Alex Tettey's second-half goal gave Norwich a hard-fought win over 10-man Southampton at Carrow Road.
Saints went a man down when Victor Wanyama was sent off, with Norwich scoring just three minutes later.
Canaries' striker Dieumerci Mbokani had missed good chances from close range before the break, while Steven Davis forced the hosts' Declan Rudd into a good save in the first half.
Norwich move onto 23 points, just one behind Southampton.
Ronald Koeman's side have now lost six of their past eight Premier League outings.
The Saints manager dropped attacker Sadio Mane after the Senegalese player missed a team meeting.
Game-changing moments
Wanyama's reckless challenge on Tettey changed the course of a game that had, until then, featured a lot of effort but not much high-quality football.
The Kenyan had been booked in the first half, and there were few quibbles after he had lunged at the eventual Norwich match-winner.
Norwich substitute Vadis Odjidja made a telling contribution to the game, setting Tettey up for the Norwegian to shoot home, left-footed, high into the net.
Was Koeman's big call the wrong call?
Southampton's official Twitter account gave Ronald Koeman's reasons for dropping Mane immediately after the teams were announced, an hour before kick-off.
Originally slated to start the game, the former Salzburg player was left out after being late for a pre-match meeting.
Mane cut a disconsolate figure on the visiting bench until he was called upon late in the match.
The 23-year-old had featured in all 19 of his side's Premier League matches prior to this one, starting 17 of them, but he failed to make an impact in the time he had against Norwich.
Saints on the slide
Their fine 4-0 win over Arsenal apart, Southampton's recent results must make for grim reading for Koeman and the club's fans.
A yield of just four points from a possible 24 does not bode well, and although they are seven points above the relegation zone, Southampton are sliding towards danger.
It remains to be seen whether Koeman elects to strengthen his squad early in the transfer window, or give his current players the chance to get themselves out of their rut.
Norwich, meanwhile, have had a good festive season, with a return of nine points from 12. They are unbeaten in five at home, and their form at Carrow Road could prove to be vital as the season progresses.
Man of the match
The stats you may have missed
- Norwich have kept back-to-back clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since January 2014
- They have won three of their last four Premier League games, the same amount they had won in their previous 23
- The Canaries have won back-to-back home games in the top flight for the first time since November 2013
- After a run of six unbeaten, Saints have lost their last four Premier League games away from home
- Victor Wanyama picked up his second red card of the season, more than any other Premier League player
- Alexander Tettey scored with Norwich's only shot on target of the game
What's next?
After hosting Manchester City in the FA Cup on 9 January, Norwich will return to Premier League action at Stoke on Wednesday, 13 January.
Southampton begin a run of three home games in a week against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup, then they host Watford and West Brom.
Manager reaction
Alex Neil: "When Vadis came on, I thought he really injected some quality and creativity going forward, and he created the goal for us.
"I'm over the moon with the boys in particular, because when you are going through difficult spells, there have been questions posed about them and me - and the best way to deal with it is to win games.
"We've won some crucial games now and kept two clean sheets as well, so there are a lot of positives to take."
Ronald Koeman: "I'm angry about the second yellow card from Victor because a player with his experience needs to know if you already have a yellow in a game, that you cannot do that tackle in that position on the pitch.
"I agree that we were the dominant team, that we had the best chance in the game when Shane Long was put through, and we played some good football.
"But it's so unnecessary what happened because with 11 against 11, still we are stronger than we showed here and we know we are in a difficult situation."
LINEUP, BOOKINGS (3) & SUBSTITUTIONS (6)
Norwich City
- 13 Rudd Booked
- 05 Martin
- 24 R Bennett
- 06 Bassong
- 12 Brady
- 22 Redmond (Odjidja-Ofoe - 63' )
- 27 Tettey
- 28 O'Neil
- 14 Hoolahan (Olsson - 82' )
- 08 Howson
- 09 Mbokani Bezua (Jerome - 81' )
Substitutes
- 01 Ruddy
- 02 Whittaker
- 10 Jerome
- 18 Dorrans
- 21 Mulumbu
- 23 Olsson
- 32 Odjidja-Ofoe
Southampton
- 22 Stekelenburg
- 15 Martina
- 06 Fonte
- 17 van Dijk
- 21 Bertrand
- 12 Wanyama Dismissed after an earlier booking
- 04 Clasie (Reed - 80' )
- 16 Ward-Prowse (Ramírez - 87' )
- 08 Davis
- 11 Tadic (Mané - 80' )
- 07 Long
Substitutes
- 03 Yoshida
- 10 Mané
- 18 Reed
- 23 Ramírez
- 25 Gazzaniga
- 33 Targett
- 45 Seager
Ref: Mark Clattenburg
Att: 27,022
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