MATCH STATS NORWICH CITY: Green, Colin, Drury, Doherty, Davenport, Marney, Safri, Hughes, Huckerby, Ashton, McVeigh. Subs: Ward, Fleming, Brennan (for Marney, 79), Lisbie (for Ashton, 45), Henderson. HULL CITY: Myhill, Wiseman, Edge, Cort, Delaney, France, Woodhouse, Welsh, Elliott, Fagan, Brown. Subs: Duke, Joseph, Green (for Brown, 45), Price (for Edge, 45), Ellison (for Woodhouse, 73). SCORERS: Norwich: Safri (15), Doherty (39) Hull: Cort (2) TOP CANARY: EDP & EN: Youssef Safri PinkUn Poll: Youssef Safri (37%) ATTENDANCE: 24,740 REFEREE: B Curson (Leicestershire) YELLOW CARDS: Hull: France (28, foul on Drury); Delany (53, foul on Hughes); Woodhouse (71, persistent fouling). RED CARDS: None ADDED TIME: First half: 2 mins Second half: 2 mins SHOTS ON TARGET: Norwich 6, Hull 4 SHOTS OFF TARGET: Norwich 11, Hull 2 CORNERS: Norwich 8, Hull 3 FOULS:  OFFSIDES:  Norwich 2, Hull 2

Tuesday September 27, 2005
CHRIS WISE

Norwich City bounced back from a truly nightmare start in heart-warming fashion to record a much needed victory over Hull at Carrow Road.

The home fans could hardly believe what they were seeing when the Tigers took the lead after just 84 seconds through a powerful header from big defender Leon Cort.

That goal certainly cranked up the pressure on manager Nigel Worthington and his players after Saturday's disappointing home defeat against Reading, but the canaries refused to press the panic button and went on to turn in arguably their best performance of the season to take all three points.

Man of the match Youssef Safri eased the anxiety on 15 minutes when he produced his latest long range thunderbolt to level the scores and Gary Doherty then popped up with a close ranger header six minutes before half-time to net what proved to be the winning goal.

The only disappointment for Worthington on a night of many positives was a sight of Dean Ashton, complete with protective bandage, trudging off at the stroke of half-time suffering from the after effects of the clash of heads at the weekend that prompted a trip down to London to see a specialist on Monday.

Ashton was given the go-ahead to play against the Tigers but he never looked himself and it was no big surprise when he was taken off.

The Canaries had a chance to go in front in the opening 20 seconds after keeper Myhill had made a complete hash of what should have been a routine clearance.

The ball fell kindly at the feet of Dean Marney, who had an unguarded goal to aim at, but from some 20 yards out the on loan Spurs winger fired disappointingly wide.

Youssef Safri unleashes an unstoppable right foot drive into the back of the net to level the score.

The home supporters were still buzzing from that early moment of excitement when the Tigers went in front from their first attack of the game, with just one minute and 24 seconds on the clock. Gary Doherty's foul on Chris Brown gave skipper Curtis Woodhouse a chance to float a free kick to the back post where Cort was lurking and the big centre half had no problem in out-jumping Ashton to send a looping header over Robert Green and into the back of the net.

It was just the sort of nightmare start that the Canaries could have done without after Saturday's painful home defeat against Reading, but with the crowd doing their utmost to lift the atmosphere they responded well and were back on level terms inside 15 minutes.

Youssef Safri celebrates his equaliser with Nigel Worthington.

The equaliser came from a left wing corner, when Darren Huckerby's decision to resist a cross and play the ball out to Safri just outside the area paid rich dividends. With the visitors having neglected to mark the Moroccan international, he had all the time in the world to line up his shot and, following a swift step to the right, he blasted an unstoppable right foot drive into the back of the net.

It was a memorable strike which brought back memories of Safri's previous long-range goals against Bristol Rovers and Newcastle last season, and was just what City needed to settle their nerves.

From that glorious moment to the half-time whistle there was only one team in it and with Huckerby taking centre stage the Canaries put their opponents under almost non-stop pressure. Their football was, at times, a pleasure to watch and Adam Drury and Dean Marney both went close to giving their side a deserved lead with further long-range efforts, Marney's from a 25-yard free kick which followed a crude foul on the rampaging Huckerby.

The relief shows on City match winner Gary Doherty's face as team-mate Jurgen Colin congratulates him on his goal.

A second goal just had to come and it duly arrived on 39 minutes as another Norwich short corner routine came up trumps. This time Huckerby knocked the ball short to Marney who delivered a peach of a cross from the right which an unmarked Doherty headed home with some ease from just inside the six yard box.

Norwich were now rampant and right on the stroke of half-time they could have stretched their lead.

A scintillating link up between Paul McVeigh and that man Huckerby ended with the flying winger sending in a dangerous cross into the box and fortunately for Hull, defender Damien Delaney was there first to make the clearance.

Half-time: Norwich 2, Hull City 1

The loss of Ashton on the stroke of half-time was clearly a blow for the Canaries but his replacement Kevin Lisbe wasted no time in making his presence felt.

With 55 minutes on the clock he latched on to a McVeigh nod on before testing Myhill with a powerful shot and it wasn't long before he was hitting the side netting with another decent effort.

Dean Ashton, having given his all for the Canary cause, despite his head injury is thanked by Nigel Worthington.

The Canaries continued to have the better of the game but their passing matched the crispness of the first half and it was now a more evenly contested affair with Hull finally getting another good effort on goal just before the hour mark.

Northern Ireland international Stuart Elliott tried his luck from all of 25 yards and the effort was heading for the top corner until an under-worked Green got across to make a smart stop.

City clearly needed a third goal to put the match to bed and a glancing header from Calum Davenport which produced another good save out of Myhill almost provided it before the Hull keeper clutched a well struck shot from the lively McVeigh out of the air.

The man with one of the most unusual Christian names in English football then pulled off his best save of the night to prevent Lisbe from making it 3-1.

With just 10 minutes left on the clock McVeigh conjured up a perfect pass to put Huckerby clear down the right and when Lisbe met his cross with his outstretched boot it looked a goal all the way but Myhill came up with a stunning reflex stop to keep it out.

That was the end of the excitement in the Hull penalty area but fortunately for the home fans it was quiet at the other end as well and there were few anxious moments as the canaries recorded only their second home win of the season.

Result: Norwich City 2, Hull City 1