NORWICH City clawed an amazing victory from the jaws of defeat this afternoon when a late volley from Damien Francis kept alive their Premiership survival hopes.

City had fallen behind twice in a match they were second best in for large periods before equalisers from Craig Fleming and then Gary Doherty set up a tense final 10 minutes at Carrow Road.

But in a rare break after the Canaries had found themselves camped in their own half, Francis popped-up on the edge of the box to hit an unstoppable volley past Hoult and Carrow Road into raptures.

It was a dramatic finale and one which sets up a grandstand finale to the season.

With relegation rivals Crystal Palace having been defeated by Bolton 1-0 shortly before City's crucial match, the scene was set for Carrow Road's victors to move to within two points of safety.

With the stakes so high, both managers opted for an attacking line-up.

Worthington switched to a 4-3-3 system to accommodate Leon McKenzie in a three-prong attack with Darren Huckerby and Dean Ashton.

In the midfield three, new signing Graham Stuart was given his first start of his Norwich career alongside Damien Francis and Gary Holt.

At the back, fit-again Simon Charlton was brought in to replace Adam Drury, who injured his hamstring during he 1-0 midweek defeat at Everton.

Baggies' boss Bryan Robson was able to name on-loan Manchester United man Kieran Richardson in his side, despite the youngster taking a knock in the closing stages of West Brom's 2-2 draw with Palace on Wednesday.

In attack, the experienced Kevin Campbell was partnered with former Cardiff live-wire Robert Earnshaw.

With the game being played out in front of yet another packed house at Carrow Road, the City faithful were in good voice as the players took to the pitch.

It was the visitors who kicked off the afternoon's proceedings attacking the Norwich and Peterborough Stand.

And in the third minute they registered the first effort on target through Earnshaw.

The Welsh international collected a square ball from Campbell some 25 yards from goal and wasted no time in hitting a low effort which Green collected easily.

All the same, it was a bright opening from West Brom, who had bossed the territorial possession for the opening five minutes.

But a minute later and Ashton came close to grabbing the second goal of his Carrow Road career.

Edworthy sent in a terrific ball from the City right after playing a neat one two with Stuart, and from the penalty spot Ashton glanced in a header which Hoult had to tip over the bar.

The resulting corner by Huckerby was won by Doherty on the far post, but his header under pressure drifted well over.

The end-to-end nature of the game was underlined on eight minutes when Gera went past Earnshaw on the overlap and sent in a driven cross-come-shot which Campbell was just a few feet away from on the far post.

And straight from Green's goal kick Huckerby found himself with the ball at his feet 20 yards out. He tested Hoult with a well struck effort which was straight at the Baggies' stopper.

And the Anglian Player of the Month was in the heart of things again on 12 minutes when he latched on to an interception in midfield by Ashton.

He sped down the left and returned the ball to City's record signing, who had done well to keep up with play.

But from just inside the box and under great pressure from Purse, Ashton could only toe-poke a tame effort out for a goal kick.

But despite the game being relatively even so far, City were given a major wake-up call on 22 minutes when West Brom struck a post.

Earnshaw played a delightful back-heeled one-two with Purse, who had burst into the area.

From a tight angle, his shot beat Green but grazed the far post and spun out for a goal-kick, much to the relief of City fans.

The match was proving a fraught and frantic affair, and Ashton again had a headed effort on 24 minutes from six yards out.

The chance owed much to Ashton himself, who collected the ball 40 yards from goal before feeding Huckerby on the left.

His cross was floated in well, but Ashton could not test Hoult.

Then, on 26 minutes, Baggies' defender Purse almost added to his nightmare week with an own goal.

It was Purse's mistake which allowed 10-man Palace to take the lead at The Hawthorns on Tuesday night.

And the former Birmingham City man almost helped City into the lead at Carrow Road when he deflected another Huckerby cross into his own side-netting with Hoult struggling to cover.

But then, in an almost unbelievable passage of play, West Brom were denied an opener twice in the space of 30 seconds by the woodwork.

First Fleming stood off and seemed to invite Earshaw to shoot when the ball arrived at his feet just inside the area.

And the diminutive striker wasted no time in curling in a delicious right-foot shot which rebounded off the underside of the crossbar with Green rooted to the spot.

City were still unable to clear their lines, with the ball then arriving at the feet of Greening at an angle little more than 12 yards out.

And the former Middlesbrough winger thrashed a fierce effort against Green's near post.

It was an amazing let off for Norwich, but perhaps a sign Lady Luck was smiling on them this afternoon.

But on 40 minutes West Brom did take the lead, and you would have to say it was no more than the visitors deserved,

It has to said that City were the architects of their own downfall, with Green's weak clearance from Doherty's backpass landing straight at the feet of Greening some 30 yards out.

He played in Earnshaw with a simple pass, and the £3m striker made not mistake, beating Green with a low shot which sent the travelling fans into raptures as it hit the back of the net.

There was no doubt City were struggling to contain the lively pairing of Campbell and Earnshaw, with half time beginning to look like it could not come soon enough for Worthy's men.

With two minutes injury time remaining in the first half, Purse found himself in the referee's notebook for scything down the Premiership's most fouled player - Darren Huckerby.

