NORWICH City became the victims of a smash-and-grab at Carrow Road this afternoon, with a second half comeback by Cardiff City ending the Canaries 100 per cent home record.
The Canaries had led through an audacious 35-yard effort by Simon Lappin, and seemed to be comfortable.
But the visitors clawed themselves back into it in the second half through substitute Peter Whittingham's close range effort, before Roger Johnson piled on the misery with a winner inside the final 10 minutes.
Quite how Norwich managed to claw defeat from the jaws of victory was anyone's guess, with City wasting numerous chances and being denied what looked to be a clear cut penalty.
All the same, it was not the way City boss Peter Grant would have wanted to have gone into the two-week international break.
With Jason Shackell out with an ankle injury, veteran Dion Dublin was handed the captain's armband and asked to deputise in defence alongside Gary Doherty.
Adam Drury was passed fit after a groin strain, with Julien Brellier also recovering from Tuesday night's epic Carling Cup clash at Rochdale.
Darren Huckerby, who played 120 minutes at Spotland, was handed a place on the bench, with Luke Chadwick taking his place.
Jamie Cureton was also passed fit after a dead leg and partnered Chris Brown in attack.
The visitors were able to hand league debuts to summer signings Robbie Fowler and Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink. Winger Paul Parry dropped to the bench, with former England international Trevor Sinclair restored to the side.
With Carrow Road bathed in glorious sunshine, the Canaries were looking to protect a 100 per cent record at home.
Cardiff on the other hand were looking to bounce back from two consecutive home league defeats - with the knowledge that another loss in Norfolk could see them fall into the bottom three of the Championship table.
It took until the fifth minute for the first shot in anger - and it came from Cardiff.
Joe Ledley was positive and direct down the left channel, and with the ball bouncing he delivered a dipping shot with his left foot.
It looked to be sneaking in at the far post, but Marshall got across well to palm it behind at the expense of a corner.
But three minutes later City had the ball in the net - only for the effort to be chalked off by referee Clive Penton.
The Canaries were awarded a free kick wide left after Lappin was taken down by Sinclair. The Scotsman dusted himself down to deliver an excellent free kick to the far post, which Dublin met with a towering header which crept over the line via the hand of 'keeper Ross Turnbull.
But the Carrow Road celebrations were cut short, with the official signalling that Dublin had used illegal means to get airborne.
But on 11 minutes City had the ball in the net again - and this time it did count.
A poor back-pass saw Turnbull forced into a hurried clearance from the right side of his area, with Cureton bearing down on him.
The 'keeper miscued his kick, with the ball flying straight to Lappin all of 35 yards from goal at a slight angle. But if the midfielder's first touch was excellent, his second was even better, returning the ball with interest and into the empty net before Turnbull could recover.
City were well into their stride now, and on 16 minutes Cureton saw a shot from just inside the area blocked for a corner after Brown had chested a Drury cross into his path.
A minute later and Russell tried his luck, but the midfielder could only send a weak header straight at Turnbull after some fine build-up play involving Brown, Chadwick and Otsemobor on the edge of the area.
Lappin's delivery was proving to be a real thorn in the side for the visitors, and on 19 minutes an in-swinging free kick was almost glanced into the bottom corner by Brown with the Cardiff defence back-peddling.
Otsemobor too was causing all manner of problems down the right, and a minute later his pace got him into the Cardiff box where he managed to pull the ball back to Cureton.
His first touch was not great, with the four-goal top scorer having to stretch for his shot. But he still got it away, with Roger Johnson having to block at full stretch.
On 27 minutes City had another effort on Turnbull's goal. Lappin played a corner short to Drury, and his cross found the head of Doherty.
The defender made decent contact with the ball, but unfortunately his effort bounced a foot wide of the left post.
There was no question that City had enjoyed the better of the first half so far, but had yet to turn their superiority into a second goal - and with the likes of Fowler and Hasselbaink on the pitch, the Canaries had to be on their guard.
As the game passed the 30 minute mark Marshall was left needing treatment after apparently getting a boot in the face from Fowler after diving at his feet to collect a low cross.
Fortunately the Scotland international was able to continue.
Cardiff had been restricted to pot-shots at goal so far, with Ledley's effort which flashed over the bar on 40 minutes typical.
The combined talents of Fowler and Hasselbaink had yet to really be involved, but with so many career goals to their names City's defence would be foolish to lose concentration.
And Dublin had to be sharp on 42 minutes to head behind for a corner with Fowler lurking behind him at the far post.
Half time: Norwich City 1-0 Cardiff
Cardiff manager Dave Jones was clearly unimpressed by the first half offering from his players, and wasted little time changing things by making a double substitution.
Joe Ledley and Chris Gunter left the field, with Paul Parry and Darcy Blake replacing them.
But it was still the Canaries calling the shots possession-wise, with Cureton unlucky not to be awarded a free kick on 52 minutes after being shoved over as he prepared to shoot on the edge of the area.
Dublin was enjoying himself in his defensive role, and was strong in the tackle twice to deny Hasselbaink a clear shot on target.
Fowler was not enjoying much luck against his fellow Premiership veteran either, and was replaced on the hour mark by Peter Whittingham.
And the sub almost instantly did better than the man he replaced, grabbing an unlikely equaliser on 64 minutes.
The goal was created by fellow substitute Parry, who swung over a cross from the right which eluded both Dublin and Doherty.
And there was Whittingham on the far post to tap past Marshall, with the 'keeper clawing at thin air.
It was a disappointing goal for Norwich to concede, with the Canaries being the better side throughout to this point.
To their credit, the home side picked up where they left off, piling the pressure on the visitors.
And on 70 minutes there were loud shouts for a penalty when Russell's volley struck Glen Loovens on the arm.
A free kick was given, but replays showed the Cardiff defender to be at least a yard inside the box.
Lappin took the free kick, his first effort smashing into the wall before lashing the rebound just over.
A minute later and there were loud cheers as Darren Huckerby entered the fray at the expense of Luke Chadwick, with City changing to a 4-3-3 formation.
And it needed a last-ditch tackle from Rae to prevent the crowd favourite from having a clear sight of goal with his first touch.
On 74 minutes it took a great save by Marshall to keep the scoreline level. Parry found Whittingham inside the area, and although the striker's effort was struck true, it was too close to the City 'keeper, who saved with his legs.
Huckerby was already proving to be a menace, and on 76 minutes nipped round Blake on the right, only to send his cross half a yard over Dublin's head.
But on 84 minutes were hit with a sucker punch when Cardiff stormed into the lead.
A corner from the left was swung over, and up rose Roger Johnson to nod unmarked into the roof of the net.
The marking at the set-piece could certainly be called into question, with City bemused as to how they now found themselves behind in a game they had been so comfortable in.
With the clock counting down, City had a great chance to level things.
Otsemobor's cross from the right was headed back into Brown's path just inside the area. He chested the ball down and volleyed goalwards in one movement, but his shot flew inches wide of Turnbull's right post.
And the miss proved costly, as Cardiff returned West with all three points.
Full time: Norwich City 1-2 Cardiff
Norwich City: Marshall, Otsemobor, Drury, Brellier (Croft 82), Dublin (c), Cureton, Chadwick (Huckerby 70), Brown, Lappin, Russell, Doherty. Subs: Gilks, Croft, Murray, Martin.
Cardiff City: Turnbull, Capaldi, Rae, Loovens, Fowler (Whittingham 60), McPhail (c), Johnson, Ledley (Parry 46), Sinclair, Hasselbaink, Gunter (Blake 46). Subs: Oakes, Maclean.
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