Carl Baker made a welcome return as County looked to bounce back from two consecutive defeats against the promotion-chasing Canaries.

With Peter Thompson also starting it looked as though Gary Ablett was going to go with a 4-4-2 formation with Baker starting wide left.

Greg Tansey, who was a little poorly, was the player who made way for Thompson.

The Canaries took the lead on 17 minutes, right against the run of play, when Owain Fon Williams failed to gather Simon Lappin's free kick allowing Grant Holt an easy header from the edge of the six-yard box.

The goal was rough justice on a Hatters' team that had been camped in the Norwich half from the first whistle.

Baker shot over after six minutes when he capitalised on a poor clearance from former County loanee Fraser Forster.

And they should have taken the lead five minutes later when Michael Rose found Baker who released Thompson with a brilliant first-time ball. The Northern Ireland international's first touch was a little to heavy which allowed Forster to get a hand to the ball and the chance had gone.

Chris Martin flashed a shot wide a couple of minutes after the goal but County were soon back on the offensive.

Baker, David Poole and then Michael Rose all had shots saved as the hatters tried desperately to get back on level terms before the break.

Norwich started the second half quite well and might have doubled their lead four minutes in when Martin sprung the offside trap. Paul Huntington saved the day, though, with a terrific block.

The Cheadle End were on their feet after 59 minutes when Thompson broke down the left. His low cross would have picked out Nicholas Bignall but for a timely clearance from Gary Doherty.

The Blue & White Army turned up the volume and the Hatters nearly rewarded their vociferous support with an equaliser on 63. Paul Turnbull found Johnny Mullins on the right who hit a low pass into Thompson's feet. The striker tried to play Baker on but got a little too much on his pass.

Within a minute County threatened again when Turnbull hit a brilliant ball in from the right wing to Bignall who couldn't keep his shot down and it dipped just over the bar.

But, with the Cheadle End now in full cry, Norwich made it 2-0 on 68 minutes. Martin went down following Huntington's challenge and the referee pointed to the spot amidst fierce protests from most of the County team. Wes Hoolahan made no mistake from 12 yards.

The goal, incredibly, sparked an even louder chant of Gary Ablett's Blue & White Army as the Hatters, to their credit, didn't let heads drop.

And they were rewarded with a goal on 81 minutes. Baker's shot hit Thompson to wrong-foot Forster. No one could begrudge the Irishman's moment of good fortune after his hard-working performance.

It really was game on now and the Hatters should have had a penalty two minutes from time when Jens Berthel-Askou lifted an arm to block Oli Johnson's shot. The referee waved play on to a chorus of boos from the Edgeley faithful.

The Canaries made things safe just before the end when Rose lost possession to Cody McDonald who crossed to Holt who side-footed past the exposed Fon Williams.