ANOTHER superb away display by the Canaries saw them take maximum points with a fine 3-2 win away to Leicester City.
Wes Hoolahan bounced back from his penalty disappointment against Preston at the weekend with a brilliant performance and the game's opening goal, headed home in the 21st minute from Andrew Surman's corner.
Norwich put the match beyond the Foxes with a devastating spell after the break, with skipper Grant Holt ramming home a penalty for his 17th of the season after Hoolahan was tripped by Ben Mee just two minutes after the restart.
The goal sparked a special 'rocking the baby' celebration from Holt and his delighted team-mates - by way of congratulating Canary defender Leon Barnett, who is the proud father of a new son.
There were more celebrations in the 58th minute when Aaron Wilbraham bagged his first goal since joining from MK Dons in January. The striker collected a long ball into the box before cutting inside his marker and beating Foxes 'keeper Ricardo at his near post.
Although Leicester grabbed a consolation with a free-kick from Paul Gallagher in injury time, Norwich were worthy winners of a match in which they played some excellent football from start to finish.
Afterwards City boss Paul Lambert told Canaries Player: "That's as good as I've seen us play since we joined here 19 months ago. I thought the lads were brilliant throughout and thoroughly deserved to win.
"I'm delighted for each and every one of them. I'm really pleased for Wes who got a few critical comments for his penalty on Saturday but I thought he was unplayable out there tonight, I didn't think Leicester could get near him. And he got a goal as well which is really pleasing, because he's been brilliant for us over the season and he thoroughly deserves it.
"We've got ten games to go and we've got a real chance, but so have QPR, Swansea, Cardiff, Forest, Burnley, Leicester and anyone else who has got a mathematical chance. We've got a tremendous fanbase who follow us everywhere and it's an exciting position to be in - as I said on Saturday we are in the mix."
Before the game Lambert made one change to his starting line-up, striker Aaron Wilbraham coming in for Henri Lansbury as the City boss reverted to the familiar 4-4-2 diamond formation.
There was good news in defence where Zak Whitbread started, having come through his late fitness assessment.
After an even start Surman's 13th-minute snapshot was deflected behind for a corner by Ben Mee as Norwich looked to gain the upper hand.
And they duly took the lead in the 21st minute when Wes Hoolahan, one of the smallest players on the pitch, headed home Andrew Surman's corner from the left to make instant amends for his penalty miss against Preston.
But it only took Leicester three minutes to level the match, Richie Wellens heading home with a good connection from Berner's whipped-in cross.
Half-time: Leicester City 1, Norwich City 1
City got off to the best possible start after the break when referee Chris Foy awarded them a penalty within two minutes of the restart.
It came when a neat Norwich move ended with Leicester's Ben Mee adjudged to have tripped Hoolahan as the Irishman shaped to cut into the six-yard box. Up stepped skipper Holt to bury the spot kick and put Norwich in front.
In the 54th minute Surman had a good chance to extend the visitors' lead when he got his head to Holt's excellent cross from the right but glanced it wide of the upright from 10 yards out.
Two minutes later Vassell tried his luck with a shot from the left but could only find the side-netting after Elliott Ward worked hard to force him wide and narrow the angle.
Then in the 58th minute the Canaries stretched their lead through the hard-working Wilbraham, who cut inside his marker on the right-hand side of the box before firing home his first goal in Norwich colours inside Ricardo's near post.
In the 77th minute Wilbraham earned a chant from the noisy away end, as 2,235 members of the Yellow Army showed appreciation for a stinging 22-yard drive which forced Ricardo to palm the ball away at full stretch.
With only four minutes of normal time remaining Wes Hoolahan left the pitch to huge ovation from the visiting supporters after an excellent contribution to the cause. He was replaced by Korey Smith as Norwich looked to close the game out.
A couple of minutes later they were close to making it 4-1 as Holt sprinted clear and was a whisker away from setting up Wilbraham for a tap-in, only for Ricardo to make a desperate and timely intervention to cut out his pass.
