Cardiff City have secured a boost in their bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League with a 2-1 win against Norwich City.

The hosts almost took the lead in the first minute. Craig Noone delivered the ball from the right and Jordon Mutch tried an audacious overhead kick, but he did not get enough power on the strike to beat the goalkeeper.

Norwich came back and Jonas Gutierrez headed over, but the away side grabbed the opening goal with just five minutes played.

Martin Olsson was slipped in down the left and played the ball across the box, where Robert Snodgrass was waiting at the back post for a simple finish.

Norwich continued their strong start with some goof football, but Cardiff's Steven Caulker missed a good chance to equalise for the home side when he headed wide.

The Canaries almost doubled their lead following good play by Russell Martin and Johan Elmander, but Bradley Johnson's shot was deflected over the bar.

Craig Bellamy equalised for the home team immediately after the restart, poking the ball past the goalkeeper after being played in by Wilfried Zaha.

The turnaround was complete just a minute later. The ball was whipped in from the right, and Kenwyne Jones fired into the back of the net for a goal on his debut.

However, Norwich almost got an immediate equaliser. Johnson picked up the ball just outside the box and curled in an effort that was tipped onto the bar by David Marshall.

Mutch then saw his shot from just inside the box hit Jones and deflect onto the post.

Nathan Redmond fired in an effort that Marshall did well to save, and then Gary Hooper had a header cleared off the line by Bellamy.

Norwich poured forward in search of an equaliser, but Marshall kept out Leroy Fer, Snodgrass hit the post and Hooper had a goal disallowed for offside as Chris Hughton's side ran out of time.