The unlikely scenario of Premier League football returning to Carrow Road next season moved a small step closer as Norwich came from behind to beat Wolves 3-1 in the first leg of their play-off semi-final at Carrow Road.

Dean Sturridge had put the visitors ahead on 22 minutes, but Norwich, who only lost twice at home during the regular season, produced a storming second-half display.

Goals from Mark Rivers, Paul McVeigh and skipper Malky MacKay's injury-time header ensured Nigel Worthington's men take a two-goal cushion into Wednesday night's second leg in the West Midlands.

The Canaries' late run of five wins in eight matches saw them edge out Burnley and sneak into the top six by virtue of a single goal after beating Stockport 2-0 on the final day of the season.

By contrast, just 10 points from their last nine games cost Wolves an automatic promotion berth and sent Dave Jones' men into the play-off lottery in search of an end to their 18-year exile from the top flight.

Wolves lost 2-0 here in November and were held to a goalless draw by Norwich in the West Midlands last month - and the capacity home support were determined to play their part.

Carrow Road was a sea of yellow and green, the noisy Canaries faithful making the most of the occasion after a seven-year wait to reach the play-offs.

It was not pretty stuff considering the blustery conditions in the opening stages, but when the ball was kept on the floor it was Norwich who worked the first clear opening on 14 minutes.

Mackay fed David Nielsen on the left of the box, who in turn slipped the ball inside to full-back Adam Drury. His angled shot was on target, but Michael Oakes stood up well at the near post to deflect behind for a corner which came to nothing.

Clint Easton was then wide and high with a 20-yard free-kick after Wolves' Alex Rae had earned himself a caution for a trip on Philip Mulryne.

The Canaries had their tails up now and forced a succession of corners, but each time the delivery was poor.

And they were made to pay when Wolves took the lead with virtually their first chance of the game after 21 minutes.

Kevin Cooper delivered a deep ball in from the left which was nodded down by Shaun Newton. The Norwich defence failed to clear as Nathan Blake tried an acrobatic over-head kick.

The loose ball fell to Sturridge who worked an opening to bundle home from two yards.

Norwich had a golden chance to equalise immediately when Rivers' deep cross was nodded back by Easton into the path of Gary Holt. But the player of the season could not keep his 12-yard drive down and it flew high over the bar.

Two minutes into the second half, Robert Green had to turn Blake's low centre behind under pressure from Sturridge at the near post. Colin Cameron sent his free header wide from the resulting corner.

Wolves once again dealt with anything Norwich pumped forward, but came unstuck on 55 minutes. This time it was the visitors who failed to clear their lines from a corner, Mackay heading the ball back into the box. Rivers was unmarked on the penalty spot and steered the ball into the far corner with an acrobatic volley past Oakes' despairing dive to level the tie.

Now realising they might have a game on their hands, Wolves - favourites to claim the final place in the Premiership next season - stepped up a gear.

Mackay timed his tackle to perfection to poke the ball away from Newton as the striker shaped to shoot from just inside the box.

Some desperate defending from the home side managed to deal with a succession of corners as the game moved into the final half-hour.

But it was Norwich who got the crucial second goal on 73 minutes. The ball was worked out to Easton on the left, who beat his marker before picking out McVeigh with a wonderful floating cross for the Northern Ireland international to head over Oakes and into the net.

In stoppage time, substitute Alex Notman was felled by Mohamed Camara a couple of yards from the by-line on the right-edge of the box.

Easton floated in the free-kick for MacKay to extend Norwich's advantage with a powerful header at the back post and leave Wolves with it all to do on Wednesday night if they are to prevent Norwich from taking an unlikely place in the play-off final at Cardiff next month.

Teams

Norwich: Green, Kenton, Mackay, Fleming, Drury, Rivers (Iwan Roberts 77), Holt, Mulryne, Easton, McVeigh (Notman 82), Nielsen (Libbra 86).

Subs Not Used: Crichton, Sutch.

Booked: Easton.

Goals: Rivers 56, McVeigh 73, Mackay 90.

Wolverhampton: Oakes, Halle, Butler, Lescott, Camara, Newton (Miller 73), Cameron, Rae, Cooper, Blake (Proudlock 82), Sturridge.

Subs Not Used: Murray, Naylor, Pollet.

Booked: Rae, Sturridge, Cooper, Camara.

Goals: Sturridge 22.

Att: 20,127

Ref: R Furnandiz (Doncaster).