A crazy fourteen minute second half spell condemned Luton to their first defeat of the season as Norwich came from two goals down to collect all three points at Carrow Road.

A superbly executed strike from Rowan Vine on 16 mins, and a well worked move finished off by Dean Morgan on 52 minutes had put Luton firmly in the driving seat.

However, despite a call from manager Mike Newell to become more defensive and exercise caution when ahead this season, Norwich made the most of some sloppy errors in Luton's defence to complete a spirited fight back.

Darren Huckerby got the ball rolling on 56 minutes, before Norwich's new signing Lee Croft equalised and striker Robert Earnshaw struck the winner from close range.

To compound a miserable afternoon for the Hatters, Marcus Heikkinen, Carlos Edwards and Lewis Emanuel were all substituted after suffering injuries.

Hatters skipper Steve Robinson also suffered a late injury, but was forced to limp through the final stages of the game as all three substitutes had already been used.

Newell had named the same starting line-up that had earned wins against Leicester on the opening day of the season and Sheff Wed three days later.

Norwich, who had former Hatter Gary Doherty in their starting line-up, also named an unchanged team that had beaten Preston in midweek.

The Norfolk downpours unsettled both sides in the early stages of the game. The heavy rainfall had made the Carrow Road surface slippery, with both sets of players finding it hard to adjust to the conditions.

However, both teams tried to get the ball down on the ground and both teams made a positive start to the game.

The deadlock was almost broken on ten minutes when Steve Robinson's corner was hit back across the face of goal by Rowan Vine. Richard Langley also miskicked from six yards, and Robinson saw sight of goal but failed to find the target.

Luton continued to show more urgency in their football, and took the lead on 16 minutes through Vine's superbly struck shot.

Twenty-five yards out, the former Portsmouth striker received a short pass from Warren Feeney and turned to fire home beyond the outstretched arms of Norwich keeper Paul Gallacher.

Luton could easily have doubled their advantage two minutes later but Edwards couldn't guide a header on target from Robinson's deep free kick.

The lively Darren Huckerby was causing Luton all kinds of problems and it was his trickery and pace down the left flank that almost saw the Canaries hit back on 19 minutes.

The midfielder surged into Luton's penalty area and, as his cross was cleverly dummied by Earnshaw, Sol Davis made a timely tackle to prevent Croft from finishing the move.

Marlon Beresford, who has been so impressive for Luton so far this season, was called upon to make a fine reflex stop from Doherty on 31 minutes as he headed Croft's cross goalwards from six yards.

On 37 minutes, Emanuel almost notched his second goal of the season when he cracked a 22 yard left-footed drive straight into the arms of Gallacher.

In the second half, Luton were dealt a double injury blow when Markus Heikkinen was replaced by Chris Coyne during the interval.

Four minutes after the restart Edwards, who had been terrorising the Norwich midfield and defence, was involved in a nasty incident involving Adam Drury, leaving Luton's World Cup star with a serious head injury.

His immediate departure looked as if it had done little to worry the Hatters as they doubled their lead through replacement Dean Morgan on 52 minutes.

The Luton midfielder received a crossfield pass, went past Drury with ease and rifled past 'keeper Gallacher.

Luton continued to look comfortable until Emanuel hobbled off minutes later, but then Norwich suddenly seized control of proceedings.

The fight back began after 56 minutes when Gallacher's long punt up field was flicked on by Safri. Foley's attempted clearance lacked pace and Huckerby seized onto the loose ball, raced through and side-footed past Beresford.

Norwich were back on level terms on 67 minutes. This time it was Sol Davis who was the culprit, producing a sloppy error that allowed Croft to beat Beresford from a tight angle.

The comeback was complete three minutes later when Huckerby made room for a shot from the edge of the area.

The ball cannoned back off Beresford's right hand post straight into the path of Dickson Etuhu.

Somehow, Beresford smothered his goal bound attempt but the ball fell kindly into the path of Robert Earnshaw, who slotted into the empty net.

Feeney almost snatched back a share of the spoils for the luckless Hatters two minutes from the end when his fine shot from 22 yards out was brilliantly saved by the home 'keeper.

NORWICH CITY: Gallacher, Drury (C), Shackell, Huckerby, Croft (McVeigh 73), Earnshaw (McKenzie 89), Safri, Etuhu, Colin (Fleming 86), Doherty, Robinson. Subs not used: Lewis (GK), Thorne.

LUTON TOWN: Beresford, Foley, Davis, Edwards (Morgan 48), Robinson (C), Vine, Feeney, Emanuel (Boyd 61), Langley, Barnett, Heikkinen (Coyne 46). Subs not used: Brill (GK), Perrett.

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