Robbie Fowler became only the third man to chalk up 150 Premier League goals as he helped Manchester City recover from an appalling start to net a stoppage-time winner against struggling Norwich at Carrow Road.

The one-time prolific former Liverpool and England striker netted his landmark strike just before half-time after Kevin Keegan's men had found themselves trailing to early goals from Dean Ashton and Leon McKenzie.

Antoine Sibierski was the other City scorer during the first half, and Norwich paid the penalty for some more wayward defending when - following Mattias Jonson's dismissal for two second-half cautions - Fowler tapped in a winner after Robert Green had parried Shaun Wright-Phillips' near-post drive.

The result could prove costly for Norwich in their quest to stave off relegation, with the Canaries now some five points adrift of safety and games fast running out to save their season.

Wright-Phillips showed early signs of his intent, the England man jetting off on a foraging run down the right before running out of steam and being closed out on the edge of the Norwich box.

At the other end, a lovely one-two involving Ashton and Damien Francis on the edge of the penalty area sent the Norwich midfielder through, but his cut-back across goal was tame and David James collected easily.

The England 'keeper was soon exposed by a moment of brilliance from Ashton after 12 minutes.

There seemed little danger as Adam Drury floated a high ball into the visitors' box.

Norwich's record £3million signing got ahead of both Richard Dunne and Sylvain Distin, allowed the ball to drop over his shoulder, before dispatching a sublime flick with the outside of his boot, which looped into the far corner as James scrambled back in vein.

City immediately went on the offensive, and it needed a wall of yellow shirts to charge down and deflect his 20-yard drive behind.

However, the visitors were then undone on the break as Norwich raced into a 2-0 lead.

Ashton intercepted the ball in the centre circle and fed McKenzie on 16 minutes.

The former Peterborough man showed the City back line a clean pair of heels, before drawing James off his line.

And just when skipper Distin looked to have made up enough ground for a last-gasp, saving challenge, McKenzie expertly rolled the ball past the 'keeper.

Fowler then sent the ball blazing over the crossbar before England squad 'keeper Robert Green kept out Wright-Phillips' near-post drive with his legs.

Norwich failed to clear their lines from the resulting corner, and Sibierski nodded in a free header from Kiki Musampa's deep right-wing cross after 24 minutes.

On 32 minutes, Gary Holt was more than fortunate to see young centre-back Jason Shackell mop up his stray back pass, which had almost put Fowler in on goal.

But Fowler was soon celebrating his landmark strike five minutes later.

Sibierski collected a throw-in from the left, and sent a superb through ball between the centre-half and full-back for Wright-Phillips to collect.

The pacey winger raced to the byline before cutting a slide-rule pass back along the six-yard box for Fowler to fire home, despite Drury's lame attempt at a goal-line block.

Neither side made any changes at the break, then with 50 minutes gone, Barton was cautioned for a late challenge on Drury, and Jonson soon followed after manhandling Wright-Phillips to the floor.

The hosts were then reduced to 10 men after 67 minutes when Jonson needlessly slid in heavily on Barton as he held the ball up out on the far touchline, which gave referee Rob Styles little option but to reach for his top pocket again.

The atmosphere then turned somewhat hostile towards the man in black, which was not helped when he let a couple of hefty challenges from the visitors go unpunished.

In the 71st minute, McKenzie combined with Ashton to send the former Crewe marksman clear in on the angle, and it needed a fine save from James to keep the scores level.

Mills sent a pot-shot high into the stands as the final 10 minutes approached.

Had McKenzie's cut-back from the byline fallen more kindly for substitute Youssef Safri, it could have been a welcome happy ending for the Canaries.

It was not to be, as in stoppage time, Green could only parry Wright-Phillips' close-range low cross and Fowler was on hand to stab the lose ball home for Premier League goal number 151.

Teams

Norwich: Green, Edworthy, Fleming, Shackell, Drury, Stuart (Safri 74), Holt, Francis, Jonson, McKenzie, Ashton.

Subs Not Used: Gallacher, Charlton, McVeigh, Henderson.

Sent Off: Jonson (66).

Booked: Stuart, Jonson.

Goals: Ashton 12, McKenzie 16.

Man City: James, Mills, Dunne, Distin, Jordan, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Bosvelt, Barton, Musampa, Sibierski, Fowler.

Subs Not Used: Sommeil, Weaver, McManaman, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Flood.

Booked: Barton, Jordan.

Goals: Sibierski 25, Fowler 37, 90.

Att: 24,302

Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).