CITY recorded a well-deserved win over relegation battlers Hull City at the KC Stadium, making it a very Good Friday for boss Peter Grant.
Despite a nerve-jangling final few moments caused by Andy Dawson's late free kick, the Canaries were always good value for the three points in the north east, with goals either side of the break by Darren Huckerby and Dickson Etuhu enough.
Indeed, City could have had more, had it not been for some wasteful finishing and the offside flag.
Hull meanwhile could point to three long-range shots which rattled the frame of Tony Warner's goal.
But any less than three points would have been rough justice on a City side who always looked the better of the two sides.
City boss Peter Grant rang the changes for the visit to Hull following the 3-0 defeat at Colchester last week.
Young striker Chris Martin was given a rest on the bench, with Dion Dublin partnering Darren Huckerby through the middle.
With Adam Drury returning after injury, it allowed Simon Lappin to move into left midfield. Dickson Etuhu also returned after illness, with Mark Fotheringham dropping to the bench.
It was the Canaries who got things underway at the KC Stadium, looking to banish the memories of the no-show in Essex last weekend.
The first half chance came on six minutes and fell to the home side.
A corner from the right was only palmed away by Warner under pressure, and Damien Delaney arrived at the far post looking to side-foot home.
But Shackell threw himself bravely at his feet to block well on the corner of the six-yard box.
City's first sight of goal came on nine minutes when Safri knocked a ball over the top of the defence after Etuhu had done well to win back possession just inside the Tigers' half.
Huckerby looked to run onto it, but 'keeper Bo Myhill was quickly off his line to gather off the toes of the striker.
But on 14 minutes the Canaries should really have done better with an opportunity which came their way.
A slip by Elliott allowed Huckerby to race into space on the left. He cut into the area, where Dublin and Croft had managed to catch-up in support.
Hucks found Croft away on the right, but he declined to shoot, laying the ball back into the path of Etuhu on the edge of the area, whose shot was blocked.
Moments later and another chance went begging. Safri swung a free kick into the area, and with the Hull defence getting their offside trap all wrong, Doherty was left with the freedom of the six yard box.
But he missed his header, allowing Myhill to gather comfortably.
Norwich were certainly enjoying the better of the game, and on 18 minutes Myhill produced a low save from Lappin after Croft's free kick, although the Scotsman's shot seemed to be going just wide.
But on 26 minutes City came within a lick of paint of going behind.
Safri dallied horribly on the ball dangerously close to his own area, and sure enough the Moroccan had his pocket picked by Lee Peltier.
And the midfielder let fly with a bending right-foot shot from 20 yards, which smashed against the inside of Warner's left post before rolling across the line and away to safety.
It was a real let-off for City and a warning that the Tigers were still packing a bite, despite their quiet start.
On the half hour mark Huckerby drew another save from Myhill at his near post after skipping inside, as City continued to put on the pressure in the final third without finding that elusive goal.
A minute later and the Canaries were again guilty of wastefulness. Drury's throw found Lappin on the left, and he delivered a perfect ball across the six yard box for Croft.
But with the goal gaping, Croft - under pressure from Elliott - managed to turn the ball over the bar with the outside of his boot when he should have scored.
But on 38 minutes City did finally take the lead their play deserved.
Safri swung over a corner from the left, and the unlikely figure of Huckerby rose ahead of 'keeper Myhill to nod into the roof of the net from no more than three yards out.
Myhill was furious the goal had been allowed to stand, with his protests earning himself a yellow card as Huckerby celebrated his 13th of the season.
Hull's defence was all at sea, and on 43 minutes only a goal-line clearance prevented Norwich from doubling their lead.
Dublin's flick found Huckerby onside and breaking clear of the Hull defence. His run took him slightly wide, but he still managed to fire beneath Myhill as the big 'keeper came out to close.
The only thing Huckerby's shot lacked was pace. As the ball dribbled towards the line, Delaney got back brilliantly to hack clear.
It had been a bright half by the Canaries. Although they would have hoped to have been further ahead at the break.
Half time: Hull 0-1 Norwich City
The second half kicked off with City again on the front foot. On 48 minutes a cross-field ball from Hughes picked out Dublin on the edge of the area, with his header falling perfectly for Huckerby in the area.
His volley was expertly tipped round the post by Myhill, but the assistant had already flagged for offside.
At the other end, Warner was forced into his first action of the game, turning Elliott's dipping volley behind for a corner with his fingertips.
It was Elliott's last action of the game, as he made way for crowd favourite Nick Barmby on 52 minutes.
But on 55 minutes City made it 2-0 thanks to a wonderfully worked goal by Dickson Etuhu.
It was the powerful Nigerian who started the move, winning a crunching tackle in the centre circle before setting Huckerby free down the right.
The striker did well to keep the ball in play, before cutting inside and planting a perfect left-foot cross onto the head of Etuhu who finished well from six yards out in front of the travelling fans.
It was no more than the Canaries had deserved for their all round play, with Etuhu making it five for the season.
Hull looked to hit back, and on 62 minutes substitute Vaz Te sent a deflected shot into the arms of Warner from the right edge of the area after capitalising on Adam Drury's slip.
It was a warning sign for Norwich, and they were handed another three minutes later when Peltier hit the woodwork for the second time in the match.
Etuhu's headed clearance from a corner sat up invitingly for the Hull man 20 yards out in a central position, and he lashed in a first time right foot volley which smashed off Warner's right post with the on-loan Fulham man rooted to the spot.
On 67 minutes though only a ghastly miss by Huckerby prevented Norwich from making it 3-0.
A lucky deflection saw the ball rebound at the feet of the goalscorer on the edge of the area, and he skipped into the box where he had a one-on-one with Myhill.
But with the goal gaping, Huckerby could only shank his effort a good 10 yards wide of the far post.
In fairness, the ball did appear to sit up on the bumpy turf. All the same, Huckerby would have been disappointed with the end result.
On 71 minutes Grant made his first change of the game, with Fotheringham replacing Lee Croft.
With 13 minutes of the game remaining, Hughes became the first City player to enter the notebook for crashing through the back of former Canaries' man Dean Marney.
On 78 minutes City had the ball in the net again, but it was ruled out for offside.
Simon Lappin let fly with a bouncing half volley from Dublin's knock-down 20 yards from goal, with Myhill managing to make a fingertip save.
The ball landed at the feet of Huckerby at an angle, and although he finished well, the assistant had already raised his flag.
On 84 minutes Hull struck the woodwork for the third time.
Etuhu gave away a free kick in a central position some 25 yards from goal, and Windass curled a delicious effort over the wall and onto almost the exact same spot where Peltier had been denied earlier in the half.
But two minutes from the end of normal time Hull found themselves a lifeline as Andy Dawson halved the deficit. A free kick was won 25 yards from goal, and the home left back swept a sweet shot into the top corner which had Warner flat-footed.
The goal had set up a nervy finale for City in a game they had largely dominated.
But the Canaries managed to cling on for a deserved three points, despite the home side throwing everything at them in an agonising four minutes of stoppage time.
Full time: Hull City 1-2 Norwich City
Hull City: Myhill, Forster (Vaz Te 60), Parlour, Elliott (Barmby 52), Turner, Delaney, Windass, Ashbee (c), Peltier (Marney70), Ricketts, Dawson. Subs: Duke, Coles.
Norwich City: Warner, Drury (c), Shackell, Huckerby (Martin 90), Croft (Fotheringham 71), Dublin, Safri, Hughes, Lappin, Etuhu, Doherty. Subs: Gallacher, Eagle, Renton.
