Lee Hughes's first-half penalty was enough to give promotion-chasing West Brom a vital victory at Carrow Road.

Hughes coolly slotted home his 18th goal of the season in the 31st minute after Malky MacKay tripped Jason Roberts in the box.

The Baggies deserved their victory for the manner in which they dominated a one-sided first half, although the battling Canaries made them sweat in the latter stages of the second with a spirited comeback.

Gary Megson's side took control from the word go and might have gone ahead as early as the ninth minute when former Norwich winger Ruel Fox curled a shot just over the bar.

As the visitors continued to dominate, Michael Appleton shot disappointingly straight at Andy Marshall when well-placed and Hughes had a goal ruled out after being penalised for jumping at the Norwich keeper.

But two minutes after that setback, Albion's top scorer put his side ahead from the spot and the visitors then went close to wrapping the game up in the early stages of the second period.

Marshall produced a good save to keep out Hughes' curling shot in the 53rd minute and two minutes later made an absolutely outstanding stop to block Roberts' acrobatic scissor-kick from close range.

From then on the Baggies were rarely seen as an attacking force as the appearance of substitute Adrian Forbes prompted a spirited last half-hour from the home side who had barely mustered a shot on goal until then.

Their best chance arrived on 59 minutes when Paul McVeigh found himself in a one-on-one with keeper Russell Hoult after Darel Russell's cross had been flicked on.

But incredibly, with the goal at his mercy, the former Spurs frontman shot weakly straight at the keeper.

After that Russell and Chris Llewellyn both went close as the visitors concentrated purely and simply on defence, but in the end Nigel Worthington was left to reflect on his first home defeat since taking charge at Carrow Road.

Teams:

Norwich: Andy Marshall, Kenton (McGovern 49), Jackson (Coote 80), Fleming, Lee Marshall, Mackay, Roberts, Russell, McVeigh, Abbey (Forbes 57), Llewellyn.

Subs Not Used: Sutch, Green.

Booked: Lee Marshall, Roberts.

West Brom: Hoult, Lyttle, Clement, Van Blerk, Butler, Sigurdsson, Fox, Appleton, Sneekes, Roberts (Taylor 86), Hughes (Jordao 65).

Subs Not Used: Jensen, Adam Chambers, James Chambers.

Booked: Van Blerk, Jordao.

Goals: Hughes 33 pen.

Att: 16,372

Ref: R Furnandiz (Doncaster).