Wanderers froze in the sub-zero temperatures at Carrow Road, slipping back into the bottom three after a disappointing performance.

Second half goals from Andrew Surman and Anthony Pilkington halted what had been an encouraging rise up the table in recent weeks, prompted by results against Liverpool and Arsenal.

Norwich had dominated the first half for long spells, with Adam Bogdan called into action 13 minutes in to clutch a Grant Holt volley from 12 yards.

Andrew Surman also fired a shot just wide of the post before Tyrone Mears – playing his first game since recovering from a broken leg – made a crucial intervention to ensure the same winger didn't get a tap in from six yards.

Although Chris Eagles did threaten to steal in down the left, halted by a fine challenge by Daniel Ayala that eventually forced the former Liverpool defender off the field, Norwich were carving out the much better chances.

Only Surman will know how he hit the bar with the goal gaping on 24 minutes after Holt's clever header had presented him with a golden chance.

Paul Lambert's side had already lost Ayala, but then saw their only other recognised centre half Zak Whitebread limp off, to be replaced by winger Elliott Bennett.

That have Wanderers some incentive and Martin Petrov led the charge, snapping a volley just over the bar just before the interval.

Early near-misses from Holt and Simeon Jackson prompted Owen Coyle to bring on Kevin Davies for Fabrice Muamba and go with two men up front, but while the skipper made a nuisance of himself, the breakthrough never came.

Both Eagles and Petrov fired crosses along the six yard box without anyone getting a telling touch, and with more space to exploit in midfield, the Canaries continued to pepper Bogdan's goal.

They finally got ahead on 69 minutes when Jackson beat Sam Ricketts on the right to get a low cross into the box, and while Surman's first shot was blocked by Wheater, his second was rifled into the roof of the net.

Coyle went for broke and threw on Tuncay and debutant Marvin Sordell before the end.

Petrov forced John Ruddy into one reflex save with a stinging volley but the game was wrapped up six minutes from the end when Anthony Pilkington – once of Atherton Collieries – pounced on the loose ball after Bogdan had made an excellent save from Morison.

Petrov sent yet another volley just wide in injury time but the Whites can have few complaints with the scoreline, having failed to match the home side for long spells of the game.

Norwich's double lifted them into ninth and put huge pressure on Wanderers, who entertain fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic at the Reebok next weekend.