An amazing blunder by Norwich goalkeeper Robert Green gifted Derby victory and dented the visitors' play-off hopes at Pride Park.

The Carrow Road shot-stopper swung and missed at a seemingly innocuous Darren Kenton backpass which then rolled over the line to secure the Rams' first victory in 10 Division One games.

Paul McVeigh's sensational strike had given the Canaries a 10th-minute lead but Craig Burley ensured half-time parity by netting a equaliser in the 24th minute.

Steve Elliott had threatened for the Rams when his fourth-minute header from Giorgi Kinkladze's corner was deflected over the bar and from the resulting flag-kick, Simo Valakari's fierce half-volley was headed clear of the danger area by Kenton.

But it was Norwich who drew first blood when McVeigh advanced from midfield and fired a long-range effort past Andy Oakes via the inside of the post.

And there was another scare for the Rams' keeper moments later when Craig Burley's clearance took a freakish ricochet off Darel Russell and fizzed inches wide.

Russell was off target again in the 17th minute from Steen Nedergaard's right-wing cross before lifting a 25-yard effort over the crossbar after having stolen possession from Burley.

The hosts hit back less than 15 minutes later following a sweeping move begun by Fabrizio Ravanelli from the middle of the park, Paul Boertien making tracks along the left wing before crossing and Burley arriving at the back post to slam an equaliser into the roof of the net.

But Zema Abbey squandered a golden opportunity to restore the Canaries' advantage when he could only direct his half-volley wide of the target after Gary Holt's right-wing centre found him unmarked 10 yards out.

Norwich's Clint Easton was on target with an effort shortly before the break only for an athletic Oakes to tip the ball away by his fingertips, the linesman's flag also being raised for an offisde to guarantee any goal would have been disallowed.

At the other end, Green saved City's bacon and Elliott's near-post header after a pin-point Burley free-kick had been floated into the Norwich penalty area.

Derby's second-half appeals for a penalty after Malky Mackay appeared to hold Ravanelli in the six-yard box were waved away by referee Joe Ross before the Italian was put through by Kinkladze.

But put clear in the box, the striker lost his footing.

That embarrassment was forgotten in the 56th minute as the Rams took the lead thanks to Green's howler, Kenton having passed the ball back when put under pressure by Ravanelli.

With Tommy Mooney racing forward to distract the Canaries keeper, Green missed his kick and turned in horror to see the ball trickling over the line.

Green went part of the way to redeeming himself by saving at the feet of substitute Izale McLeod but Adam Bolder missed three gilt-edged chances to put the result beyond doubt by lobbing onto the roof of the net and then twice shooting wide when set up by Kinkladze.

Teams

Derby: Oakes, Barton, Ritchie, Elliott, Boertien, Jackson, Burley, Kinkladze, Valakari, Mooney (McLeod 74), Ravanelli (Bolder 74).

Subs Not Used: Grant, Palmer, Mills.

Booked: Boertien, Burley, McLeod.

Goals: Burley 24, Kenton 57 og.

Norwich: Green, Nedergaard (Emblen 64), Mackay, Kenton, Shackell, Rivers (Healy 67), Holt, Russell, Easton, Abbey (Roberts 67), McVeigh.

Subs Not Used: Crichton, Sinclair.

Booked: Russell.

Goals: McVeigh 10.

Att: 23,643

Ref: J Ross (Essex).