TWO blistering second half free kicks from Plymouth man Akos Buzsaky helped condemn the Canaries to a desperate 3-1 defeat at home.
City had looked to be coasting in the match after Youssef Safri's own dead-ball thunderbolt on the stroke of half-time had given Norwich a deserved lead.
But after Norwich bossed the opening stages of the second half and wasted at least three good chances to extend to their lead, they found themselves level against the run of play.
First veteran Barry Hayles nodded in at the far post after City failed to deal effectively with a corner, and minutes later they were behind when Buzsaky's dipping strike beat Gallacher.
City pushed forward in a bid to find a leveller, but after Buzsaky struck again from a similar spot it was game over for the Canaries.
sCity were handed a blow before kick-off when it emerged Robert Earnshaw was unfit to take part.
It emerged the 17-goal Welsh international had suffered a groin injury in training and was set to see a specialist to discover the full extent of the damage.
In his place came Paul McVeigh for only his sixth start of the season to play alongside Dion Dublin.
New signing Chris Brown had to make do with a place on the bench, and he was joined by teenager Chris Martin.
Martin, who has 10 goals in reserve and youth team action this season, was making only his second appearance on a first team bench after being included in the squad which beat Rotherham in the Carling Cup back in September.
Before kick off there was a period of silence to remember former Club secretary Bert Westwood, who passed away on Boxing Day.
It was the visitors who kicked off proceedings and were quickly on the attack, winning a corner inside the first minute.
Fortunately Sawyer's near post kick was easily defended by Etuhu.
A minute later and it was City on the attack, with a great reverse ball by Dublin putting Huckerby clear just inside the box. Sadly, his low ball was neither a cross or a shot, allowing McCormick to easily collect at his near post.
Dublin was proving a real handful for the Plymouth defence, and on eight minutes he almost helped unlock them.
His flick from Gallacher's long clearance found Huckerby. His low cross was meant for McVeigh on the six-yard line, but Marcel Seip had read the danger to put the ball out for a corner.
On 12 minutes City had another sight of goal. Safri swung in a deep free kick from the right, and Doherty rose well on the far post to meet it.
But instead of opting to knock the ball back into the danger area, he sent a tame effort straight into the arms of McCormick.
Plymouth had rarely troubled City inside the first 15 minutes, with long-range efforts from David Norris and Kevin Gallen all they had to show up until this point.
On 21 minutes visiting 'keeper McCormack was left needing treatment after coming off worse in a 50-50 challenge with Dublin.
Plymouth defender Aljofree had given up the chase as the ball seemed to be running through to his 'keeper, but Dublin carried on chasing, rising with McCormack and heading the ball off his hands.
There was no foul, although Plymouth somehow managed to scramble the ball clear. McCormack was certainly feeling it though, apparently in great pain as he landed and needing lengthy treatment by the physio.
Dublin was again proving the main attacking threat for City, and on 25 minutes he flashed a header from another Safri free kick just over the bar.
The pressure was certainly mounting for Norwich, who were dominating possession, but they needed to make it count.
On 30 minutes Safri became the first name to enter referee Michael Jones' notebook, with the official deeming the Moroccan's arms were too high as he challenged with Nalis on the edge of the Plymouth area.
Norwich continued to press, and were posing a threat in the air, with Etuhu sending a header just wide from the near post after meeting Colin's dipping cross from the right.
But on 35 minutes the big midfielder was presented with a golden opportunity and City should have taken the lead.
Nice play from Drury put McVeigh away inside the area, and he produced a great square ball across the six yard box to the unmarked Etuhu.
The Nigerian appeared to have a simple tap-in, but as he prodded the ball goal-wards, Dan Gosling got back with a fantastic last-ditch tackle to block the ball and allow them to clear.
But as the half entered injury time, City did take the lead, although it needed a little help from 'keeper McCormack.
