Fourth-placed Everton re-established their seven-point lead over neighbours Liverpool with a narrow victory over Norwich at Goodison Park.

The race for the final Champions League berth is becoming an increasingly bitter battle between the Merseyside rivals - and the plucky Canaries were caught in the crossfire.

The visitors had battled bravely throughout and could have been ahead had Dean Ashton and Darren Huckerby not wasted glorious second-half chances.

But in the end it was the influence of Duncan Ferguson, on as a late substitute, who caused the chaos which saw Everton grab a priceless victory.

Ferguson and Gary Doherty both hurled themselves at the ball after 77 minutes in the six-yard box and it ended up in the net. Ferguson claimed the only goal of the game and it would take a brave man to take it away from him.

Everton recalled veteran goalkeeper Nigel Martyn in place of Richard Wright after a six-match absence with a calf injury.

Tony Hibbert and David Weir also returned after being rested for the FA Cup win against Sunderland.

However, the home side were missing midfielder Leon Osman with a knee problem, meaning Joseph Yobo switched to a defensive midfield role.

Norwich, without a win in seven league matches, brought in Gary Holt for Phil Mulryne while new signing Graham Stuart, the former Everton player, was on the bench after his switch from Charlton.

The only highlight of a scrappy opening spell came when Everton boss David Moyes fell flat on his back in the technical area after trying to trap a clearance.

Norwich's industry and defensive determination kept Everton at arm's length early on, but the home side did threaten when Hibbert's run and cross from the right was dummied by James Beattie and stabbed wide by Kevin Kilbane.

Norwich went close when Martyn had to throw himself at Dean Ashton's feet, with the rebound being blazed over the bar by Mattias Jonson.

Stubbs' 20-yard shot following a short free-kick flew high over the bar but, apart from that, Everton were struggling to make serious inroads into the Canaries' defence.

Darren Huckerby's pace worried Stubbs on a couple of occasions before James McFadden's cross from the right just eluded Beattie as the big striker hurled himself at the ball.

Kilbane was the next to throw himself at a Hibbert cross and failed to connect by inches in the 29th minute.

McFadden's crossing was proving ineffective and he had no better luck with his shooting as he cut in from the line to fire a fierce shot goalwards only to see it poleaxe Lee Carsley in the box just eight yards out.

Jim Brennan was far too slow to react with the goal at his mercy when Huckerby's mishit ball across goal appeared to be on a plate for him.

Carsley charged down a hopeful 20-yard shot from Holt, and Tim Cahill just failed to connect with a Beattie knockdown from Alessandro Pistone's cross. Huckerby and Yobo both saw pot-shots sail yards wide just before the break.

Former Everton favourite Graham Stuart came on for Norwich at the break, replacing Adam Drury, to a great reception from the home fans.

But it was Everton now who were playing with more urgency.

Norwich failed to clear their lines and Kilbane's low drive drew a low save from Green at the foot of the post.

Beattie burst into life in the 54th minutes when he cut across the face of the box to send a dipping drive inches over the crossbar.

Three minutes later Cahill got to the line on the left and fired in a near-post cross which Beattie met on the run and flicked just wide.

Norwich responded with a Huckerby drive into the side-netting and then an ambitious angled hook forced Martyn to hold on at his near post.

Everton's usual answer to such an impasse is to send on Duncan Ferguson, and the big Scot duly arrived in the 63rd minute to replace Weir, with Yobo dropping into the centre of defence. An aerial barrage was sure to follow.

Gary Doherty fouled Ferguson on the edge of the box and Carsley's 67th-minute curling free-kick was superbly saved by Green.

At the other end Ashton's free header from Huckerby's cross was straight at Martyn, and with their next attack Huckerby should have scored from 10 yards but he allowed Martyn to make another save.

Next into the fray was Marcus Bent in place of Beattie after 77 minutes, but the style of Everton's attack was the same.

And two minutes after the substitution, the home side took the lead. McFadden's cross was met by a powerful close-range header by Bent and Green made a fine save.

But the ball dropped into the six-yard box where Ferguson's outstretched boot and desperate Doherty's lunge sent the ball spinning into the net.

Ferguson claimed the goal in the resulting mayhem but it could easily have been an own goal.

Norwich responded by sending on another striker, Leon McKenzie, in place of Jonson to try to salvage something for all their hard work.

Huckerby was a constant danger now, and Hibbert was booked for a trip on the flying winger with eight minutes left. Everton needed an extra defender and Gary Naysmith replaced McFadden.

Then a Damien Francis shot appeared to hit an Everton hand in the box, but furious appeals were waved away by referee Alan Wiley.

Teams

Everton Martyn, Hibbert, Stubbs, Weir (Ferguson 64), Pistone, Yobo, McFadden (Naysmith 87), Carsley, Cahill, Kilbane, Beattie (Bent 76).

Subs Not Used: Wright, Chadwick.

Booked: Hibbert.

Goals: Ferguson 78.

Norwich Green, Edworthy, Doherty, Fleming, Drury (Stuart 45), Jonson (McKenzie 81), Holt, Francis, Brennan, Huckerby, Ashton.

Subs Not Used: Gallacher, McVeigh, Shackell.

Att: 37,485

Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire).