A SPECTACULAR volley by Dion Dublin was not enough to prevent the Canaries from slipping to their first defeat of the season - losing 2-1 against Hull at the KC Stadium.
Dublin pounced on 71 minutes, lashing a first time shot into the top corner from all of 25 yards to cancel out a strike from another 38-year-old, Dean Windass, minutes after the break.
But just as the Canaries seemed to be pushing for a winner themselves, Richard Garcia arrived unmarked at the far post six minutes later to score what proved to be the winner for Hull.
The Canaries rallied late on, with Cureton and Doherty both going close, but it was not enough.
City boss Peter Grant was relieved to see midfielders Julien Brellier and Simon Lappin passed fit for the visit to the KC Stadium.
Both had been doubts in midweek, but made it into the starting line-up for the match with the Tigers, hunting their first league win of the new season.
However, Adam Drury was absent - which meant a first start for Ian Murray, who signed from Rangers only yesterday lunchtime.
Unfortunately, there was no place in the final squad for Darren Huckerby, who was still struggling to shake-off the groin/hip injury which has plagued him all summer.
City were playing in their new red away kit for the first time, with the sun shining brightly up on Humberside.
The Canaries were protecting an unbeaten start to the new season, whereas the home side were sniffing their first three point haul after an opening day defeat to Plymouth and a draw at Coventry.
And it was Hull who created the first chance of the game on three minutes. Richard Garcia was given too much time and space inside the box away on the right, and he fizzed a low cross along the six yard box.
Arriving at the far post was Stuart Elliott, but the winger only succeeded in smashing a volley over the angle of post and bar.
Murray had so far shown no signs of nerves on his City debut, and got forward well on the five minute mark from left-back, only to see the move break down just inside the Tigers' area.
City's first shot at goal arrived three minutes later. Croft's cross from the right was cleared to the edge of the box. Lappin sent in a half volley, but his shot was partially blocked, allowing 'keeper Matthew Duke to collect comfortably.
City's defence had yet to be seriously tested, but on 11 minutes they were almost caught out from a corner.
Garcia won it, playing the ball off the shins of Russell away on the left. Former City loan player Dean Marney fizzed the ball to the corner of the six-yard box where Garcia was lurking unmarked.
But the former Colchester man blasted a right-foot effort inches wide of Marshall's left post.
A minute later and Garcia came even closer. A deep cross was only headed down by Shackell into the path of the midfielder 18 yards out, and his shot cannoned off the legs of Marshall after finding its way through a crowd of players and away for another corner.
The Canaries were finding themselves pressed back into their own area, with little being offered at the other end so far.
But just as City were looking for some respite, Otsemobor almost provided it on 23 minutes.
The right-back embarked on one of his trademark runs forward, beating two Hull players and making it to within 25 yards of Duke's goal. With the home defence coming out to close him down, the former Crewe man opted for a shot, which whistled inches wide with Duke at full stretch.
But City's own defence was still looking far from watertight, and on 27 minutes Shackell missed a simple header, allowing the ball to find its way into the path of Elliott on the penalty spot.
The Hull man seemed surprised to find the ball at his feet, but Marshall had already read the danger, charging from his line to block with his legs.
City had half a sight of goal on 36 minutes when a cross by Lappin was only half cleared, with Brellier volleying well over and into the Norwich fans behind Duke's goal under pressure.
The effort summed-up City's attacking display in the first half, with the Canaries still awaiting their first corner away from home of the new season.
That finally arrived on 38 minutes, and from it Doherty saw a stooping header blocked five yards from goal by the Hull defence.
As the half entered the final five minutes, Elliott saw a low effort scuttled wide of Marshall's post, with both sides struggling to find their rhythm during the first period.
And with the game in stoppage time Croft sent in a right foot shot from 25 yards which bobbled well wide.
Half time: Hull City 0-0 Norwich City
There were no changes for either time as they re-emerged following the break, with both managers presumably hoping for more from their teams in the attacking third.
And home boss Phil Brown got exactly that on 49 minutes as Hull took the lead.
A swift break by the home side down the right ended with the ball being pulled back from the edge of the area, and there was veteran Dean Windass to smash the ball past Marshall with a right-foot shot.
It was a smart move and a neat finish by the 38-year-old, with the Canaries now facing a real challenge to get themselves back in the game.
The home side were now in flying form, and after Lappin saw a direct free kick smash into the wall, they almost grabbed a second.
Again it came on the break, this time ending with Marney sending a lob over the stranded figure of Marshall, but also over the bar.
Norwich were having to weather the storm, but were seeing too little of the ball to ease the pressure.
Just past the hour mark Hull had loud appeals for a penalty waved away when a wild lash by Brown in his own box appeared to floor a home attacker, but referee Miller waved play on.
The attacks by Hull were coming thick and fast, with City's defence creaking under the pressure.
With home 'keeper Duke yet to be forced into any meaningful save, Grant looked to change his attacking options on 68 minutes, replacing the ineffective Brellier with Dion Dublin.
And three minutes later the 38-year-old showed exactly what the Canaries had been missing - lashing in a spectacular equaliser.
A spell of head tennis on the edge of the area finished with the hard-working Brown heading back across to Dublin, lurking 20 yards out.
And he fired an unstoppable first time volley into Duke's top right corner for what surely must rank as one of the most spectacular goals of his career.
The goal certainly shook Hull, and on 74 minutes Otsemobor stung the fingers of Duke with a 30-yard free kick which the 'keeper had to hold at the second attempt.
Two minutes later and Doherty was getting in on the act, nodding a short corner by Lappin just over the bar with Duke at full stretch.
The goal had certainly lifted the Canaries, with the big figure of Dublin giving the home defence something else to think about.
But just as it looked like it was City pushing for a winner, Hull re-took the lead on 78 minutes. Windass was given space and time by Shackell away on the touchline to turn and lift a perfect cross to the far post, and there was Garcia arriving to score from close range.
It was a real hammer blow for City, who had done so well to get themselves back into the match.
The match was starting to get stretched, with City pushing for an equaliser and Hull looking to grab a third on the break.
Grant made another change on 88 minutes, replacing Croft with Strihavka and going for a forward line of four as he hunted an equaliser.
With four minutes of injury time signalled, the Canaries opted for the long ball to restore parity. And they almost got it when an almighty goalmouth scramble saw first Cureton and then Doherty fire shots goalwards which were both blocked from close range.
And in the final kick of the game Strihavka flicked the ball onto Cureton, who saw his attempted volley from 12 yards deflected wide.
Full time: Hull City 2-1 Norwich City
Hull City: Duke, Dawson, Ashbee (c), Turner, Elliott (Hughes 78), Barmby (Bridges 29), Windass (Livermore 89), Garcia, Brown, Delaney, Marney. Subs not used: Myhill, Doyle, Hughes.
Norwich City: Marshall, Otsemobor, Shackell (c), Croft (Strihavka 88), Brellier (Dublin 68), Cureton, Brown, Murray, Lappin, Russell, Doherty. Subs not used: Gilks, Chadwick, Martin.
