Norwich City recorded their second home win in the space of five days as Paul McVeigh's early strike proved decisive.

The former Tottenham striker pounced after just two minutes to record his first goal for the Canaries and provide Nigel Worthington's improving side with another three points to follow the 4-0 drubbing of Stockport on Tuesday.

Wolves had plenty of possession after that - and wasted several clear-cut chances to equalise during a purple patch just before the interval - but a battling Norwich side just about deserved their success.

Indeed they would have won by a bigger margin had a rasping drive from Iwan Roberts not come back off the crossbar in the dying seconds.

The Canaries made a dream start, going ahead with their first effort on the Wolves' goal. Matt Jackson's free-kick was nodded on by defensive colleague Malky Mackay and the diminutive McVeigh got in ahead of Keith Andrews to steer the ball home from close range.

To their credit Wolves responded well to that setback and completely ran rings round Norwich during an incredible 10-minute spell just before the break. George Ndah started the ball rolling as he shot narrowly wide after shrugging off Jackson's challenge and then Norwich were all at sea as first Carl Robinson saw a shot through a crowded area well saved by Andy Marshall and then defender Paul Butler somehow failed to convert Michael Branch's cross.

Wolves went close again four minutes before the break when Robinson's shot following a neat one-two went just wide - and from then on one had the feeling it was not going to be their day.

Norwich almost went two ahead on the stroke of half-time when keeper Michael Oakes did well to foil McVeigh after a dazzling run from Chris Llewellyn - but from then on the home side looked happy enough with what they had got and Wolves gradually ran out of ideas as they sought a way back into the game.

The result was an instantly forgettable second half with even the introduction of £1.5million striker Cedric Roussel failing to liven the proceedings.

The visitors carved out just once chance, Marshall doing well to save Tony Dinning's first-time volley from an Andy Sinton corner while at the other end Norwich barely threatened until Robert's late strike against the woodwork.

Teams:

Norwich: Andy Marshall, Sutch, Jackson, Fleming, Kenton (McGovern 81), Mackay, Russell, Roberts, McVeigh (Forbes 89), Abbey (Nedergaard 60), Llewellyn.

Subs Not Used: Green, Coote.

Booked: Kenton, Sutch.

Goals: McVeigh 3.

Wolverhampton: Oakes, Muscat, Naylor, Pollet, Dinning, Butler, Robinson (Ketsbaia 78), Sinton (Roussel 68), Andrews, Branch, Ndah.

Subs Not Used: Stowell, Lescott, Camara.

Booked: Muscat.

Att: 17,288

Ref: P Jones (Loughborough).