Reid it and weep Norwich

But it needed a fantastic double save by Steve Banks in added time to deny Iwan Roberts an equaliser after substitute Zema Abbey had reduced the arrears with 20 minutes to go.

Danny Cadamarteri came straight back into the starting line-up after finishing his three-game ban for the Burnley red card. He took over from Michael Proctor, who was relegated to the bench ahead of his return to Sunderland at the end of his loan tonight.

Proctor was joined among the substitutes by Paul Evans, which meant a first start for Australian Paul Reid. The midfielder impressed Nicky Law with his performance for the reserves in midweek.

City were hunting their first victory since September 14 while visitors Norwich, riding high in second place, were seven games unbeaten. A victory for the Canaries coupled with defeat for leaders Portsmouth at Burnley could send them top.

Roberts headed over Steve Banks' bar from a free-kick as Norwich dictated the early stages.

Gus Uhlenbeek gave the home fans something to cheer with a fine tackle on Steen Nedergaard on halfway before launching Cadamarteri on the counter-attack. He was brought down level with the penalty area and as the free-kick bobbed around the box, Cadamarteri had a shot charged down.

Cadamarteri was busy on his return and won a throw-in off Mackay to keep Norwich penned deep in their own territory. Before it could be taken, Drury limped off and was replaced by Paul Heckingbottom.

The early flow of the game had been interrupted although Ward burrowed through a hole to poke from close-range at Green.

Molenaar got into trouble under pressure from Nielsen in his own penalty area but the Dutchman recovered straight away to win the ball back from the Dane.

As the half reached midway Nicky Southall became the first player into the referee's book for clattering Stephen Warnock.

Reid produced the pass of the match in the 32nd minute to dink the ball to Cadamarteri's feet who was a yard clear of his marker just inside the Norwich half. But the striker waited for support on the edge of the penalty box and Gray's cross was headed behind for a corner which Norwich easily negotiated.

Reid was growing in confidence after a nervous start and combined with Cadamarteri again to set up Warnock for a 25-yarder which flew wide.

As City started to ask a few questions, Ward picked out Gray on the right wing and ran into the box to meet the return but he could not get any direction on the header.

Roberts sliced a volley wide before Bower handled on the byline to give Norwich a free-kick which they quickly turned into their second corner. Southall played it short and when he got it back, launched a towering lob into the goalmouth where Banks, under a lot of pressure, just managed to push it out.

City served up their best moment five minutes before half-time. Myers worked a one-two with Reid before crossing deep where Gray jumped well to force a tip-over save from Green.

And from the corner City struck with a sensational debut goal from REID. The Australian was 30 yards out when the ball came to him and without a second's hesitation lashed an unstoppable shot beyond Green and into the roof of the net.

Reid's joy was unconfined and he charged towards the dug-out to celebrate, pursued by a pack of admiring team-mates.

It was an incredible way to mark his first start although City couldn't afford to take their eye off the ball and Southall immediately drew a low save from Banks.

Reid had another chance to worry Green from distance when Ward teed him up on the edge of the penalty area - but this time he fluffed it completely.

But he had produced the best goal seen at the Bradford & Bingley Stadium this season and City deserved the applause from the stands when the half-time whistle blew.

Half-time: City 1 Norwich 0

City had a spring in their step and Cadamarteri left Mackay trailing in his wake after 51 minutes as he tore down on goal. The Norwich defender tried to put him off but Cadamarteri cut back to shoot with his right foot - only to be denied by the outstretched leg of Green.

Norwich survived the corner but again Cadamarteri was in there troubling the visitors and Green had to flick the ball off his toes before a City foul eased the pressure.

Warnock showed great tenacity to reel off three sliding tackles in rapid succession and the fans responded eagerly to his enthusiasm.

City's bright start to the second half was rewarded with another goal after 55 minutes. And it was a second for the new hero Reid.

Cadamarteri was at the hub of the move, holding up possession in the penalty box before laying it back to Ward. He saw REID charging up on his right and left it for the midfielder to fire hard and low. Green got a hand to it but the shot carried too much power as it rifled into the bottom corner.

It was becoming a dream afternoon for the 23-year-old and City, who were closing in on only their second home win in eight attempts.

Unfortunately City's bubble was pricked when Ward was penalised for a foul on Mackay. While the Norwich defender received treatment, Danson called Ward across and pulled out a yellow card - his fifth, which means the centre-forward will miss the Wimbledon home game in a fortnight.

There was a buzz whenever Reid, now on a hat-trick, got near the ball and City were playing with a welcome bit of swagger. It was completely different to the awful display at Hillsborough a week ago.

Reid had another opportunity in the 62nd minute after sweeping a fine pass into the path of Jacobs. The return across the back of the retreating defence was perfect for Reid who drilled a shot straight at Green.

Norwich were throwing more men forward and Holt sparked another attack before finding Nielsen whose cross was headed away for a corner by Uhlenbeek. And from it the Canaries grabbed a lifeline as Southall's corner was knocked in by substitute ABBEY.

City were somehow denied a third goal straight from the kick-off as Ward's shot was deflected off Green and on to the bar. It was still tense stuff and Banks again denied Norwich with a low catch from Abbey's header.

With nine minutes left, Proctor replaced Jacobs and appeared for his last action in a City shirt to a loud cheer.

But he was a spectator as Banks came to his side's rescue once more with a diving save from Heckingbottom.

As the pressure kept building, Norwich came within a whisker of levelling from the resulting corner but Cadamarteri headed off the line.

Proctor, keen to sign off with a goal, forced Green into a jumping save with four minutes to go.

Norwich's away fans thought they had a penalty for handball against Molenaar when the flag went up. But instead it was for offside.

As the game went into added time, Norwich were awarded a spot-kick for Cadamarteri's challenge on Nedergaard. But Banks plunged to his right to block Roberts' penalty and then somehow got up to deflect the rebound over the bar.