambert's men grabbed their chance to overtake them in a fiery and pulsating match at Carrow Road - despite the hammer blow of losing skipper and top scorer Grant Holt to a straight red card in the 41st minute for a foul on Toumani Diagouraga.
The sending off merely ignited the Canaries' passionate supporters into life and they played their full part in a steely and determined Norwich win to savour.
Before the game the Yellow Army roared their approval as news of Martin's new three-and-a-half-year deal was confirmed on the public address system - and they were roaring it again when 13 minutes from time he fired home from close range to grab the points for City.
The goal came after more artistry from substitute Oli Johnson, whose sublimely weighted pass to set Martin up was worth the admission price alone.
GREAT DAY'S WORK: Chris Martin signs a new contract
and puts City top of the table
On-loan Arsenal 'keeper Wojciech Szczesny made a string of blinding saves to keep the lively Bees in the game, including two superb reaction stops from Adam Drury, one in each half.
At the other end Brentford's Sam Wood blasted a stunning shot against the post and man-of-the-match Fraser Forster was at his very best to deny former Canary Carl Cort from the rebound, on an afternoon when the on-loan Newcastle United 'keeper was in commanding form again.
The crowd celebrated a superb win in style at the end - and Lambert's 2009-10 side had equalled the club record of ten consecutive home league wins in a season set by Ken Brown's 1985-86 team.
MARCHING ORDERS: Skipper Grant Holt is sent off
by referee Scott Rushton at Carrow Road
After the match Lambert praised the determination of his players: "I thought they were brilliant. To go down to ten men and with everything that was going against us, I thought they were exceptional."
Lambert expressed his dismay at the sending off of Holt, claiming the referee had given a free-kick to Norwich and should have called play to a halt instantly instead of allowing a dubious advantage to City: "If he had blown up straight away, then there wouldn't have been any incident involving Grant because play would have stopped for a free-kick. I think he's tried to give us the advantage, but there was no advantage there.
"Now we lose Grant for three games which is massive. It's a huge blow for us and for Grant, he's been in terrific form."
Asked about his bold decision to introduce Zak Whitbread for his home debut at the break and play three at the back, he said: "I think you've got to go for it, to leave another striker up top. Yeah that might leave you struggling at the back but I thought Zak and Michael (Nelson) and Gary (Doherty) were terrific, I really did."
Asked about match-winner Chris Martin and his new contract, Lambert replied: "He's a goalscorer and they are not to easy to find. He's a local lad, only 21 and a super finisher with either foot or his head. I'm delighted for us and for Chris that he's signed up."
