The Canaries may have had to do without the services of top scorer Robert Earnshaw yesterday, after the 13-goal front man failed a late fitness test in front of the early arrivals after picking up a knee injury in training. But any concerns over his unwelcome absence were more than counteracted by the announcement, delivered just before kick-off, that veteran talisman Darren Huckerby had signed a new one year deal that should keep him at Carrow Road beyond his 32nd birthday.

A crowd criticised for being too quiet by new manager Peter Grant last month, were in the mood for a pre-festive cracker after hearing that welcome news.

But sadly for the home fans it never arrived, with Wednesday taking the game by the scruff of the neck from the early stages and making their hosts look distinctly second best for lengthy periods.

Brian Laws inherited a side on the up when he took over at the beginning of November and on this evidence you can see why he has guided them to four wins a draw from his six matches in charge.

With a strong defence and central midfield, lively performers on the flanks and two top-quality Championship forwards in Marcus Tudgay and Deon Burton on board, they look a half decent outfit at this level.

Add to that a healthy dose of confidence instilled by the new boss and you have the potential for a winning formula.

Norwich threatened early on, with Huckerby almost writing his own script when he burst clear after 10 minutes, only to screw his shot horribly wide. He also sent over a superb cross towards the end of the half that an unmarked Peter Thorne somehow contrived to head over from close range.

But overall Wednesday were in charge and on loan keeper Lee Camp was the busier keeper, making one particularly good stop to deny young defender Tommy Spurr following a neat one two on the edge of the area.

The writing was on the wall for the Canaries as the visitors continued to dominate after the interval and it was no big surprise when Laws’ men took the lead on the 79th minutes courtesy of one of the strangest goals you are ever likely to see.

Talented Algerian Madjid Bougherra looked to have had an agonising near miss when his half-volley from some 20 yards out hit the underside of the bar and came out. But to the dismay of the home fans the ball then struck the back of the prone keeper and trickled over the line.

It was a huge slice of good fortune for the visitors but in this game you generally make your own luck by the quality, or otherwise, of your play, and it was a most certainly a richly deserved goal.

Wednesday duly added a second three minutes later when Burton prodded home Spurr’s cross after it had been missed by Dion Dublin and although the Norwich veteran quickly atoned for his error by pulling one back from a free header the visitors survived one massive scare to take all three points.

It seemed as though the Canaries had been given an undeserved chance of an equaliser when referee Andy Woolmer pointed to the spot after a clear handball by Lee Bullen as the hosts launched another desperate high ball into the box. But the assistant’s flag had already gone up for offside, and Norwich were denied their get out of jail card.

Grant refused to be make a big issue of the incident afterwards - “It would have been a injustice to Wednesday if we had got back on level terms then” - while his opposite number was keeping feet firmly on the ground after guiding his side to the fringes of the play-off zone.

“The most important thing is that there is a building process and we become as good Championship side,” he said. “If we keep improving then at some stage we’ll get there (to the premiership). When that will be I can’t tell you but I was very pleased with our performance today.”