The free kick from just inside the West Brom half was played in by Charlton and caused mayhem in the six yard box, forcing Purse to concede a corner.

And from that kick City mustered an unlikely equaliser.

Stuart's corner was met by the head of Fleming eight yards out, and 'keeper Hoult made a real hash of his punch, merely connecting with thin air and allowing the ball to drift over the line.

The West Brom players looked hopefully at referee Foy, hoping for a free kick as Francis appeared to be impeding Hoult's jump.

But he was having none of it, and Carrow Road went crazy.

Almost on the half time whistle, Worthy made his first change of the afternoon, replacing the struggling Charlton with Jim Brennan.

Half time: Norwich City 1-1 West Bromwich Albion

The players returned to the pitch after the half time break with City undoubtedly having the psychological advantage.

After hitting the woodwork three times without scoring and then conceding an equaliser on the stroke of the half time whistle, Bryan Robson's troops must have been thinking this was not to be their day.

City on the other hand would be grateful to be coming out all square after looking all over the place in defence at times.

But in the first minute it was West Brom again on the front-foot, with Earnshaw just beating Doherty in a race from 40 yards out before shooting into the arms of Green while under pressure from the giant Republic of Ireland international.

But on 49 minutes the visitors were back in front through Richardson.

Earnshaw beat the offside trap and forced Green to go to ground at his feet.

This allowed Earnshaw to chip a square ball into the path of Richardson, who first hit the crossbar from point blank range before fortuitously putting in the rebound with his knee.

Just how much the goal meant to Albion's players was written all over their faces as they ran to the Barclay to celebrate.

Any thoughts Earnshaw might have been offside when he made his run were quickly dispelled by television replays.

It was almost as if half time never happened, with City struggling to contain the neat attacking play of Earnshaw and Campbell.

City were struggling to find a way back into the match, and it took until the 58th minute for them to register any sort of an effort on Hoult's goal - Ashton's curler from the right side of the box finding the 'keeper's hands.

On the hour mark West Brom won a free kick on the very edge of the City box through Richardson, although Stuart clearly thought the on-loan Man United youngster had dived.

Up stepped Earnshaw to curl the ball over the wall but into the arms of Green, who gathered at the second attempt.

But a minute later and City were level through a most unlikely source - Gary Doherty.

Huckerby tormented Neil Clement on the left before delivering a great ball to the far post where three City players were queued-up to put the ball in the net.

But it was Doherty who was first to it to give City a vital survival lifeline and turn the heat up at Carrow Road once more.

City were now in the ascendancy, but a slip from Fleming in his own box allowed Earnshaw to nip in, and it took a great stop from close range by Green to deny him his second of the match.

With the game now high on entertainment value, even if City fans were finding it hard to enjoy, Francis drew a great save from Hoult low down to his right on 62 minutes following a shot from 20 yards out.

With a draw little use to either team, both were now pushing hard for the next goal.

On 72 minutes Holt was forced to concede a free kick right on the left hand side of the City box after goalscorer Richardson threatened to go past him.

Richardson was now being booed with every touch by the City fans thanks to his "over enthusiastic" celebrations, but Greening's ball in was dealt with well by substitute McVeigh.

With the game entering the final 10 minutes, it was the visitors bossing things, with City virtually camped on the edge of their own area.

With both sides aware of the importance of the result, tempers were wearing thin, and Greening was booked in the 85th minute for kicking the ball away as McVeigh tried to take a throw-in.

And second later City took the lead for the first time in the match in spectacular style.

A loose ball on the edge of the penalty area was not dealt with by West Brom and a spell of head tennis ensued.

It ended with Fleming laying the ball off to Francis on the edge of the area and he blasted a first-time left foot volley which flew past a startled Hoult and into the back of the net.

The goal was Francis' seventh of the season, and unquestionably his most important to date.

With six minutes of normal time remaining, City fans were facing a nail-biting final spell as Norwich went in search of a crucial third win of the season against their bottom-of-the-table rivals.

With three minutes of injury time signalled, City won a free kick on the edge of the West Brom area after Francis was pulled down.

Huckerby took it, but his effort finished in the crowd.

City were now doing everything in their power to run the clock down, with Ashton doing his best to hold the ball up in the corners.

With second left Richardson tried his luck from just inside the City area but his effort flew well wide - much to the delight of the fans in the Barclay who he had taunted earlier.

And then referee Foy blew the final whistle to send West Brom home empty handed and keep alive Norwich's slim hoped of Premiership survival.

Full time: Norwich City 3-2 West Bromwich Albion

Norwich City: Green, Edworthy, Charlton (Brennan 45), Fleming, Doherty, Stuart (McVeigh 68), Francis, Holt, Huckerby, McKenzie, Ashton. Subs not used: Gallacher, Safri, Brennan, McVeigh, Jonson.

West Bromwich Albion: Hoult, Richardson, Robinson, Purse, Clement, Greening (Horsfield 89), Scimeca, Wallwork, Gera, Campbell, Earnshaw. Subs not used: Kuszaczak, Chaplow, Kanu, Gaardsoe.

Golden goal times: 40.54; 45.00; 48.29; 61.42; 84.39.