Norwich boss Paul Lambert hailed his side for one of the best performances of his time in charge at Carrow Road as the Canaries moved into third place in the Championship following a superb 3-2 win at Leicester City.

Goals from Wes Hoolahan, Grant Holt and Aaron Wilbraham earned City the points and kept them bang in the mix for a second successive promotion.

'I think in my 19 months that's as good as it has been,' said Lambert. 'From start to finish. I thought we dominated the game, and playing away from home against a very good side and with a vibrant crowd I thought we deserved to win.

'To a man I thought everybody was on top of their game, but you can only play as well as somebody will let you.'

Hoolahan put the memories of Saturday's fluffed penalty against Preston firmly behind him with a rare header which put City ahead in the first half, but after winning a penalty after the break, he allowed skipper Grant Holt to do the duties from 12 yards, with Aaron Wilbraham silencing his critics with the vital third goal – his first for City.

'I thought he was unplayable, I don't think Leicester could get near him,' said Lambert. 'Couldn't get near him and couldn't kick him, I thought his performance was outstanding for what he went through on Saturday.'

Lambert said Wilbraham deserved his goal, saying: 'For the stick that lad has taken and what I have asked him to do he has done it, above everybody's expectancy level. He has been brilliant, the big lad, and I am over the moon for him scoring because he has taken unfair criticism from certain people. If ever there was a lad who deserved a goal it was him and I thought his all round play was outstanding, top drawer.'

Other results helped City moved to third, on goal difference behind Swansea and just seven points behind leaders Queens Park Rangers.

Leicester boss Sven-Goran Eriksson was unhappy with his team, saying: 'We gave them everything in the second half, they could do more or less what they wanted to do. In four 50-50 balls before the penalty we weren't even second.'