MANAGER Steve Cotterill requested that the Turf Moor roof be raised when Andy Gray finally got back on the goal trail.

When the popular hitman obliged with his 11th of the season - ending a two-and-a-half month barren run after returning from injury - so did the Burnley faithful.

Gray had got to a stage where he would have settled for forcing the ball over the line with his backside. In the end, it proved to be not quite as awkward as that, but just as fortuitous.

After James O'Connor had struck the post with a 25-yard right foot drive - not the first attempt the Irishman had made from such distance last night - the rebound found itself veering into Gray's path.

Instinct took over, and after hitting the woodwork himself in a previous encounter, the popular hitman guided the ball into the back of the net and peeled away in delighted, clenching his fists and punching the air in front of delirious Burnley fans, who seemed equally unsure of how best to physically celebrate such a hugely anticipated goal.

The noise they made said it all. Roars reverberated around the stands while Gray was surrounded by all of his team-mates, including goalkeeper Brian Jensen, who had sprinted virtually the full length of the pitch to congratulate the 29-year-old.

Perhaps more poignant was the fact that Gray's goal - his first since breaking his foot just after scoring against Leeds at the end of November - came on the back of Ade Akinbiyi getting Burnley on the front foot on the half-hour with a well-executed header.

On the eve of last night's game, Cotterill had called for more goals, and he couldn't contain his delight that his front two had made such an impact, while Wade Elliott wrapped things up with a third two minutes from time.

The evening didn't start well for Norwich, who were forced to leave out Darren Huckerby before kick-off due to a back complaint.

That meant Kris Renton, who set a new record at Leicester on Saturday when, by just six days, the 16-year-old became the youngest player to start for the Canaries, was thrust into the line-up again to complete a whirlwind few days.

But that was just the beginning of their bad luck.

Dion Dublin's side-footed volley bounced off the crossbar from around six yards out as Norwich responded to Elliott trying to find the head of Akinbiyi in the box with a right-wing cross.

Elliott then tried a chance of his own from just outside the 'D' but couldn't keep it down.

Dublin created unnecessary chaos in the Norwich penalty area when he volleyed the ball in the direction of his own goal. Goalkeeper Tony Warner was caught in two minds whether to catch an apparent mis-kick or clear it, decided at the last minute and clumsily steered it away from goal with his shin.

Norwich made rare advances forward but Brian Jensen got down comfortably to smother Chris Martin's low 25-yard drive.

But Burnley bossed the remainder of the half.

Akinbiyi, back in the starting line-up with Norwich loanee Paul McVeigh ineligible to play, did well to work the ball free for O'Connor, but the Irishman fired over from 25 yards.

Norwich fullback Andy Hughes then went in the book for first felling Steve Jones, then Jon Harley after the referee had played on with Burnley still in possession. A free kick was awarded for the second offence, which was played short to Eric Djemba-Djemba, but the midfielder dragged the ball wide of the left hand post.

The Clarets made the breakthrough on the half-hour, and Akinbiyi, who had celebrated all of the goals Burnley had scored while he was on the bench so vigourously, got the chance to lap up the applause himself, with delighted Burnley boss Cotterill leading the way from the dugout.

Michael Duff launched a high ball into the box from the right after edging a few yards into the Norwich half, Akinbiyi got in between two defenders, rose to meet the inviting delivery and nodded the ball powerfully into the bottom right-hand corner.

The duo combined in a different manner, but almost equally as effectively, 10 minutes later as fullback Duff slipped a low pass to Akinbiyi who, on the edge of the box, turned brilliantly and shot but couldn't capitalise on a well-worked move by hitting the target.

Nevertheless, Burnley went into the break on top, and had Akinbiyi had the courage of his convictions three minutes into the second half the lead would have been doubled.

Goalkeeper Warner was drawn out to a long ball forward, Akinbiyi won the chase, but instead of lobbing the ball into an empty he clipped it accross for Steve Jones, who was bursting through, but the defence had got back in time to halt the break and cleared the danger.

After hitting seven goals in the three outings before Saturday's game at Leeds, an attacking spark had deserted Burnley at Elland Road. It proved to be only a brief respite as the Clarets were brighter all-round last night. And when Gray was tripped by Michael Spillane, there was even a glimmer of hope that a run of 64 games without a penalty - in all competitions - would be ended. The referee said no.

Akinbiyi couldn't beat the keeper after again linking well with Duff, while O'Connor got closer from distance, forcing Warner into a smart save as he parried the ball to his left.

Norwich found an extra gear as the game moved into the final 20 minutes, most notably after Robert Earnshaw replaced Renton. The Welsh international was busy around the box, setting up a chance for Dickson Etuhu that the former Preston midfielder lashed wildly at, before Jason Shackell was allowed too much time and space to advance forward, and he was unlucky to fire wide of the left upright.

Two Jensen saves within a minute proved crucial to the outcome as he blocked Renton's shot from the byeline with his legs, and from the resultant corner acrobatically tipped over as Dublin flicked a header back from Lee Croft's inswinging corner.

It was a wake-up call for the Clarets, and they responded in the right manner.

Harley won possession to set Jones away but his shot was charged down.

O'Connor then got the bit between his teeth to win possession midway inside the Norwich half, ride a tackle and unleash a right-foot drive that cannoned off the left post.

Gray was well placed for the rebound, and made no mistake to get the goal his recent performances have richly deserved.

He left the field to a standing ovation when he was replaced by John Spicer in the last minute, but not before Elliott had wrapped things up with a tidy finish.

Substitute Chris McCann ducked under Harley's pinpoint left-wing cross and Elliott stabbed home for his second in five games.