STRIKER Chris Martin claimed both goals as Paul Lambert's Canaries secured an encouraging 2-1 friendly win over Premier League new boys Newcastle United at Carrow Road.

Some magic from Wes Hoolahan teed Martin up for his first from close range before the break but United equalised a minute into the second half when substitute Shola Ameobi fired home.

The Canaries played some neat passing football throughout in front of a crowd of 13,195 however and grabbed a deserved winner in the 76th minute, Martin getting his head to a great cross from Anthony McNamee.

Afterwards Lambert told First News the game-time for the players involved was, as ever, more important than the result at this stage of the pre-season build-up.

"As I said after Dagenham and Stevenage, these matches are about getting fitness and more time on the pitch for the lads."

"It's great for their confidence and the way we played today was excellent at times, some of the football was terrific. It was good for the crowd whose support today was great as always.

"They're a very good side and Chris (Hughton) has got them going really well and I wish them luck in the Premier League. We have got to try and do well in the Championship."

Asked how he felt the six new signings who figured today had fitted in with their new team-mates he said: "I'm delighted with them, just as I'm delighted with the lads who were here last year. They've gelled together."

City matched the Geordies in the early exchanges and forced the first real opening of the game in the 13th minute, when Wes Hoolahan's crafty chip over the Newcastle backline was brought down superbly by Chris Martin. The City striker hit a first-time low shot from 15 yards which was destined for the far corner but Tim Krul dived low to his right to make a fine save and tip the ball wide.

The Canaries were stroking the ball around confidently and Simeon Jackson threatened to show a clean pair of heels to Coloccini on the half-hour only for the Argentinian to bring him crashing to the turf amidst a chorus of boos. The resulting free-kick from David Fox cannoned against the Newcastle wall and behind for a corner.

Play switched to the other end and in a rare Newcastle attack a free-kick from Joey Barton hurried John Ruddy into making a diving parry and the danger was eventually cleared.

But in the 39th minute it was Norwich who made the breakthrough thanks to a moment of pure quality from Hoolahan. The tricky Irishman pounced on a sloppy backpass from Ryan Taylor and then showed superb footwork to bamboozle Coloccini and Tavernier before squaring for Chris Martin to tap into the empty net from close range.

Stung into action the visitors thought they had grabbed an immediate reply at the other end, but Nile Ranger's effort was ruled out for offside.

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton made a host of changes at the break and two of the new arrivals made an immediate impact as Newcastle equalised barely a minute into the second half. It came when Xisco fed the ball into the feet of Shola Ameobi and he turned smartly before firing home between the legs of Ruddy.

The Canaries hit back, with first Hoolahan curling a left-foot shot from the edge of the area which Krul claimed and then Chris Martin doing superbly well to cut the ball across the face of goal. - and just inches away from the sliding boot of Andrew Surman.

In the 56th minute City again mounted a spell of pressure in the Newcastle box which ended with Simeon Jackson firing home Chris Martin's drilled cross, only for the effort to be flagged for offside.

Ameobi was providing an extra edge to Newcastle's attacking efforts and he came close in the 61st minute when he lobbed the ball over Ruddy from a tight angle but the ball drifted across the face of goal and was cleared.

Lambert made two changes in the 63rd minute, Oli Johnson replacing Jackson and George Francomb coming on for Elliott Ward.

City could and perhaps should have taken the lead a minute later but were denied by a brilliant double save from Krul to keep out first Chris Martin and then Surman.

At the other end Ruddy kept his cool to block Ameobi's drive with his leg as the Newcastle striker made space for himself in the box in the 69th minute.

The Canaries made another change as Hoolahan left the field to a warm ovation to be replaced by Anthony McNamee.

In the 76th minute City powered back into the lead as McNamee wasted no time in making an impression. It was his curling cross from the left which caught the United defence napping and as Chris Martin went in for the header the ball ended up in the bottom far corner of the net - with a visiting defender possibly getting the last touch.

As an entertaining game entered the last ten minutes Routledge's pinpoint ball into the box was met by the diving Ameobi but his header flashed just over the bar.

In the closing stages Matt Gill stung Krul's hands with a powerful shot while at the other end Lovenkrands was inches away from equalising when he headed a cross from Ferguson against the bar.

Tickets for City's next pre-season match at Carrow Road against Premier League Everton on Saturday, July 31 (3pm) are on sale now from the Carrow Road ticket office, online or by calling 0844 826 1902.