A GOAL two minutes from time by Stoke's Richard Cresswell broke Canary hearts at the Britannia Stadium.
Norwich had deserved at least a point from their efforts in the Potteries, with Darren Huckerby's fifth minute goal giving Norwich a half-time lead.
But within the first minute of the second half Stoke equalised through a header by Leon Cort.
Norwich would got on to have chances of their own, but it was their defence who shone throughout, standing firm in the wake of Stoke's dangerous set-plays and, in particular, the long throws of Rory Delap.
But just as it looked like Norwich had weathered the second half storm, Cresswell pounced to send City back to Norfolk empty handed.
Before the game City boss Glenn Roeder was handed a selection problem when right back Jon Otsemobor was taken ill at the team hotel with a migraine.
With no other recognised right back in the squad, his defensive duties were passed on to Gary Doherty, making his first appearance since the 0-0 draw with Scunthorpe back on October 2.
Luke Chadwick was missing from the squad altogether, presumably with the shoulder injury which had been troubling him for the past few weeks. He was replaced by Lee Croft wide right in what appeared to be a 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation.
On the other side of midfield was Darren Huckerby, rewarded with a start following his electric display from the substitutes' bench in the midweek win over Blackpool.
With Jamie Cureton the player to make way, it meant Dion Dublin was left with the job of lone striker against a powerful-looking home side.
As the teams were announced, former Stoke player Darel Russell was awarded a warm ovation from the home fans on his return to a club where he spent almost four seasons.
And it was Stoke on the attack within the first 45 seconds, winger Liam Lawrence wriggling past the challenge of Taylor inside the box, only for his pull-back to fall behind both the Norwich defence and team-mate Richard Cresswell.
Despite the edgy start, the 1,300 or so travelling fans behind Marshall's goal were in good voice, clearly hoping Norwich could make it a hat-trick of wins in the space of a week.
And on five minutes they were given something else to shout about when Norwich took the lead.
A long ball cross-field ball by Doherty found the head of Dublin, and his flick was placed perfectly into the path of Huckerby.
And he shook off the challenge of Cort on the edge of the area to produce a half-volleyed finish to Simonsen's right to make the score 1-0 to the visitors.
It was a great finish, backing up Roeder's decision to restore him to the starting line-up.
On 12 minutes only a great save from David Marshall denied Stoke an equaliser.
A free kick for a foul by Taylor was taking quickly to Delap wide right, and with the Norwich defence still organising in the middle, he swung over a dipping cross to the far post.
Shackell and Dublin both rose to meet the ball, but Fuller got the decisive touch, sending in a firm header which Marshall did well to push wide one-handed.
Delap was proving to be a source of trouble to the Canaries, with his long throws in particular causing one or two moments of concern in the back line, with Fuller more often than not the first to flick them on at the near post.
But the Canaries too were looking bright in attack, with Russell unlucky not to get a cleaner connection on Croft's near post cross after the winger left two defenders in his wake down the right in the 19th minute.
As predicted, Stoke were looking dangerous on set pieces, and on 23 minutes Taylor produced another great piece of defending on the far post to take the ball off the head of Fuller from Lawrence's right wing free kick.
It was typical Taylor, and the sort of brave defending City fans have become accustomed to during his loan spell from Birmingham.
The home crowd were getting frustrated, and so too was boss Tony Pulis, who made his first change of the game on the half-hour mark, with Andy Wilkinson replacing Stephen Wright.
But two minutes later Norwich spurned a great chance to double their lead.
Russell latched onto a nice infield pass by Huckerby and went past one man before playing in the overlapping Camara down the left.
His first time cross was perfect for Dublin, who was not further than 12 yards out. But his first time side-footed shot fizzed a yard wide of Simonsen's right post with the 'keeper rooted to the spot.
Delap's throws were becoming a real pain for the Canaries, and on 35 minutes another aerial bombardment ended with City only half clearing the danger, allowing Wilkinson a half-volley from just inside the area.
