Norwich City held off a spirited fightback from Cardiff City to take a 3-2 win at Carrow Road this afternoon.
The home side looked in command at the break after taking in a three-goal lead, but the Welsh side responded with two quick-fire efforts after the hour mark. However, they were ultimately unable to secure an equaliser.
Gary Hooper gave the Canaries the lead on 15 minutes when he nodded home at the back post after good work from Cameron Jerome and Nathan Redmond.
Kyle Lafferty extended the home side's advantage when he calmly stroked the ball into the bottom corner from around 20 yards.
The Bluebirds had a chance to reduce the deficit when Carlos Cuellar tripped Adam Le Fondre inside the penalty area.
However, Peter Whittingham saw the resulting spot kick saved by John Ruddy just before the half-hour mark.
Jerome then made it 3-0 at the death of the half to put the Canaries in a commanding position at the break.
Alex Revell reduced the deficit just after the hour mark when he met Whittingham's cross on the volley and it only took three minutes before it was 3-2.
Kadeem Harris got himself on the end of Revell's flick-on to convert and set up a nervy final 25 minutes for the home side.
Norwich had a penalty shout waved away after Jerome went down inside the area shortly after Redmond had forced a save from the goalkeeper.
Revell should have levelled the game when he headed wide after another excellent delivery from Whittingham.
Wes Hoolahan, who was introduced as a second-half substitute, almost gave the home side breathing room when he arrowed a shot just over the bar with 13 minutes remaining.
The Canaries managed to hang on in the closing stages, however, giving their playoff hopes a boost in the process.
Paul Gorst
