Fulham skipper Chris Coleman admitted that his side were lucky to come away from Carrow Road with their 100 per cent record still intact.
Jean Tigana’s men needed an 88th-minute winner from Luis Boa Morte to beat a plucky Canaries side that belied their position, second from bottom.
He said: “That was our hardest game of the season so far, no doubt about it. Norwich played very well and deserved a point at the least.
"We didn't perform today for some reason or another and would have been happy
enough with just a point.
"We said at half-time that we weren't playing very well and that if we had to
dig in just to get a draw then so be it, so to come away with all three points
is a real bonus.
And while goalscorer Boa Morte will grab all the headlines, Coleman was quick to praise the performance of player-coach John Collins.
Collins was arguably his side’s best player and rounded off a composed display by playing a part in the move that created Fulham’s last-gasp winner.
Coleman said: "It's not easy for a midfield player like John to come down to Division One
where the pace is a bit faster and it's certainly more physical.
"But he's settled in really well and even though Norwich made it difficult
for him today he showed what a class player he is with that flick."
Coleman’s words provided little comfort for Canaries supremo Bryan Hamilton, who saw another gutsy display count for nothing.
Just two days after pushing Blackburn all the way, Norwich came away with nothing again, despite making life hard for the league leaders.
Hamilton said: "Jean Tigana said we were the best team his side had faced this season by a
long way. The players were excellent and the level of performance was good but
you don't always get what you deserve in this game.
"Fulham are a very talented side but we acquitted ourselves really well and
will play a lot worse than that and win.
Now we've got to roll our sleeves up,
get smiles back on our faces and be ready for work again tomorrow."