This took a big deflection off Shackell, and looked to be creeping in at the far post until Marshall dived on it with both hands.
On 42 minutes Stoke captain John Eustace was booked for a blatant block on Croft as he knocked the ball past him on the right.
The foul summed-up the home side's frustration in the first half, with the Canaries looking organised and energetic. No surprise after the confidence boost given to them by the successive wins against Coventry and Blackpool.
With the half drawing to a close Stoke saw their best chance for an equaliser so far when Fuller turned Shackell before sending a left foot shot a yard over the bar from just inside the area.
Half time: Stoke 0-1 Norwich City
The sides returned for the second half unchanged, with City boss Roeder presumably calling for more of the same from his side after an impressive first 45 minutes.
But within the first minute of the second spell the visitors were caught cold by a Stoke equaliser.
A deep cross from the left found its way all the way to the far post, and up rose Leon Cort to head down and past David Marshall into his bottom corner to peg City back.
It was a sucker punch for the Canaries, with the home crowd also woken up by the goal.
And you sensed City would now have to show plenty of character in the final 45 minutes after conceding so early.
Stoke now had their backs up, and on 52 minutes Sidibe flashed a volley horribly wide from the edge of the area after Croft had been muscled off the ball in a dangerous area.
Two minutes later and the Canaries survived loud shouts for a penalty when Doherty appeared to block Sidibe's shot on the turn with a raised arm. But referee Lee Probert merely awarded a corner, angering the home fans and Pulis in the dugout.
And his protests proved too loud, as he was sent to the stands by the officials.
On 55 minutes Roeder made his first switch, with Pattison replaced by Manchester City loan striker Ched Evans, who joined Dublin in attack.
The home fans were contesting almost every decision given against them, and on 59 minutes they were further annoyed when Probert booked Fuller for diving under the challenge of Shackell, with the Stoke forward calling for a penalty.
It had certainly been a spicy second half so far, completely removed from the relatively calm 45 minutes which had preceded it.
Indeed, it was beginning to threaten to boil over, with Russell next in the book for a late tackle. It was Russell's fifth of the season, and meant he would now miss next Saturday's home game with Sheffield United.
Evans' first telling contribution came on 63 minutes, playing in Huckerby down the left. He cut inside and found Dublin, but his volley on the turn was comfortable for Simonsen.
Moments later and the teenager himself came close to scoring, collecting an excellent back-heel from Croft 20 yards from goal, flicking the ball over the head of a defender, before smashing his volley just over the bar from the edge of the box.
He may have missed the target, but the move showed glimpses as to why he is so highly rated at Eastlands.
On 65 minutes it was the home side's turn to threaten, in what was becoming an increasingly end-to-end game.
A cross from the left was not dealt with, and Cresswell sent a free header straight at Marshall from no more than six yards out when he should have scored.
The cards were beginning to fly thick and fast, with Marshall the next name in the book for kicking the ball away to prevent a quick free kick.
On 79 minutes Croft's game ended, replaced by Jamie Cureton as City went for the win.
With the game in the final five minutes, Cort flashed another header over the bar from Lawrence's corner, when he really should have tested Marshall
And on 88 minutes Marshall was tested, denying Fuller with a save at full stretch.
But the home side were not to be denied, and from the subsequent corner there was an almighty scramble in the box with Richard Cresswell smashing home a heartbreaking winner for Stoke from no more than three yards out.
Full time: Stoke 2-1 Norwich City
Stoke City: Simonsen, Wright (Wilkinson 30), Shawcross, Cort, Pugh, Lawrence, Eustace (c), Delap, Cresswell, Sidibe (Parkin 81), Fuller. Subs: Hoult, Zakuani, Phillips.
Norwich City: Marshall, Doherty, Taylor, Shackell (c), Camara, Croft (Cureton 79), Fotheringham, Russell, Pattison (Evans 55), Huckerby, Dublin. Subs: Smith, Brown, Arnold.
