CITY'S festive schedule got off to the best possible start at Glanford Park, with a goal from Jamie Cureton 12 minutes from time giving the Canaries three vital points against survival rivals Scunthorpe.
Substitute Cureton converted from close range after being found by Jon Otsemobor's cross to send the 1,300 travelling fans behind the goal wild.
But the late heroics of City 'keeper David Marshall were equally important in earning Norwich an important win, the Scottish international pulling off two world class saves inside the final five minutes to deny Cleveland Taylor and Matt Sparrow.
And Norwich hung on for a great win, maintaining their excellent form under boss Glenn Roeder.
Roeder restored veteran Dion Dublin to the attack for the match against the Iron. He partnered on-loan Manchester City man Ched Evans in attack, with Jamie Cureton dropping to the bench.
Darren Huckerby also returned to the starting line-up after his appearance on the bench at Colchester, with Jimmy Smith the player to make way.
There was also an apperance on the bench for Michael Spillane, who was able to play despite his midweek red card for the reserves due to his three-game suspension not kicking in until January 1.
Scunthorpe had real defensive issues, and had to bring in co-assistant managers Andy Crosby and Ian Baraclough to plug the gaps.
It was the home side who kicked off, looking for a win to end a run of 11 matches without a victory.
And City had to be on their guard inside the first minute, Gary Doherty blocking well at the feet of former Norwich Academy man Paul Hayes as he got a shot off from the edge of the area.
But on five minutes Norwich had a great chance to take the lead. A fortunate deflection from an attempted clearance put Evans through on goal, but the teenager's shot was blocked well by the onrushing figure of 'keeper Joe Murphy.
It was a good chance, and would surely have gone some way to warming the 1,300 travelling fans who had made the journey up the A17.
It was proving to be a lively start to the game, and on nine minutes it was Otsemobor's turn to produce a good block tackle, stopping Jonathan Forte's shot from the edge of the box before it could trouble Marshall.
It was the home side who were seeing more of the ball in the final third, and on 20 minutes Jack Cork flashed a shot across the six yard box which Forte narrowly missed with his outstretched leg.
But three minutes later and Marshall had to produce an excellent save to deny Cork.
Huckerby was unsuccessful in trying to usher the ball away for a goal kick under pressure, with Forte nipping round the back to pick his pocket. He drove in a low cross which was met first time by Cork, but Marshall stuck out a leg to deflect it to safety.
It was the home side applying more and more pressure, and on 27 minutes Marshall was left rooted to the spot as a spectacular volley from Hayes flew a yard wide of the angle from all of 20 yards out.
City has showed little attacking impetus since their early effort through Evans, with Huckerby in particular frustrated with the lack of time he was getting on the ball.
But on 34 minutes Evans went close again, spinning on a low cross from Huckerby, only to see his shot saved by Murphy.
The ball ran back to Huckerby, and he teed-up Pattison for a shot from 25 yards out which Goodwin blocked with his arm on the very edge of the box.
A free kick was given, but Evans's fierce effort was blocked by the wall and out for a corner, which the home side eventually dealt with.
As the half drew to a close, it had been the hosts who had edged it in terms of possession, but the Canaries who had looked the more dangerous in front of goal.
Half time: Scunthorpe 0-0 Norwich City
There were no changes for either side at the break, with the Canaries chasing three points which would put more distance between themselves and the bottom three.
City were now attacking the end containing their own fans and began the second half brightly, with some good pressure inside the opposition half without creating any clear chances.
All the same, it was more promising from the visitors, who were already keeping the ball much better than in the first period.
But on 49 minutes Shackell was forced into a last-ditch interception inside his own six yard box as two Scunthorpe players waited to pounce on Martin Patterson's in-swinging cross.
Shackell and partner Doherty had been outstanding so far, with Pattison also looking lively in midfield.
On 51 minutes a swift break almost saw Otsemobor grab his first goal in Norwich colours.
He played a neat one-two with Russell just over the halfway line, with the midfielder putting his team-mate away down the right. He showed his trademark turn of pace to get away from his marker before drilling in a low shot from the angle which skidded a yard wide of Murphy's right post.
More chances were beginning to come Norwich's way, and on 53 minutes Huckerby might have wanted to have done better with a half volley from the corner of the box which drifted over Murphy's bar.
But on 56 minutes Norwich had a let-off when the assistant's flag ruled out a Scunthorpe 'goal'.
There was an almighty melee in the City six-yard box, with Marshall producing at least one outstanding save down by his near post. But when the ball came back in and it was poked home - seemingly by Patterson amid a crowd of bodies - the assistant's flag shot-up, cutting short the home side's celebrations.
On the hour mark Roeder made a double change, swapping Dublin and Pattison for Jamie Cureton and Jimmy Smith.
On 66 minutes Patterson became the first name in the notebook for a late challenge in Russell as the midfielder cleared the ball from inside his own box.
On 73 minutes there was an opening when Huckerby went past his man wide on the left and sprinted in the box. But despite the narrow angle, Huckerby opted for the shot when the pull-back might have been better, dragging his effort wide of the near post.
A minute later and Huckerby had a chance to make amends, with Russell finding him in space in the box with a lofted pass.
But Murphy was quick off his line to block as the winger tried to lift his shot over him.
City's talisman was at least seeing more of the ball though, as the home defence seemed to begin to tire slightly with the game inside the final 15 minutes.
And on 78 minutes it was Norwich who took the lead. A powerful run by Otsemobor saw the ball played inside to Evans, who returned the ball. Despite the Manchester City man being taken out with a late challenge, the referee played an excellent advantage.
This allowed Otsembor to square the ball to the far post where substitute Cureton bundled the ball home in off the post.
It wasn't the neatest of goals, but it was just what Cureton would have wanted after a recent barren run by his own high standards.
The goal had clearly given the visitors plenty of confidence, with Russell's 40-yard cross-field ball to Huckerby epitomising that.
The home fans meanwhile were beginning to show their frustrations as the home side began to run out of ideas.
With less than five minutes left, substitute Taylor went down in the box under a Shackell challenge, but the referee waved away half-hearted appeals, with the defender letting the Scunthorpe man know what he thought of his tumble.
Huckerby's game then came to an end, replaced by Lee Croft in a like-for-like switch.
But with 88 minutes on the clock Marshall was forced into an excellent save to preserve Norwich's flimsy lead.
Forte's cross from the left was perfect for Taylor, and his side-footed effort from six yards out seemed destined for the bottom corner.
But Marshall stuck out a glove to show great reflexes and turn the ball behind for a corner.
It was an outstanding save, and with the game deep in stoppage time Marshall was called into action once again, this time diving spectacularly to his left to tip Matt Sparrow's curling effort wide of the post.
They had been real late heroics by Marshall, and proved crucial as Norwich hung on for a crucial three points, and giving boss Glenn Roeder and early Christmas present at the same time.
Full time: Scunthorpe 0-1 Norwich City
Scunthorpe: Murphy, Williams, Crosby (c), Goodwin, Hayes (Taylor 79), Paterson, Baraclough, Cork, Forte, Hurst (Sparrow 90), Morris. Subs not used: Mulligan, Ameobi, Lillis.
Norwich City: Marshall, Otsemobor, Doherty, Shackell, Camara, Russell, Fotheringham (c), Pattison (Smith 60), Huckerby (Croft 86), Dublin (Cureton 60), Evans. Subs not used: Spillane, Arnold.
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