With virtually the last kick of the match Leicester substitute Paul Gallagher curled home a 25-yard free-kick - a great goal but only a consolation for the hosts as the referee blew for full-time straight from the restart.
Final score: Leicester City 2, Norwich City 3
90+3: GOAL: Leicester with free-kick about 20 yards out. Gallagher with good free-kick pulls one back for the Foxes but as they restart referee Chris Foy blows his whistle to end the game.
90+2: Holt wins free-kick far right. City pass it around keeping possession. The Canary faithful are bouncing in the corner of the stadium with 'On the Ball City' ringing loud and proud.
90+1: Yakubu with shot which is well wide of Ruddy's goal.
90th: Three minutes of stoppage time announced.
88th: Holt escapes down the left and is in two minds whether to shoot or to lay across for Wilbraham - he looks to pass but it's too close to Ricardo and the keeper gathers.
86th: City substitution - Korey Smith replaces Wes Hoolahan.
85th: A Gallagher shot deflects out for a corner but City defend well from the corner.
83rd: Holt wins free-kick midway in Leicester half.
82nd: Yakubu puts in a ball from the left but Whitbread heads clear - City are working hard.
77th: Wilbraham tests Ricardo with a low drive.
76th: Holt lays ball off to Crofts in far corner who puts in deep cross into the box and Surman almost gets on the end of it.
75th: Home substitution - Goalscorer Richie Wellens replaced by Lloyd Dyer.
73rd: Crofts finds Holt in space but Ricardo races off his lines and controls well to launch up field.
66th: Second substitution of the game for the Foxes - Paul Gallagher comes on for Matt Oakley.
64th: First yellow card of the game for Matt Oakley after a late challenge on Hoolahan.
60th: Another great move involving Surman and Holt, but Leicester just manage to edge the Canaries away from their penalty area.
58th: GOAL: Aaron Wilbraham with his first City goal! He controls in the penalty area, cuts inside and puts it past Ricardo at his near post.
57th: Holt and Hoolahan link up but the Irishman's delivery is too strong and goes out for goal kick. Leicester make substitution Waghorn replacing Vassell.
56th: Vassell tries a shot far left but it's straight into the side netting after Ward forces him into a tight angle.
54th: Holt turns provider with a lovely ball into the box and Surman just heads wide - great move.
53rd: Today's attendance is 23, 398 with 2,235 Canary fans! City are knocking it around lovely to the annoyance of the home fans.
48th: GOAL: Holt steps up and hits home! The whole team go and celebrate with the City fans in the corner.
47th: PENALTY: Hoolahan wins a penalty after Ben Mee catches him in the box as he looks to jink through.
46th: City start well with some good movement but Leicester hold firm.
City kick off the second half.
Half-time: Leicester 1, Norwich 1
45th: Surman tests Ricardo with a good effort after he finds space on the left. Two minutes additional time announced.
44th: Surman goes close with an effort from just outside the area.
43rd: City finally manage to clear their lines under pressure from Leicester, the ball bobbles around for a bit but City clear and Holt wins a free-kick after being fouled by Bamba.
45th: Surman tests Ricardo with a good effort after he finds space on the left. Two minutes additional time announced.
44th: Surman goes close with an effort from just outside the area.
43rd: City finally manage to clear their lines under pressure from Leicester, the ball bobbles around for a bit but City clear and Holt wins a free-kick after being fouled by Bamba.
37th: Wilbraham runs on to a lose ball on the left and puts a ball into the box but Ricardo sees the danger and collects.
35th: Two good chances for Andy King - he shoots just wide and then has an opportunity with a header but it's high and over Norwich's bar.
34th: Tierney cross from left proves dangerous and Surman looks to head home but can't quite connect and Wilbraham can't get on the end of it and ball runs out.
33rd: Yakubu twists and turns in the box but can't get enough power behind his shot and Ruddy makes a comfortable claim.
30th: Play stops as Hoolahan receives treatment for an injury.
