Chris Hughton's Norwich side always seem to deliver the goods when their manager's position is under threat and that proved the case once again as they outclassed 10-man Sunderland at Carrow Road.
With Barclays Premier League survival the target for both sides on show in Norfolk it was Hughton's Canaries who deservedly ran out 2-0 winners with Robert Snodgrass opening the scoring early on.
Alexander Tettey added the second with a contender for goal of the season and Marcos Alonso was sent off late on for a second yellow card after Norwich had been better than Sunderland in every position.
The Norwich players once again seemed to play for their manager, who has come under pressure in recent weeks. Victories over West Ham, Crystal Palace and Hull came at times earlier in the campaign when the strain on Hughton was at its highest and this win certainly ranks in that category.
Canaries singing: Alex Tettey fires in a contender for goal of the season at Carrow Road
Wonder goal: Alex Tettey wheels away after scoring to give Norwich a 2-0 victory over Sunderland
First blood: Robert Snodgrass opened the scoring with a left-footed shot on 19minutes
Huddle: Norwich team-mates crowd around Alex Tettey to celebrate the his first-half screamer
Match facts
Norwich (4-4-2): Ruddy 6; Martin 6, Yobo 6.5, Bassong 6.5, Olsson 6.5; Snodgrass 7, Howson 7, Tettey 7.5, Hoolahan 6 (Redmond 89); Elmander 6 (Johnson 87), van Wolfswinkel 5.5 (Hooper 71 6).
Subs not used: Bunn, Whittaker, Gutierrez, Becchio.
Booked: Snodgrass, Howson
Manager: Chris Hughton 8
Sunderland (4-5-1): Mannone 5; Bardsley 5, O'Shea 5, Brown 4.5, Alonso 3; Johnson 5 (Scocco 71 5), Bridcutt 5, Colback 4 (Larsson 40 5), Ki 4 (Cattermole 39 5.5), Borini 5; Altidore 4.
Subs not used: Ustari, Celustka, Giaccherini, Vergini.
Booked: Cattermole, Bridcutt, Alonso, Colback
Sent off: Alonso
Manager: Gus Poyet 4
Referee: Phil Dowd 7
MOTM: Tettey
Attendance: 26,654
*Ratings from SAM CUNNINGHAM at Carrow Road
The victory moves Norwich up to 13th and, more importantly, seven points clear of the relegation zone while Gus Poyet has a job on his hands to keep Sunderland afloat.
The hosts were on top from the off, forcing a number of set-pieces which all failed to test Vito Mannone in the Sunderland goal, with the Italian not forced into action until Jonny Howson's drive was hit straight into his arms.
The former Arsenal goalkeeper could do nothing about Snodgrass' opener in the 20th minute after a mix-up in the Black Cats' defence.
Wes Brown failed to clear a low cross and the ball fell kindly at the feet of Johan Elmander, who calmly slotted a pass for Snodgrass to steer past Mannone and put the Canaries ahead.
Howson came close to adding a second five minutes later as the hosts continued to completely dominate, this time arrowing an effort towards the corner only to see Mannone deny him once more.
Ricky van Wolfswinkel, without a goal since the opening day draw against Everton, should have poked home a chance when Elmander's low drive across goal found the Dutchman but he could not get enough contact on the ball to turn it home from six yards out.
The second goal did not take too long to arrive and when it did it was straight out of the top drawer.
John O'Shea headed clear a cross but the dropping ball was hit on the volley by Tettey and it flashed past Mannone and into the far corner.
Poyet's reaction to falling two goals behind was to make a pair of tactical substitutions before the break, hauling off Ki Sung-yeung and Jack Colback and replacing them with Seb Larsson and Lee Cattermole.
Support act: Robert Snodgrass points to Johan Elmander after being set up for the opening goal
It was all yellow: Robert Snodgrass celebrates in front of home fans after his goal puts Norwich in the lead
High-five: Sebastian Bassong (L) slaps hands with goal scorer Alex Tettey after he eases relegation fears
Sleep easier: Norwich manager eased the pressure on his job after calls that he should be sacked
Fabio Borini finally forced a save out of John Ruddy as he shot across the England international, who easily kept hold of the low drive - but that was the best the visitors could muster from a woeful first-half display.
Poyet sent his players out early for the second half with his words of irritation likely to still be ringing in their ears as the game got back under way.
But it was Norwich who continued where they had left off as van Wolfswinkel's downward header from a Wes Hoolahan cross was tipped over by Mannone moments after the restart.
Brown tested Ruddy shortly afterwards as the Black Cats looked to stage an unlikely comeback, with their first real telling period of domination following.
Norwich soon stemmed the tide and the game suffered a lull in proceedings as the hosts looked to close the game out without incident.
You're off! Marcos Alonso of Sunderland is shown a red card for handball in extra-time
Lean on me: Robert Snodgrass (R) of Norwich City blocks off Sunderland defender Wes Brown
Swedish sandwich: Sunderland defenders Wes Brown (L) and John O'Shea get ahead of Johan Elmander
Rally call: John Ruddy shouts encouragement to his defence as Norwich hold out for a clean sheet
Hoolahan came close to adding a third after a neat interchange with substitute Gary Hooper but Mannone held his shot, with Snodgrass firing a free-kick inches over the crossbar with seven minutes remaining.
Alonso, who had already been cautioned for a foul on Snodgrass, was shown a second yellow card by referee Phil Dowd in injury time.
Substitute Nathan Redmond came close at the death but it would have only added the gloss to an important win for Norwich - which will again go some way to keeping the pressure off Hughton.
Stuck in the middle: Robert Snodgrass (C) battles with Sunderland's Marcos Alonso (L) and Lee Cattermole
Chasing the game: Sunderland striker Fabio Borini (R) tries to get the ball off Norwich's Jonny Howson
Tight marking: Adam Johnson (L) fends off a challenge from Norwich goal scorer Alex Tettey
Eastern promise: Sunderland midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng gets past Norwich's Wes Hoolahan
On the inside: Johan Elmander (L) cuts in to evade Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley
Gaffers: Norwich boss Chris Hughton and Sunderland's Gus Poyet speak ahead of the game
Let's be 'aving yer! Celebrity chef and joint majority shareholder Delia Smith watches from the stands
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