THERE was to be no second half comeback for the Canaries at Carrow Road tonight, as they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat to table-topping Watford.
Just as they did on Sunday, Norwich found themselves two goals down at the break thanks to strikes from Darius Henderson and an unlucky own goal by 'keeper David Marshall.
But despite City getting a goal back midway through the second half thanks to substitute Lee Croft's close-range finish, there was to be no Lazarus like return as there was against Ipswich, with Marlon King wrapping-up the points three minutes from time as Norwich hunted an equaliser.
In all fairness to Watford, they were good value for the points, and looked every bit the workmanlike and disciplined side you would expect from an Aidy Boothroyd team.
And while City finished the game with no points and still bottom of the Championship table, they could at least take solace from the fact they are unlikely to face a side with the quality of the Hornets again this season.
With Darren Huckerby beginning a three match suspension following his sending off against Ipswich at the weekend, Jimmy Smith was drafted into midfield for his first Carrow Road start.
Dion Dublin was missing with a hamstring strain which meant a chance for on-loan John Hartson to impress alongside Sunday's goalscoring hero Jamie Cureton.
Another derby hero, Martin Taylor, kept his place in the heart of defence alongside Jason Shackell who was making his 100th appearance for tje Club.
The visitors were without injured defender Jay DeMerit, so Adrian Mariappa was brought in to partner the towering Danny Shittu - who once had an unsuccessful trial with the Canaries as a youngster - at the back.
Former Norwich captain Matt Jackson had to make do with a place on the bench after being recalled from his loan spell at Blackpool.
The Canaries were looking to build on the hugely improved display at the weekend, which saw them claw back a two-goal deficit against Ipswich Town.
Watford meanwhile were simply hoping for better than the heavy defeat inflicted on them by fellow promotion chasers West Brom at Vicarage Road on Saturday.
And it was the visitors on the attack as early as the second minute, Brellier forced to bring down Tommy Smith 25 yards from goal in a central position as the former Derby man closed in on the penalty box at pace.
Fortunately, the effort by Adam Johnson was high and wide of Marshall's goal, finishing in the supporters in the Barclay Stand.
But three minutes later and only the assistant's flag prevented them from taking the lead.
Marlon King pulled Taylor out of position away on the left, and sent in an in-swinging cross towards strike partner Darius Henderson.
His connection from eight yards out was sweet, guiding the ball under Marshall, but the assistant had already flagged for offside, cutting short the visiting fans' celebrations.
City's first attack of the half came on nine minutes. Chadwick, playing on the left in place of the suspended Huckerby, played a great ball behind the Hornet's defence, giving Cureton a free run to the by-line.
But with Hartson and Otsemobor in the box waiting for the pullback, Cureton contrived to lift the ball over everyone and into touch for a goal kick.
On 12 minutes visiting skipper Gavin Mahon became the first player to enter referee Clive Penton's notebook for a late challenge on Russell.
Three minutes later and Watford came close to taking the lead twice in the space of 20 seconds.
First Tommy Smith sent over a cross from the right which Marshall had to touch over his own bar as it threatened to slice straight in.
And from the corner City were caught cold as Williamson received a short corner, darted past Smith in the area and lashed in a low cross which Marshall again had to deal with, this time blocking at his near post.
It was certainly the Championship table toppers making all the running in the early stages, with the Canaries limited to one or two unsuccessful breaks so far.
The assistant referee in front of the City Stand was also proving to be a thorn in Norwich's side, giving at least three marginal offside decisions which clearly rankled with Glenn Roeder and Lee Clark on the Canaries' bench, judging by their reactions.
Chadwick was the next player to get booked, carded for a late challenge on Lloyd Doyley on the halfway line.
The decision was the latest in a number to anger the home crowd, with cries of 'you don't know what you're doing' beginning.
Watford were still asking all the questions, but on the half-hour mark a sharp break from Chadwick saw the ball find its way to Cureton via Russell some 25 yards from goal at an angle.
With Norwich yet to test Richard Lee in the visiting goal, Cureton had a pop from distance, but his shot was a yard too high as it flew over.
But on 35 minutes City's resolve was finally broken as Watford took the lead.
A smart ball by Smith took Lappin out of the game, allowing Doyley to sneak in behind and get to the by-line.
And he looked up and played a perfect square pass into the path of Henderson who couldn't miss from six yards out.
It was a blow to a Norwich side who had stood-up to everything Watford had thrown at them up to that point, but they would now need to offer more in the final third if they were to get back into the game.
And on 42 minutes it was double trouble for the Canaries as Watford made it two with the softest of goals.
A corner from the left was whipped in by Adam Johnson, and Adrian Mariappa rose unmarked six yards out to head onto the near post, with the ball bouncing in off Marshall's back and finishing in the back of the net for the unluckiest of own goals.
It was another body blow for City who, for the second game running, were entering the break two goals adrift.
But against a quality outfit such as Watford, you sensed it would take an even more incredible turnaround for Norwich to come back as they did at the weekend.
Half time: Norwich City 0-2 Watford
Neither boss opted for any changes at half time, with City again looking for something special to get themselves back into the contest, just as they had on Sunday.
But the pattern of play looked set to continue, with Marshall having to be quick off his line to grab the ball off the feet of Mahon as he looked to latch onto a flick.
Roeder was clearly less than pleased with the way the second period had begun, and on 54 minutes he made a double substitution, with Chris Martin and Lee Croft replacing Jimmy Smith and John Hartson.
Norwich were struggling to escape their half at times, with Watford's players working hard to close down every yellow shirt whenever it received possession.
There was no doubt City looked slightly jaded and shadows of the side which played so well at the weekend, possibly the effects of two games in the space of three days.
But on 65 minutes City were handed a lifeline through Croft.
Martin showed good awareness to take a quick throw to Cureton who had snuck in behind the Watford defence as they were still re-grouping. The little striker looked up and hooked a ball into the path of Croft who beat Mariappa to the ball to slide in at the near post.
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Norwich were suddenly back in it, with the home support now producing the kind of noise they demonstrated on Sunday.
And Martin had them on their feet again a minute later when he shouldered Shittu off the ball and embarked on the weaving run into the box, with the 18-year-old unable to pick out any of his team mates in the area.
With City hunting an equaliser, Roeder made his final change of the game on 71 minutes, with Chris Brown replacing the excellent Chadwick.
City were now certainly making a game of it, but Watford's well-drilled rearguard were showing few signs of collapsing.
Pretty they might not be, but effective the Hornets certainly were, not giving the Canaries a moment's peace on the ball.
The referee was making few friends among the home support, enraging them further on 82 minutes by first failing to give a handball before seconds later harshly adjudging Brown to have fouled Mariappa as he tried to regain possession.
But with less than three minutes of normal time remaining Watford wrapped up the points with a killer third.
Croft was crucially shoved off the ball by Williamson 35 yards from his own goal, and he played a perfect pass into the path of King in the area who fired a low shot through Marshall's legs to make it game over.
Full time: Norwich City 1-3 Watford
Norwich City: Marshall, Otsemobor, Shackell (c), Taylor, Brellier, Cureton, Chadwick (Brown 71), Hartson (Martin 54), Smith (Croft 54), Lappin, Russell. Subs: Gilks, Spillane.
Watford: Lee, Stewart, Shittu, Mahon (c), King, Henderson, Doyley, Williamson, Smith, Mariappa, Johnson. Subs: Poom, Jackson, Priskin, Ellington, O'Toole.
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