David Ozoh’s winner for Derby County sent Norwich City into the relegation zone and heaped more pressure on Canaries boss Liam Manning.
Norwich have slipped into the bottom three after stretching their winless run to seven league games.
Manning only took over at his hometown club in the summer, but has been left fighting for his job after seeing their promotion hopes potentially turn into a relegation scrap.
On-loan Crystal Palace midfielder Ozoh earned Derby their first home win in nine games – and manager John Eustace’s first victory over Norwich, at the seventh attempt.
This massive win eased the pressure on Eustace, who demanded a response from his players after their dreadful defeat at Oxford on Saturday.
It all looked so different at half-time as Norwich had been dominant. But Derby made them pay for failing to turn their superiority into a lead.
Norwich began brightly and went close to scoring in the opening minutes when Derby goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom saved from Liam Gibbs and then Oscar Schwartau from the rebound.
Norwich’s profligacy almost cost them when Carlton Morris broke through and pulled the ball back for Ben Brereton Diaz, only for Jakov Medic to make a timely challenge.
Norwich were left to rue their failure to make their dominance count when Derby turned the game on its head.
First, Vladan Kovacevic made a fine save to deny Morris from Patrick Agyemang’s pass, before Ozoh broke the deadlock seconds later in the 55th minute.
Again, Agyemang was the provider, beating Pelle Mattsson too easily on the left, before he teed up Ozoh, who scored right-footed into the far top corner.
Now it was all Derby as Norwich’s confidence vanished and Kovacevic made a stunning stop to keep out Agyemang’s header from Brereton Diaz’s cross.
Norwich did go close, but luck was against them as Ante Crnac’s shot flew across goal and off the inside of the far post.