Norwich City striker Adam Idah netted his first Premier League goal as the Canaries picked up a crucial victory at home to Everton.
The young Republic of Ireland striker put Norwich City 2-0 in front with a cool finish after good work from Josh Sargent had created the first by forcing Michael Keane to put the ball into the back of his own net.
Everton rallied with a second half strike from substitute Richarlison but the Canaries defended resolutely and, despite seven minutes of stoppage time, saw the game out.
Head coach Dean Smith made two changes to the starting line-up with Jacob Sørensen coming into the centre of midfield to replace Kenny McLean who was ruled out through illness and Sargent replacing Przemysław Płacheta who dropped to the bench.
The Canaries began the first half brightly controlling the possession and getting into some good areas, but it was the visitors who were presented with the first chance to take the lead when, on the counter-attack, Demarai Gray was brought down 25 yards from goal. However, the former Bayer Leverkusen forward put the free kick straight into the wall.
Then on 12 minutes, Sargent set up Max Aarons with a crossing chance and, while his ball into the area was blocked, Pierre Lees-Melou followed up with a crisply-struck half-volley to warm the gloves of Jordan Pickford.
That proved to be a precursor to what was to come as again Sargent found some good space on the right after 15 minutes and fizzed a low cross into the six yard box that Keane diverted past his own keeper to give Norwich the lead.
Then two minutes later it was 2-0 as, on the counter, Brandon Williams raced down the right and found an inch-perfect pass into Idah who prodded the ball past Pickford and into the back of the net.
Everton struggled to muster a meaningful response for around 10 minutes but as the half drew to a close they were gaining more pressure and corners, without troubling Tim Krul.
Venezuelan Solomón Rondón hit a weak volley that Krul gathered with ease and then he attemped to flick a header into the path of Dominic Cavert-Lewin which, again, the City keeper dealt with.
The half ended with Abdoulaye Doucouré hitting a shot from 25 yards that was well blocked on the edge of the area.
The second half began with Norwich going close to extended the lead when the ball dropped to Lees-Melou from a corner but his well-struck volley had the power to trouble Pickford but the effort was straight at the England shot stopper.
Then Idah had a glorious chance to get his second when Vitalli Mykolenko gifted him the ball in the area. However, the young Norwich striker took the ball around Pickford before Everton got back in numbers to boot the ball clear.
Then Everton pulled a goal back though on 59 minutes as a ball in the box was half cleared and substitute Richarlison produced an overhead kick to find the far corner of the net.
Norwich went back on the attack with Milot Rashica bringing the ball forward well and Lees-Melou sending another volley towards goal. However, on the 70 minute mark Everton hung a free-kick up to the ball post well that Yerry Mina headed downwards and Hanley diverted towards goal forcing a smart save from Krul, who was put under pressure from Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
However, such was the effort the defence were putting in Williams had to be replaced after 75 minutes with cramp and, then following a hefty challenge, Aarons left the field to be replaced by Dimitris Giannoulis.
Giannoulis' first action was to block a goalbound shot from Anthony Gordon. Then moments later when the young effort forward burst into the box Lees-Melou showed his alertness to track back, tackle and clear the danger.
Then, despite seven minutes of stoppage time, Norwich saw out the remaining minutes without any trouble. In fact Idah almost added to his tally when substitute Christos Tzolis presented him with a chance but his effort was blocked. Then Milot Rashica came close to his first goal for the club but saw his effort, with the final kick of the game, hit the post.
Norwich City: Krul; Aarons (Giannoulis, 79), Gibson, Hanley, Williams (Bryam, 75); Sargent (Tzolis, 86), Sørensen, Lees-Melou, Rashica; Pukki, Idah
Subs not used: Gunn, Dowell, Płacheta, Cantwell, Kabak, Rowe
Bookings: Sargent (50), Aarons (65), Pukki (69)
Goals: Keane OG (15), Idah (17).
Everton: Pickford; Coleman (Mina, 53), Keane, Godfrey, Mykolenko; Doucouré, Gomes; Gordon, Rondón (Richarlison, 53), Calvert-Lewin
Subs not used: Begovic, Kenny, Patterson, Holgate, Townsend, Gbamin, El Ghazi
Goals: Richarlson (59)
HT: 2-0
Venue: Carrow Road
Attendance: 26,629
Today’s official Golden Goal times were:
1st Goal: 15:33
2nd Goal: 17:06
3rd Goal: 59:25
Tonight’s lucky number was 2420 – the winner will receive a meal for two in Delia’s Restaurant and Bar