Mercurial Wes Hoolahan set up one and then scored one to set up the Canaries fifth straight Premiership home win, on the day it was announced that he'd signed an extension to his present contract.
The defeat could have been far worse for Wigan had it not been for the numerous oustanding saves made by their over-worked keeper Ali Al Habsi.
After the midweek Capital Cup exit Chris Hughton not surprisingly made five changes, which with the exception of Jonny Howson, meant it was the same side that so magnificently won at Swansea last Saturday. The ex-Leeds midfielder made way for the fit again Alex Tettey.
City started the stronger with much of the early play in the visitors half and they were the first to go close to opening the scoring. A sweeping passing move ended with Tettey, striking a 25 yard shot that was not far off troubling the Wigan keeper Al Habsi.
Their industry was rewarded in the 15th minute when Anthony Pilkington opened the scoring for the Canaries, with a rasping drive that Ali Al Habsi couldn't hold. It was a rare Wes Hoolahan tackle, to retrieve the ball having just lost it, that created the opportunity.
Bradley Johnson appeared to be harshly cautioned by Lee Probert, for what looked like a fair shoulder charge on James McCarthy.
Wigan did force City back in the 25th minute but Bunn was more than equal to James McCarthy's shot and even saved the rebound, even though Emmerson Boyce was flagged offside.
Mr Probert then endured the wrath of the home fans for booking Pilkington for diving, when it looked like the goalscorer had been caught by a Wigan defender!
Al Habsi ensured his side were only trailing by a solitary game when he produced a one-handed save to deny Robert Snodgrass' header.
HALF-TIME: City 1 Wigan 0
Having seen his side outplayed before the break, Roberto Martinez made a double substitution before the second half got underway, with McCarthy & Jordi Gomez not coming out and replaced by Shaun Maloney and David Jones.
The Canaries continued to dominate the game and it came as real a surprise when the Lactics produced an equaliser! Maloney didn't take long to make an impact netting past Bunn from 20 yards, having picked up Arouna Kone's through ball.
For the next ten minutes, Wigan were in the ascendancy, forcing City back into their own half with just Grant Holt, making his 150th appearance, a solitary figure in the Wigan half.
But then like Wigan, Norwich produced a goal against the run of play! Pilkington reciprocated Hoolahan's assist in the first half, as he completely out-witted defender Boyce to thread the ball to the diminutive Irishman who produced a rare and thumping header to beat Al Habsi.
With just six minutes remaining, Hughton made his first change bringing on the fresh legs of Howson, for Man of the Match Hoolahan. He deservedly received a standing ovation with home fans showing their appreciation of him committing himself to the Canaries until 2015, with his current deal ending at the end of this season.
In extra time Sebastian Bassong made a crucial and perfectly timed tackle to deny Kone what looked like a certain goal and even though Al Habsi came up for the resulting corner, Wigan couldnt capitalise on the opportunity to equalise.
The victory lifted the Canaries to their highest league position of the season so far, seventh above Arsenal and just two-points behind fourth-placed Everton.
FULL-TIME: City 2 Wigan 1
| Norwich | Wigan |
|
28 Bunn |
26 Al Habsi |
|
3 Whittaker |
17 Boyce |
|
5 Bassong |
23 Stam |
|
6 Turner |
24 Lopez |
| 18 Garrido | 31 Figueroa |
|
4 Johnson |
4 McCarthy * |
|
7 Snodgrass |
14 Gomez ** |
|
12 Pilkington *** |
16 McArthur |
| 27 Tettey | 22 Beausejour |
|
14 Hoolahan * |
2 Kone |
| 9 Holt ** | 19 Boselli *** |
|
Substitutes
|
|
|
13 Rudd (GK) |
12 Pollitt (GK) |
| 2 R Martin | 25 Golobart |
|
8 Howson * 84 |
6 Jones * 46 |
| 10 Jackson | 10 Maloney ** 46 |
|
17 E Bennett *** 90+4 |
20 Fyvie |
|
20 Barnett |
9 Di Santo *** 72 |
|
16 Morison ** 90 |
15 McManaman |
Goals:
City: Pilkington (15); Hoolahan (64)
Wigan: Maloney (51)
Bookings:
City: Johnson (22); Pilkington (28); Bassong (60)
Wigan: Lopez (41)
Referee:
Mr Lee Probert
Attendance:
26,677