Marcelino Núñez was the hero again as Norwich City began 2025 with victory away to Luton Town in the Sky Bet Championship.
The Chilean midfielder scored the only goal of the game in the second half as the Canaries claimed all three points at Kenilworth Road on New Year's Day.
Jack Stacey, Onel Hernández and Emiliano Marcondes all returned to Johannes Hoff Thorup's line-up with three changes from Sunday's draw with Queens Park Rangers.
The game's first chance fell to the hosts. Luton countered quickly from a Norwich corner, with their attack eventually resulting in Angus Gunn saving from Elijah Adebayo's effort.
Norwich's first chance came via Borja Sainz. Marcondes found the Spaniard, who tried his luck from a tight angle but he was unable to find the target.
Marcondes was next to threaten for the Canaries, seeing his side-footed effort denied by Thomas Kaminski.
Adebayo almost caught Gunn out at his near post with a header, but the goalkeeper got across to push it behind for a corner.
Ante Crnac, who replaced Anis Ben Slimane who couldn't continue, had an effort deflected out for a corner as the half ended goalless.
Luton came the closest to opening the scoring just after the hour mark as Tahith Chong's effort cannoned off the crossbar, before Zack Nelson's follow-up effort was deflected wide by a Ben Chrisene.
Onel Hernández cut inside his marker before pulling his shot just wide of the post as Norwich looked to exert themselves in the second half.
A huge block from Shane Duffy then prevented Carlton Morris from opening the scoring, with the Irishman getting in front of a stabbed effort.
And almost out of nothing, Norwich were in front. Núñez picked up the ball with a lot of time and space and fired into the far corner, beating Kaminski.
There was almost a late equaliser for the Hatters as Cauley Woodrow's effort took a deflection and nicked the post, but Norwich would finish as winners.
Norwich welcome Frank Lampard and Coventry City to Carrow Road on Saturday, January 4, in their next Championship fixture (KO 3pm).
Luton Town: Kaminski; Walters (Moses 84), Holmes, McGuinness, Bell, Chong, Krauss (Woodrow 84), Nelson (Brown 84), Clark (Nakamba 12), Morris, Adebayo (Taylor 84).
Unused subs: Krul, Andersen, Mpanzu, Hashioka.
Bookings: Nelson (38)
Norwich City: Gunn; Stacey, Duffy, Doyle, Chrisene (Córdoba 80); McLean, Slimane (Crnac 37), Núñez (Schwatau 80); Sainz (Fisher 80), Marcondes, Hernández (Barnes 68).
Unused subs: Long, Hanley, Forson, Gordon.
Goals: Núñez (73)
HT: 0-0
FT: 0-1
Venue: Kenilworth Road
Referee: Jarred Gillet
Attendance: 11,828 (1,338 away)