For the second consecutive game Canaries striker Jamie Cureton found himself in among the goals as he repeated his performance against Stevenage Borough with another brace against Northampton Town at Sixfields.

For the second consecutive game Canaries striker Jamie Cureton found himself in among the goals as he repeated his performance against Stevenage Borough with another brace against Northampton Town at Sixfields.

Ian Crook's side had to come from a goal down to bag all three points and while the performance was not as convincing as the one at Carrow Road last week City were certainly good value for their win.

With Paul Lambert in attendance Owain Tudur Jones played his first game under the City boss when he came off the bench at the start of the second half to join Matthew Gill - who got an hour under his belt - in the centre of midfield.

There was some concern for Luke Daley, who needed treatment after the warm-up, but nevertheless he took his place in the starting line-up.

The game took some time to get into gear and the first action of note came on 20 minutes. A good run and cross from Dario Dumic saw Cody McDonald fail to control the ball on the penalty spot, allowing the Cobblers keeper Paul Walker to collect the loose ball.

Just five minutes later the home side took the lead when, after a mix up in the City defence, Joe Benjamin beat City keeper Michael Theoklitos with a low shot at the near post.

Their lead was short-lived however as just four minutes later some good work between McDonald and Cureton saw McDonald fire in a rasping shot that Walker could only parry into the path of Daley, who slotted the ball home.

Shortly before the break Northampton almost restored their lead through Benjamin but a combination of Theoklitos and Rhoys Wiggins cleared the danger.

Crook introduced Josh Dawkin at the start of the second half for Daley, who was clearly not 100pc, while Tom Adeyemi was replaced by Tudur Jones, making his comeback from a calf injury picked up in the Carling Cup defeat against Sunderland back in August.

The Welshman's first touch sent McDonald clear but his cross was fired high over the cross bar by Paul McVeigh.

McVeigh made amends on 63 minutes, however, with a looping pass that Cureton allowed to bounce once before firing home from 25 yards into the far corner, beyond the reach of Walker.

With 10 minutes left McVeigh again turned provider and when he sent McDonald clear the former Dartford striker picked out Cureton for his second and City's third goal.

Norwich were forced to play the final four minutes with 10 men when McDonald was forced off after he took a knock earlier in the half but Crook's team comfortably saw the game out.

t Northampton Town Res: Walker, Ruddick, Marsh-Brown, Dyer, Kanyuka, Withers, McGowan, Jacobs, Konstantinou (Farquharson 75) Harris, Benjamin. Subs not used: Cray, Urquhart, McBride.

t Norwich City Res: Theoklitos, Dumic, Wiggins, Kelly, Stephens, Gill (Lathrope 64), McVeigh, Adeyemi (Tudur Jones 45), McDonald, Cureton, Daley (Dawkin 45). Subs not used: Steer, Habergham.