George Baldock (left) made one of Sheffield United's goals and scored the other
Sheffield United came from behind to earn their first win in five Premier League games and leave Norwich City still four points adrift of safety.
George Baldock provided the cross for Enda Stevens' equaliser and then turned to fire in what proved to be the winner in a vastly improved second-half performance from the Blades.
In doing so, the visitors maintained their record of going unbeaten away from home in the top flight this season, a feat matched only by league leaders Liverpool.
As United moved eighth, two points behind fifth-placed Manchester United, Norwich, in 19th, missed the chance to close the gap on Aston Villa and Southampton, who were both beaten.
They deservedly led at the break after Alexander Tettey capitalised on confusion in the United box to lace in a skimming shot.
But the Canaries' defence buckled in the face of Blades pressure and paid the price for being both timid and static.
They might have seen a way back into the game when Chris Basham was shown a straight red card for a lunging challenge on Kenny McLean, only for VAR to downgrade the dismissal to a yellow for the first time in the Premier League.
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Blades' week of VAR
A bizarre second goal in United's 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle on Thursday led Blades manager Chris Wilder to say that football was "sucking the life" from him.
Whether or not today's events have changed his opinion, there is no doubt that the visitors' final 16 minutes would have been much more uncomfortable had the red card been allowed to stand.
On first look, Basham's connection with McLean seemed reckless, but the United player lingered on the touchline as the decision was checked and reversed.
A week on from a 2-2 draw at home to Arsenal punctuated by VAR checks, the Carrow Road crowd sang that the technology has made the game "not football any more".
In fairness, it did appear that the replays had ensured the correct decision was made.
Blades back on track
For all their deserved plaudits and impressive results so far this season, United arrived in East Anglia on the back of three draws and that poor defeat by Newcastle.
In the first half, it looked like that run would continue as Norwich made most of the running and Lys Mousset cut an isolated figure in the Blades attack.
Whatever was said at half-time produced an instant improvement from Wilder's men, led by the enterprising wing-backs on whom much of their success has been built.
Baldock's deep cross from the right was met by Stevens, who overpowered Max Aarons to bullet a header past Tim Krul.
Three minutes later, the turnaround was complete when the excellent Baldock won the ball in the 18-yard box and smartly pivoted to unleash a handsome finish across Krul.
Though United rarely looked like surrendering the lead, they were still indebted to goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who denied substitute Todd Cantwell with a fine save low to his left.
Contrasting fortunes for promoted sides
Norwich were promoted ahead of Sheffield United as last season's Championship winners, but are finding life in the top tier much more of a struggle.
They have improved of late, a struggle in front of goal ended with a win at Everton and that draw with Arsenal.
And they looked sharp in the first period, a front four led by the running of striker Teemu Pukki causing problems for the tight Blades defence.
When the visitors failed to clear a corner, Tettey lashed in a finish from around 12 yards out to give Norwich due reward for their first-half endeavour.
However, wile their cutting edge has returned, the Canaries' defence has remained leaky and they have now conceded at least two in six of their past seven league games.
Aarons was bullied by Stevens for the first goal and Baldock was given too much time to steal, turn on and hit the ball for the second.
From there - bar the momentary confusion over the red card - the result seemed in little doubt and could have been more emphatic had David McGoldrick not wasted two late chances.
Man of the match - George Baldock
Baldock was the architect of Sheffield United's turnaround and was involved in a comical moment after the second goal. As he ran to celebrate with the Blades' bench, Baldock was pushed back on to the field by manager Wilder, who urged the defender to concentrate on the job in hand
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Norwich
1Krul
2Aarons
6Zimmermann
4Godfrey
3ByramSubstituted forLewisat 72'minutes
27Tettey
8VrancicSubstituted forSrbenyat 81'minutes
17Buendía
23McLean
11HernándezSubstituted forCantwellat 72'minutes
22Pukki
Substitutes
12Lewis
14Cantwell
18Stiepermann
19Trybull
21Fährmann
24Amadou
32Srbeny
Sheff Utd
1Henderson
6BashamBooked at 74mins
12EganBooked at 37mins
5O'Connell
2Baldock
7Lundstram
16NorwoodBooked at 40minsSubstituted forBesicat 65'minutes
4Fleck
3Stevens
17McGoldrickSubstituted forMcBurnieat 83'minutes
22MoussetSubstituted forRobinsonat 65'minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
8Freeman
9McBurnie
10Sharp
11Robinson
15Jagielka
25Moore
27Besic
Referee:
Simon Hooper
Attendance:
26,881
Match Stats
Home TeamNorwichAway TeamSheff Utd
Possession
Home58%
Away42%
Shots
Home14
Away9
Shots on Target
Home4
Away3
Corners
Home9
Away1
Fouls
Home6
Away12
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Norwich City 1, Sheffield United 2.
Full TimePosted at 90'+7'
Second Half ends, Norwich City 1, Sheffield United 2.
BookingPosted at 90'+5'
Callum Robinson (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 90'+5'
Kenny McLean (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+5'
Foul by Callum Robinson (Sheffield United).
Posted at 90'+4'
Emiliano Buendía (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 90'+4'
Foul by John Fleck (Sheffield United).
Posted at 90'+3'
Max Aarons (Norwich City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 90'+3'
Foul by John Fleck (Sheffield United).
Posted at 90'+2'
Foul by Jamal Lewis (Norwich City).
Posted at 90'+2'
Callum Robinson (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+1'
Attempt missed. Alexander Tettey (Norwich City) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Todd Cantwell.
Posted at 89'
Foul by Ben Godfrey (Norwich City).
Posted at 89'
Dean Henderson (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 89'
Emiliano Buendía (Norwich City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 89'
Foul by Muhamed Besic (Sheffield United).
Posted at 85'
Foul by Teemu Pukki (Norwich City).
Posted at 85'
John Egan (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
SubstitutionPosted at 83'
Substitution, Sheffield United. Oliver McBurnie replaces David McGoldrick.
Posted at 83'
Attempt missed. Dennis Srbeny (Norwich City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Emiliano Buendía with a cross following a corner.
Posted at 82'
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Dean Henderson.
Posted at 82'
Attempt saved. Todd Cantwell (Norwich City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Emiliano Buendía.
SubstitutionPosted at 81'
Substitution, Norwich City. Dennis Srbeny replaces Mario Vrancic.
Posted at 80'
Attempt missed. David McGoldrick (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by John Lundstram following a fast break.
Posted at 79'
Attempt missed. David McGoldrick (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Muhamed Besic following a fast break.
Posted at 79'
Hand ball by Callum Robinson (Sheffield United).
Posted at 75'
VAR Decision: No Red Card Chris Basham (Sheffield United).
BookingPosted at 74'
Chris Basham (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 74'
Kenny McLean (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 74'
Foul by Chris Basham (Sheffield United).
Posted at 72'
Foul by Kenny McLean (Norwich City).
Posted at 72'
John Egan (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
SubstitutionPosted at 72'
Substitution, Norwich City. Todd Cantwell replaces Onel Hernández.
SubstitutionPosted at 72'
Substitution, Norwich City. Jamal Lewis replaces Sam Byram.
Posted at 70'
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Max Aarons.
Posted at 66'
Kenny McLean (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 66'
Foul by Muhamed Besic (Sheffield United).
SubstitutionPosted at 65'
Substitution, Sheffield United. Callum Robinson replaces Lys Mousset because of an injury.
SubstitutionPosted at 65'
Substitution, Sheffield United. Muhamed Besic replaces Oliver Norwood.
Posted at 63'
Max Aarons (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Source: bbc.com