Norwich 1 Chelsea 3
Chelsea restored their eight-point lead at the top of the Premiership but it required two goals in seven second-half minutes from Mateja Kezman and Ricardo Carvalho to silence Norwich.
Leon McKenzie had cancelled out Joe Cole's opener with a header from Darren Huckerby's cross but in the end Chelsea merely underlined their claim that the Premiership crown is theirs for the taking.
Manchester United were supposed to pile the pressure on Chelsea before kick off with a win at Crystal Palace and so close the gap at the top to three points but instead they were held to a goalless draw.
Chelsea controlled the opening 45 minutes with an air of authority and silences the City fans in the 22nd minute. The goal was all of Cole's own making as he rode tackles from Shackell and captain Craig Fleming before unleashing a fierce drive beyond Green for his fifth goal of the season.
That prompted a chant from the Chelsea fans in Smith's direction of 'Going down with a souffle' and the visitors could have backed up their words with a second in the 28th minute.
Damien Duff was the provider, darting into the area past Marc Edworthy and floating in a cross to the unmarked Cole, but from 14 yards he skied his right-foot volley over the bar.
There were a number of minor skirmishes to end the first period before Chelsea then squandered what could have been costly opportunities early in the second.
Didier Drogba first headed wide a Lampard free-kick and the drove an angled shot into the legs of Green after being played in by Cole, allowing Norwich a degree of confidence.
They took full advantage in the 64th minute with McKenzie heading home a superb left-wing cross from Darren Huckerby, so ending Petr Cech's league shut-out at 1025 minutes.
But Chelsea showed they are Premiership champions-in-waiting, countering eight minutes later with Kezman tapping in two minutes after his arrival as a substitute, ending a move that included Glen Johnson, Cole, another substitute in Eidur Gudjohnsen and Lampard.
Shortly after that, it was all over with Ricardo Carvalho heading home his first goal for the club when meeting an inswinging Lampard corner.
PA