Borja Sainz was the hero as Norwich City came from behind to beat 10-man Coventry 2-1 at Carrow Road.
Callum O'Hare opened the scoring for Mark Robins' side shortly after half time, but Josh Sargent's equaliser and a red card for Liam Kitching quickly turned things in the Canaries' favour.
Sainz then curled home from the edge of the box to secure a valuable three points and send the home crowd into raptures in the process.
Norwich had the best of the first half and could have opened the scoring when Kenny McLean sent Sargent through on goal. The American could only poke wide, however, to the relief of Sky Blues stopper Bradley Collins.
Collins was also required when Gabriel Sara curled towards goal and when Christian Fassnacht's shot forced him into action, but it was the visitors who took the lead early in the second half.
David Wagner's side had been making too many errors in possession, and they were eventually punished with the deadlock breaker, Callum O'Hare beating Jack Stacey and Shane Duffy to curl beyond Angus Gunn.
Gunn then kept the hosts in the game when he denied Haji Wright from close range, Sargent taking full advantage shortly thereafter.
Ashley Barnes' introduction was the catalyst, his pass finding Sara wide before his volley from the resulting cross fell straight into the 23-year-old's lap. He made no mistake, levelling the scores and giving Norwich the momentum going into the final third of the game.
Kitching's red card added to that when he brought Sargent down in the 70th minute, Sara clipping the bar from the resulting free-kick.
And after 14 minutes of pushing, the Norfolk side found the goal they were desperate for. Sainz exchanged passes with Barnes and the result was inevitable thereafter, curling beyond Collins an accelerating City's push for the Championship play-offs.
NORWICH CITY:
Substitutes:
12. Long
5. Hanley
8. Gibbs (on for Sainz, 90+1)
10. Barnes (on for Nunez, 57)
14. van Hooijdonk (on for Sargent, 90+1)
15. McCallum (on for Giannoulis, 82)
19. Sorensen
25. Hernandez (on for Fassnacht, 57)
35. Fisher
Head Coach: David Wagner
Bookings: Nunez (22), McLean (45)
Goals: Sargent (60), Sainz (84)
COVENTRY CITY:
Substitutes:
13. Wilson (GK)
2. Binks (on for Sakamoto, 75)
3. Dasilva (on for Bidwell, 70)
6. Kelly
22. Latibeaudiere
24. Godden (on for O'Hare, 90+1)
28. Eccles (on for Torp, 70)
30. Tavares
45. Palmer (on for Simms, 75)
Manager: Mark Robins
Bookings: Kitching (35), Thomas (90+7)
Sent off: Kitching (70)
Goals: O'Hare (48)
KEY MOMENTS
3 - Sainz's pass is cleared as far as Fassnacht, who curls goalward from the edge of the box. Collins parries his effort to Sargent, but the American can't make anything of the rebound.
6 - Sargent works some room to shoot in the box before a good Bidwell block denies him.
8 - Wright flashes across goal with no takers from the visitors.
14 - McLean sends Sargent into space with a fantastic pass and he works his way into the box, but pokes wide on the stretch.
29 - Sara curls towards goal, but his shot is straight at Collins.
39 - Wright drives into the Norwich box and fires towards the near post, but Gunn gets across to turn behind.
41 - Torp sends his long-ranger just over the bar.
Half time: Norwich City 0-0 Coventry City
48 - GOAL COVENTRY (O'Hare): McLean's header ends up with O'Hare after a Norwich throw. The Sky Blues midfielder wriggles past Stacey and Duffy and curls into the far corner for 1-0.
53 - Wright nutmegs Duffy and should score from 10 yards, but Gunn's outstretched leg denies him.
60 - GOAL NORWICH (Sargent): Sara's cross finds Barnes, whose volley is blocked straight to Sargent to fire in on the volley.
70 - RED CARD COVENTRY (Kitching): McLean sends Sargent through on goal again, and he's brought down outside the box by Kitching, who's sent off.
72 - Sara clips the bar from the resulting free-kick.
75 - McLean's cross only just evades an unmarked Sainz.
77 - Coventry work it through for Palmer one-on-one, but Gunn pulls off another fantastic save to deny him.
78 - Sargent bundles his way to a shooting opportunity, but sees a deflection loop his effort comfortably back to Collins.
84 - GOAL NORWICH (Sainz): Sainz and Barnes exchange passes on the edge of the box before the former fires into the far corner.
Full time: Norwich City 2-1 Coventry City
PLAYER RATINGS
Gunn 8, Stacey 7, Duffy 5, Gibson 7, Giannoulis 6, McLean 5, Nunez 7, Fassnacht 6, Sara 6, Sainz 8, Sargent 8. Subs: Hernandez 6, Barnes 8, McCallum 6, van Hooijdonk 5, Gibbs 5.
MATCH STATISTICS
Possession: 59%-41%
Shots: 21-8
On target: 5-5
Corners: 5-2
Fouls: 11-6
Added time: 1 min/6 mins
ATTENDANCE: 26,306 (1,870 Coventry)
REFEREE: Gavin Ward
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here