CZECH striker David Strihavka came off the bench to claim all three points for City against Palace with his first senior goal since joining in the summer.

Strihavka's close-range header with about 15 minutes to go was enough to clinch a tough, tight encounter at Carrow Road - a vital win to set City up for Tuesday's trip to Charlton

City boss Peter Grant made just one change to the team which lost 2-1 to Cardiff City at Carrow Road a fortnight ago, with French midfielder Julien Brellier making way for the talismanic Darren Huckerby.

Brellier joined a strong-looking City bench which also included Matthew Gilks, Lee Croft, Ian Murray and David Strihavka.

At kick-off Huckerby lined up on the left of a midfield four, with Lappin tucking into the left-central role alongside him.

In the fourth minute Palace's Stuart Green was impeded by a combination of Doherty and Russell on the edge of the City box and a free-kick was awarded. Green dusted himself off before stepping up to rifle a low drive through the Norwich wall - but Marshall got down smartly to gather at the second attempt.

On ten minutes after a period of scrappy play there was a hearts-in-mouths moment for the Canaries as a mix-up between Dion Dublin and David Marshall nearly allowed Dickov to sneak in and intercept a back-pass, but Marshall recovered to dribble round him and clear his lines.

A minute later there was an even bigger let-off for City as a scramble in their box saw the ball roll out invitingly to Soares ten yards out, but with the goal seemingly at his mercy he hesitated for an all-important fraction of a second, allowing Dublin to throw himself in and block the shot to safety.

Norwich responded on 15 minutes with their best chance of the match so far. It came after a surging run down the right from Jon Otsemobor saw him power into the Palace box and execute a beautiful cut-back into the path of Jamie Cureton. You'd have bet on the predatory striker sweeping the ball home but his shot from 14 yards bounced a foot wide of the far post with Speroni struggling to make his ground.

There were no chances of note during the next 15 minutes, with the home side restricted mainly to attempting to set Huckerby free on their left wing, where an interesting battle between him and Danny Butterfield was unfolding.

It was Huckerby again who earned City a corner in the 34th minute and when he floated the kick in the ball fell to Russell whose low shot from 15 yards out deflected off Leon Cort and wide.

Five minutes later Huckerby was the centre of attention again, this time as he was blatantly body-checked by Stuart Green as he charged up the left touchline and threatened to break clear. The Palace man was shown the game's first yellow card by referee Lee Probert for the offence.

In the 41st minute the Canaries mounted a more central attack and a superb dummy from Cureton allowed Huckerby's pass to roll out to Chris Brown on the left. Brown's shot was blocked by Palace but the rebound fell to Lappin, who from 30 yards out hit an exquisite chip that fell just over Seroni's crossbar.

Within a minute they came closer still to breaking the deadlock as the Canaries finished the half strongly. Again Otsemobor showed fantastic pace and strength to burst into the right-hand side of the area before cutting back for Darel Russell, only for the Canary midfielder's 18-yard effort to bounce off the top of the bar with Speroni beaten.

With two minutes to go until half-time former Ipswich star Jamie Scowcroft was booked for a heavy challenge on Adam Drury, much to the Norwich fans' delight.

Half-time: Norwich City 0, Crystal Palace 0

City started the second half on the attack and less than two minutes into the half carved out a half-chance. Huckerby crossed from the left after good work from Brown and Cureton brought the ball down with his back to goal before swivelling and blazing over from 12 yards out.

In the 51st minute a Simon Lappin corner was headed back into the danger zone by Doherty and the bouncing ball eventually fell to Chris Brown - but the tall striker got under his close-range volleyed effort and sent it well over.

Three minutes later Huckerby sprinted towards the Palace box in a central position and his pass was superbly back-heeled by Brown into the path of Cureton. The City striker shot first-time but his ball deflected off a Palace defender and wide of Speroni's right post.

The Canaries were on the front foot at this stage and on 57 minutes Brown really should have made more of a neat pass along the edge of the area from Chadwick, but instead was left with his head in his hands after skying a soft shot well over.

The game's first substitution came as the game reached the hour-mark, Palace's Dougie Freedman coming on for Besian Idrizaj. Peter Grant immediately responded with a change of his own, bringing on Czech striker David Strihavka for Chris Brown.

So far the second half was a distinct improvement on the fare on offer during the first 45 minutes. Russell was the next to have a go, picking up a good pass from Huckerby 20 yards out and then blasting a low shot which Speroni dived to his left to collect.

In the 69th minute the combative Paul Dickov was booked for a slightly late challenge on Jon Otsemobor. To the pleasure of some sections of the home fan he was immediately taken off by Eagles boss Peter Taylor, to be replaced by Clinton Morrison.

The game was still finely poised and in the 73rd minute a great tussle between Freedman and Russell saw them battle the length of the pitch before the Palace sub managed to get a shot in which curled a couple of feet wide of the far post.

A minute later Luke Chadwick was replaced by Lee Croft. The City sub was immediately involved, linking up with Otsemobor who forced a corner on City's right.

Simon Lappin whipped in a great corner and when Dion Dublin headed it back in there was Norwich sub David Strihavka to nod the ball over Speroni and claim his first senior goal for City.

It was a joyous moment for City's Czech summer signing who went to share his delight with the fans behind the goal in the Norwich and Peterborough Stand - and was promptly booked by referee Mr Probert for 'over-celebrating'.

In the 78th minute Darren Huckerby left the pitch to a huge ovation from the City faithful, with Julien Brellier coming on to play in the centre of midfield and Lappin moving out to the left.

The final substitution of the afternoon was made by Peter Taylor with six minutes of normal time remaining, Hughes coming on for Stuart Green.

All eyes were on the clock as the minutes ticked away and Palace began to push forward desperately searching for an equaliser. Sub Clinton Morrison tried his luck with a curled effort from 16 yards out which flew wide in the 89th minute.

Play switched to the other end and Cureton suddenly found himself one-on-one with Speroni after a defensive mix-up - but the Palace 'keeper stood up well and the City striker's effort was saved well.

Final score: Norwich City 1, Crystal Palace 0

Golden Goal time: 74.51

NORWICH: Marshall, Otsemobor, Drury, Huckerby (Brellier 87), Dublin (C), Cureton, Chadwick (Croft 74), Brown (Strihavka 60), Lappin, Russell, Doherty. Subs not used: Gilks (GK), Murray.
PALACE: Speroni, Craig, Hudson, Cort, Fletcher (C), Scowcroft, Idrizaj (Freedman 60), Soares, Butterfield, Dickov (Morrison 69), Green Subs not used: Flinders (GK), Morrison, Fonte, Hughes