Everton welcomed back old boy Graeme Stuart to a Goodison Park pitch that has also seen better days.
But unlike Evertonians when Stuart left, Moyes will be delighted to see the back of a pitch that is showing the scars of the battering it has taken this season.
Everton worked hard for a well-deserved victory against a stubborn Norwich side that in fairness looked a long way off Premiership class.
Everton started the game without the services of Leon Osman, but Tony Hibbert and James McFadden wasted no time in linking up beautifully to suggest that the night wouldn't be short on creativity.
An overlapping move ended with Kevin Kilbane blazing over after a wonderful cross from McFadden was dummied by James Beattie into the path of the Irish international.
Everton had an early scare when Alessandro Pistone played a back-pass that Darren Huckerby nearly reached before Nigel Martyn, who was taking his place in the team after Richard Wright's recent unconvincing stint in goal.
Everton were showing some creativity but without really troubling Gary Doherty or Craig Fleming.
McFadden though was showing the obvious benefit of getting a run of games and his sublime run down the right ended with a cross that just evaded both Beattie and Tim Cahill.
The young Scot was enjoying one of his finest games in a blue shirt but Hibbert sent in an excellent cross - which was missed again by Beattie and Cahill – as if to remind the crowd of his own talents.
As the half carried on, unlikely opportunities arose for both sides as a deflected
McFadden shot nearly found its way inside Robert Green's left-hand post.
Then at the other end Huckerby had a legitimate penalty shout waved away as David Weir hauled him down with the goal beckoning.
After hardly managing a shot in the first half, Norwich tested Martyn in the first minute of the second period but Mattias Jonson's shot was weak and the veteran keeper collected easily.
Beattie clipped the roof of the net with one of his trademark efforts from 25 yards out after great work from McFadden again.
Everton were pressing hard but the fans were becoming increasingly frustrated as their dominance was yielding little reward.
Norwich were looking increasingly impotent until Huckerby nearly sneaked one past Martyn in the 60th minute.
Ferguson was introduced for Weir as Moyes decided to push for the win the home side's dominance deserved.
Cahill instantly won a free-kick but Lee Carsley's corner was disappointing.
Hibbert closed down Damien Francis with a typical burst of speed and the home side broke only to see Ferguson brought down on the edge of the box.
A great free-kick by Carsley brought an excellent save from Green to keep the ball out of the top corner.
At the other end Dean Ashton headed straight at Martyn and then the keeper needed Joseph Yobo to help clear after he spilled a shot from Huckerby.
The goal came courtesy of Doherty when he put the ball in the net under pressure from Ferguson.
Hibbert received a yellow card for bringing down Huckerby on the edge of Everton's area but the resulting free-kick came to nothing.
The final whistle was greeted by rapturous applause as Everton gained a vital three points in the race for the riches of the Champions League.