Norwich won a free kick 25 yards from goal just left of central. Safri stepped up and struck a fierce shot over the wall, but the 'keeper seemed to have it well covered.
However the swerve seemed to deceive him, with the ball going through his hands and into the back of the net for Norwich's first direct free-kick goal since Phil Mulryne almost three seasons ago.
Safri ran straight to the City bench to celebrate his third league goal for the Canaries.
Half time: Norwich City 1-0 Plymouth
There were no changes for either side as the Canaries kicked off the second half, a goal to the good thanks to Safri's long-range strike.
And inside the first two minutes the visitors came within the frame of the goal of equalising.
From a corner, Akos Buzsaky sent in a swerving corner which picked up pace on what was becoming an increasingly swerving breeze inside the stadium.
And Gallacher was left rooted to his line as the ball bent over his head and crashed off the angle of post and bar before being hacked clear.
It was a much-needed warning sign that while the lead was only one goal, City by no means had the three points in the bag.
And City came close to doubling their advantage on 53 minutes.
Colin intercepted a loose ball deep in Plymouth's half, and he produced an excellent lobbed pass into Croft's path on the right side of the area.
He took one touch to control it before blasting a low shot goal-wards which McCormick did well to turn to safety at his near post.
Two minutes later and Croft again came close to making a second for City, this time collecting a similar-style pass from McVeigh before flashing a cross along the six-yard box where Aljofree had to hack clear from in front of his own goal.
City were now well into their stride, and on 58 minutes Etuhu produced a slide-rule pass into Huckerby's run away on the left.
The winger controlled the ball well before cutting into the box and blasting high over the bar when a pass might have been better.
But after bossing the opening periods of the second half, suicidal defending at the back allowed Plymouth to level things on 58 minutes.
A corner from the right was allowed to bounce all the way across the area and away to Gallen on the far post.
His half volley was hit into the ground, but it bounced up and found its way to veteran Barry Hayles on the far post to nod past Gallacher from point-blank range.
And four minutes later things got even worse for the Canaries as Plymouth plundered a second.
Doherty's tackle 30 yards from his own goal conceded a free kick, and up stepped Buzsaky to blast a right foot shot over the wall and past Gallacher's right hand into the net.
It had been an amazing turnaround for the visitors in the space of just four minutes with City now facing a real battle get back into a game they had been well in control of.
And on 65 minutes Grant looked to freshen things up in attack, bringing on Chris Brown for his debut in place of McVeigh.
On 68 minutes they almost levelled things when McCormack's flap from Safri's corner landed straight at Dublin's feet 15 yards out. But his controlled lob over the prone 'keeper's head landed on the roof of the net rather than beneath it.
But on 74 minutes things got far worse for Norwich as Plymouth struck again - with almost a carbon copy of their second strike.
Dublin conceded a free kick in virtually the same position as the previous offence, and again Buzsaky showed how adept he is at set-plays, curling the ball over the wall and past Gallacher via the underside of his crossbar.
City's defence tried to hack the ball away, but the ball was well over the line, despite Hayles following up.
Norwich now needed a miracle, and they needed it quick.
City were throwing all they could at the Plymouth defence, but they could not find a way through, with the visitors visibly lifted by their second half showing.
On 87 minutes Brown manufactured a chance to make his mark on his debut, flicking a Croft cross into the air before executing an overhead kick.
But his strike from eight yards out was straight at McCormick, giving him a simple save.
Full time: Norwich City 1-3 Plymouth Argyle
Norwich City: Gallacher, Drury (c), Shackell, Huckerby, Croft, Dublin, Safri, McVeigh (Brown 65), Etuhu, Colin (Robinson 86), Doherty. Subs: Lewis, Hughes, Martin.
Plymouth: McCormick, Nalis, Aljofree, Norris, Buzsaky, Hayles (c), Halmosi (Summerfield 63), Gallen, Sawyer, Seip, Gosling (Hodges 70). Subs: Clapham, Reid, Laird.