29th: Hoolahan puts in a dangerous ball from the right which Ricardo finds difficult to punch under pressure from Holt and the ball rebounds out for a corner - but the Foxes' 'keeper does claim the resulting City delivery.
27th: Berner wins a corner off Andrew Crofts but Russ Martin clears Matt Oakley's corner easily.
25th: Canaries go close again, Andrew Crofts just heading over the Foxes' bar from Surman's delivery.
24th: GOAL: But Leicester reply through Wellens who escapes his marker and heads in Berner's cross from the left.
21st: GOAL: Surman delivers corner from the right and Hoolahan heads it in!
20th: Russell Martin wins City a corner.
19th: Vassell with a low shot but it's easily collected by Ruddy.
13th: Holt wins another free-kick after he's caught by Bamba. Surman with free-kick but it's cleared out. But it's worked again into a good position by City and Surman has a shot which is blocked and deflected out for a corner by Ben Mee.
8th: Yakubu heads wide from a Wellens corner kick.
7th: Fox with a good strike puts it just on the roof of the net.
6th: Free-kick to City after a foul on Holt - Fox lines up from about 22 yards out.
5th: Vassell wins Leicester their first corner. Wellens takes and it's worked out wide right and they win another corner. Bamba puts well wide from the delivery.
4th: Hoolahan puts a ball in from the left, which Wilbraham controls and lays off to Fox but a challenge comes in and Leicester clear.
3rd: Play is underway again.
1st: There's a stoppage already - Richie Wellens recieving treatment.
Leicester kick off the game - we're away!
The teams now come out of the tunnel to warm applause.
Welcome to a chilly Walkers Stadium this evening, which is gradually filling up - over 2,000 Canary fans are making the trip tonight and there are some inflatable balls being knocked about in the corner where the City fans are situated.
You can follow us on Twitter @norwichcityfc or find us by going to www.twitter.com/norwichcityfc. Here are a selection of pre-match predictions for tonight's game from a few of the nearly 5,000-strong Yellow Army contingent following us on Twitter:
@mcgregormt it's been brewing, city are going to take their frustrations out tonight: 4-1 to #ncfc...
@GDem001 heart says 2-3 win, mind says 2-1 defeat... COYY
@iblatch .......2-2 - but don't let Hools take any pens!!!
@jshannon1 I'm going 2-0 Barca and 2-1 City with a late winner again (fingers crossed) #ncfc @NorwichCityFC OTBC
@DannyLock1983 I'm guna predict 1-1 and hope for a 2-1 in :) #OTBC ncfc
@DannyLock1983 Good Luck #cobblers and #gunners! Come on @NorwichCityFC please make my night with a win tonight on glorious pancake day #NCFC #OTBC
@hungry_mark A very tight game. 1-1 with both goals in the first half. #ncfc #otbc
@nickwarren1902 2-2 tonight, Surman & Wilbrahimovic with the goals #NCFC #otbc
@wiseo40 2-1 city. Wesley last minute winner
@norwichcity1 same as Saturday i reckon not a bad performance all round just need more communication
@RobertPalmer10 would love to see an away victory! But I'll go for 1-1.
Teams
Paul Lambert makes one change to the starting line-up from Saturday's 1-1 draw with Preston North End - striker Aaron Wilbraham replacing Henri Lansbury who drops to the bench.
Zak Whitbread would seem to have overcome his knock picked up at the weekend and starts in defence with Elliott Ward.
Anthony McNamee makes a return to the bench replacing Matt Gill.
Leicester City: Ricardo, Oakley (c) (Gallagher 66), King, Berner, Naughton, Wellens (Dyer 77), Abe, Yakubu, Bamba, Mee, Vassell (Waghorn 58). Subs not used: Weale, Vitor, Teixeira, Schlupp.
Norwich City: Ruddy, R. Martin, Whitbread, Crofts, Holt (c), Surman, Hoolahan (Smith 86), Fox, Wilbraham, Ward, Tierney. Subs not used: Rudd, Drury, Edwards, Jackson, Lansbury, McNamee.
