A HAT-TRICK from Everton midfielder Tim Cahill proved to be the difference between the two sides as City lost an entertaining friendly 4-2 against the Premier League Merseysiders at Carrow Road.
Two of Cahill's strikes were down to defensive lapses - and if a bright and purposeful City had converted more of the encouraging number of chances they created the scoreline might have had a different look about it.
As it was, after Australian World Cup star Cahill had capitalised on Canary errors to put David Moyes' side 2-0 up at the break, Norwich battled back well to equalise with goals after the break from Andrew Crofts and Andrew Surman.
But a goal from substitute and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and a brilliantly improvised effort from Cahill made it 4-2. Wes Hoolahan had a great chance to reduce the deficit and Grant Holt enjoyed a lively cameo at the end as he made a welcome return from injury.
Afterwards City boss Paul Lambert declared himself well-satisfied with another very useful performance and work-out against top-quality opposition following last Saturday's 2-1 win over Newcastle.
"I thought it was another good game against another good team," he told First News. "The first two goals were grave errors on our behalf but I thought otherwise we played well and worked hard to get back into the game.
Asked how he felt about the two mistakes that led to Everton going 2-0 up he said: "A bit better than I would if it happened next Friday night, that's for sure. Sometimes you can't legislate for mistakes that happen but all credit to them, they came back strongly and the football we played was excellent. We've created an encouraging amount of chances against, in my view, a top Premier League side.
"Yes of course it's always disappointing to concede but it's irrelevant really today. It's all about what happens on Friday night against Watford and we'll be ready for it."
On Grant Holt's welcome return to action towards the end of the game, Lambert said: "Yes it's important. He's not had a lot of playing time under his belt so whether he's match-fit remains to be seen but it's positive to have him back certainly."
Everton brought a strong squad to Carrow Road with three players who played in this summer's World Cup in the starting line-up in the shape of Tim Howard (USA), Tim Cahill (Australia) and Steven Pienaar (South Africa). The talented Mikel Arteta and former Leeds strike Jermaine Beckford were also on show as Toffees boss David Moyes' preparations for the forthcoming Premier League campaign continued.
For City it was the same eleven that started in last Saturday's 2-1 win over Newcastle United, though with the very welcome addition of last season's leading scorer Grant Holt on to the subsitutes bench as his comeback from injury progresses.
In the second minute Ruddy made a good save to keep out a deflection off former Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford and at the other end, as City started positively, midfielder Andrew Crofts blasted a fierce drive wide from 20 yards.
But in the seventh minute came Ruddy's moment of misfortune as he allowed a reasonably straightforward shot from Tim Cahill to somehow squirm under his body and through his legs for a soft goal.
Mikel Arteta tried his luck with a dipping free-kick which flew just over on the quarter-hour mark while at the other end Wes Hoolahan's effort from inside the box was deflected narrowly wide after good work from Crofts.
From the resulting corner Chris Martin's flying header was just off-target and just a few minutes later he went close again as his 25-yard free-kick flashed just wide of the far post.
In the 27th minute a good City attack had the Everton defence stretching and struggling to clear their lines, the ball eventually falling to Crofts who poked a first-time effort wide of the far post from 14 yards.
Despite some good play from City for the majority of the half, the visitors extended their lead in the 38th minute thanks to another defensive lapse. This time both centre-halves were at fault, first Elliott Ward making a mess of an attempted pass-back on the touchline allowing Beckford to break and then Michael Nelson's poor attempt to chest Beckford's cross back to Ruddy allowing Tim Cahill in to score his second of the match.
Although Ruddy got fingertips to his first effort, the ball lobbed up kindly for the Everton midfielder to head home inside the post.
An unchanged City made the best possible start after the break, pulling a goal back with barely a minute played as Drury's cross from the left was met by a thumping downward header from Crofts that gave Howard no chance.
They continued to press and grabbed a fine equaliser just before the hour-mark courtesy of Andrew Surman. A quick throw-in from Drury sent the City midfielder surging into the box and he slotted home a lovely angled drive low into the far corner to make it 2-2.
But the joy of the majority of the Carrow Road crowd of 13,437 was short-lived as a moment of skill from Pienaar at the other end saw his lovely backheel tee up substitute Bilyaletdinov to fire his side back in front within a minute.
And ten minutes later they extended their lead as Tim Cahill completed an impressive hat-trick. The City defence couldn't clear Phil Neville's cross from the left and Cahill cleverly lobbed the ball over Ruddy before smashing home from close range.
City fans were on their feet soon after however, giving a rousing reception to Grant Holt as he came on with Jens Berthel Askou for Jackson and Ward respectively.
And Holt was soon involved, first showing typical battling qualities to rob Yobo and set up Hoolahan for a one-on-one, but the American was equal to the Irishman's attempt to dribble round him and eventually smothered the ball.
Then Hoolahan returned the favour, setting up Holt for a crisp angled drive which forced Howard into a save low down.
Substitute Oli Johnson then showed some nice tricks to work his way to the byeline before floating a cross to the far post where Holt was arriving unmarked - but the big striker volleyed wide at full stretch.
Young Everton star Jack Rodwell tested Ruddy with a crisp drive at the other end in the 86th minute, but the Norwich 'keeper parried well.
CITY: Ruddy, R. Martin, Drury (Lappin 66), Nelson (c), Crofts, Jackson (Holt 72), Surman (McNamee 81), Hoolahan, Fox (Gill 66), C. Martin (Johnson 81), Ward (Askou 72). Subs not used: Steer, Hughes, Francomb, Dawkin, Tudur Jones.
EVERTON: Howard, Hibbert, Baines (Saha 62), Arteta, Distin, Beckford (Vaughan 73), Cahill, Neville (c), Gueye (Bilyaletdinov 46), Pienaar (Rodwell 73), Coleman (Yobo 46). Subs not used: Turner, Silva, Wallace, Mustafi.
Attendance: 13,437.
