A hip injury to David Raven brought Ian Harte over to cover at left back with Evan Horwood making his first league start of the season in the left back position.

Scott Dobie was given the task of leading the line following his two-goal haul in the JPT on Tuesday night with Joe Anyinsah also recalled up front.

Grant Holt caused the first moment of anxiety on 7 minutes when he crossed towards the back post from the right. Pidgeley came to claim it, but Harte had to shepherd it behind as it evaded the keeper's clutches.

Chris Martin sent one over the bar from 20-yards on 12 minutes when it opened up in front of him following a patient build up, but Carlisle almost took the lead on 16 minutes when Robson curled a wicked corner delivery towards the 6-yard line. Ian Harte scuffed his first volley and Forster recovered to smother the ball before the United defender could stab it home.

Joe Anyinsah sent a grass cutter right at the Canaries stopper as United started to press forward and the same player sent a shot over the angle of post and bar when he carried the ball from the half way line before letting one go with his left foot.

The Cumbrians had hearts racing again on 25 minutes when a Dobie back heel put Robson free in the area. He hustled his marker out of the way and forced Forster into a near post save as he tried to squeeze the ball in.

Ian Harte shaved the top of the bar with a fierce free kick from 19-yards when Dobie was held down by Doherty and Kevan Hurst pulled a long range shot wide as Carlisle stayed on top.

Scott Dobie tried an unusual back flick as Harte sent the ball in from the right flank, but it skipped away off his heel and behind for a goal kick.

A mix up in the Carlisle defence almost handed a scoring opportunity to Adam Drury as Pidgeley found himself stranded on the floor. Harte had initially tried to cushion the ball down for the advancing keeper but the pair got their bearings wrong and they were relieved to see the Canaries left back stab the ball ino the side netting.

Having played well Carlisle conceded the lead when Norwich broke down the left. As the ball was sprayed wide Lappin appeared to be offside, and the situation worsened when the mishit cross somehow bobbled through Kavanagh's legs as he tried to clear. Wes Hoolahan gratefully accepted the gift he had been handed as he poked the ball beyond the helpless Lenny Pidgeley.

Joe Anyinsah screwed a long shot wide as United tried to reply and Hoolahan put one right at Pidgeley at the other end as the game opened up.

Half Time: United 0 - 1 Norwich

The Canaries had the first chance of the second half when they bullied their way through the centre of the park and into the area. Berthel Askou received the cut back but he couldn't keep it down as he rifled his shot over the bar.

Grant Holt sent a tame header straight at Pidgeley as Norwich had the better of the exchanges, but Anyinsah kept testing the defence as he used his pace.

Livesey had to block from Martin when he overlapped and pulled the trigger and Taiwo stole the ball from Hoolahan's toes with an inch perfect tackle just as he spotted a clear sight of the target.

Taiwo completed another magnificent saving tackle on 61 minutes when he threw his body in the way of Smith following another patient build up from the visitors.

The Canaries robbed the ball in midfield and sprung a quick attack in the 62nd minute and it took a diving save from Pidgeley to stop Hoolahan from claiming his second of the day. Grant Holt nodded the resulting corner right at the United stopper and he parried it away, with Smith wasting the follow up effort.

Anyinsah was forced wide as Carlisle tried to raise the crowd, and Forster had to block as he bustled his way through and shot low. Dobie then hit the side netting when he showed good strength up against Doherty.

Chris Martin sent one millimetres wide of the upright when he crept in from the right touchline and Grant Holt volleyed high when he was left unmarked in the box.

Pidgeley kept his side in it in the 75th minute when Holt led the charge from midfield. He played Smith into the box but Pidgeley timed his move and saved with both hands to deny the disappointed Norwich man.

Dobie couldn't get any power on a 79th minute header when Bridge-Wilkinson lobbed the ball towards him, and there was noone there to meet a Dobie cut back when he forged his way to the bye line and delivered a lovely cross.

Grant Holt had to clear a dipping Harte free kick from his goal line as the clock ticked down, and Bridge-Wilkinson brough a full length save out of Forster with a fierce shot deep into time added on, but that was the last of the action as the Canaries held on to take the points.

Goals

Norwich - Hoolahan (41)

Bookings

United - Kavanagh (45), Keogh (90)

Norwich - Lappin (30), McDonald (88)

Teams 

United - Pidgeley, Harte, Livesey, Keogh, Horwood (Offiong 82), Hurst, Taiwo, Kavanagh (Bridge-Wilkinson 64), Robson, Anyinsah, Dobie. Subs - Collin, Murphy, Rothery, Tinnion, Madine.

Norwich - Forster, Drury, Holt, Doherty, Hoolahan, Martin (McDonald 87), Lappin, Russell, Smith, Berthel Askou, Francomb (Adeyemi 82). Subs - Theoklitos, Cureton, McVeigh, Wiggins, Daley.

Away fans - 1014