Goals from Brazilian pair, Gabriel Sara and Marquinhos were enough to see out a vital victory for David Wagner’s men against Cardiff City.
On his debut, Arsenal loanee Marquinhos bagged a goal and assist in front of an impressed home crowd.
The away side got off to the livelier start of the two teams, applying pressure in the final third and stretching the City defence to get some early shots on goal via Jaden Philogene and Romaine Sawyers.
A corner on eight minutes momentarily worried the Barclay as the ball fell to Callum O’Dowda at the back post, but the home side were able to get bodies in the way to deny a dangerous opportunity.
Philogene continued to cause problems with his direct, defence-splitting runs but Ben Gibson and Grant Hanley were able to keep him at bay.
On 22 minutes, Marquinhos tested his range for the first time but dragged his effort wide of the mark. Five minutes later and the loanee had another pop, but this time it deflected right into the palms of Allsop.
Just past the half-hour mark Sara had a lovely curling effort blocked as it headed goal bound. Mere seconds later the ball was at his feet again courtesy of Brazilian counterpart, Marquinhos. This time, Sara made no mistake, fizzing the ball into the bottom right corner for the opener on 33 minutes.
Four minutes later and the lead was doubled. Onel Hernández danced into the box, and with some signature tricky footwork, cut the ball back to Marquinhos who lashed his first-time finish home to add a debut goal to his earlier assist.
As half-time approached, Núñez teased the home crowd with a series of long-shot hesitations but saw a late effort soar over to put an end to the first period.
Idah had an opportunity to score a third for Norwich. The forward was sent through one-on-one, rounded the keeper and stayed on his feet despite being clipped, only to send his effort wide of the target.
On 54 minutes, Sara found Hernández over the top with the most delightful of passes, but the winger could only watch in agony as his volley brushed the post on its way wide.
Cardiff then rued a chance of their own on 65 minutes as Ryan Wintle snatched at an effort on the edge of the box, dragging it wide of the post.
This became a running theme of the second half.
Newly introduced substitute, Dimitris Giannoulis burst away down the left-hand side and had fellow substitutes Teemu Pukki and Christos Tzolis running with him. The full-back squared to Pukki who struck the ball from just behind him. A slipping Tzolis could only put the follow-up wide, as it appeared slightly out of reach.
With just under 10 to play, Cardiff won a free-kick in a dangerous area. The subsequent effort from Perry Ng forced Angus Gunn into a fine save to tip the ball over.
As the game neared completion, Norwich continued to apply pressure and look for a third. Gibbs found Pukki through the middle, but the Finn could only find the roof of the net with an audacious chip.
Arguably Cardiff’s best chance of the game fell as the clock struck 90. Philogene let fly from the edge of the box, beating Gunn, but turned away in anguish as his effort rattled the left post, the last major action of the game.
Norwich City: Gunn, Aarons (Giannoulis 73), Hanley (C), Gibson, Sørensen (Omabamidele 84), Sara, McLean, Hernández (Tzolis 73), Núñez, Marquinhos (Pukki 60), Idah (Gibbs 84).
Unused subs: Krul, Kamara.
Goals: Sara (33) Marquinhos (37)
Bookings: Núñez (90)
Cardiff City: Allsop, Romeo (Rinomhota h-t), McGuinness, Wintle, Ralls (C) (Etete h-t), O’Dowda, Sawyers, Kipre, Philogene, Wickham (Kaba h-t), Ng.
Unused subs: Alnwick, Ojo, Whyte, Simpson.
Bookings: Kipre (83)
HT: 2-0
FT: 2-0
Venue: Carrow Road
Referee: James Linington
Attendance: 25,417