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The Canaries moved a huge step closer to their seemingly inevitable promotion with a 1-0 win over Reading at the Madejski Stadium.
Ex-Man Utd player Phil Mulryne smashed an eighty-fourth minute drive into the top left-hand corner to give Norwich victory, but controversy reigned supreme as it was referee Neale Barry who created the goal.
The Lincolnshire-based official got in the way of Dean Gordon's headed clearance, allowing the ball to fall perfectly for Mulryne, who scored a winner that had looked like it would never come.
After the game Barry apologised to Reading fans for the freak incident, admitting he 'couldn't get out of the way in time', but the news will be of little consolation for Royals fans who saw their side lose for the second time in three days, almost certainly bringing an end to their play-off hopes.
The Madejski Stadium side slipped to tenth following this evening's defeat. Although they are just two points adrift of the top six, Coppell's side must win their remaining four games if they are to stand a realistic chance of securing a play-off place.
A four match winning run appears unrealistic as the Royals have not won more than two consecutive games all season and must face Millwall and West Brom in a grueling run in.
Yet but for Mulryne's late goal, Reading would have earnt a potentially precious point. The Royals dominated the opening period of a largely lifeless game and on another day could have headed in a goal ahead at the interval.
Bolstered by the return to the starting line-up of Nicky Forster the home side dominated the opening period. Steve Sidwell had the best chance to open the scoring as he charged through the Canaries backline following a knock-on from Fozzy.
But the 21-year-old's shot was blocked by highly-rated Norwich stopper Robert Green who got down low to his right to turn the effort away.
Sidwell could have put the Royals ahead before that, but his long range thumper was thwarted by Green who had an otherwise largely quiet evening.
Forster had a couple of half chances to get back in the goals on his return but a shot across the six-yard box and a tame header straight at the 'keeper was the best he could manage in the opening half.
The visitors created very little in the first half, Kevin Cooper's two wayward long-range shots failed to rouse Jamie Ashdown from his slumber. But the Royals keeper had to be alert to deny Darren Huckerby in the fifth minute, turning the Division One journeyman's long range effort round for a corner.
Steve Coppell introduced Shaun Goater at half time and moved the lively Forster to the wing. The 30-year-old struck fear into the heart of former Reading trialist Marc Edworthy with some mazy runs down the flank in the second half, but ultimately his efforts were to prove fruitless.
Kicking towards their 4,500 strong following army, Norwich turned the heat up on Reading in the second period and probably deserved their 1-0 win that arose in slightly fortuitous circumstances.
Huckerby's cross shot was plucked out of the air by Ashdown early in the second period as the Canaries warned of things to come. The Norwich forward then had an appeal for a penalty turned down by referee Barry when he went down under Ivar Ingimarsson's firm tackle.
The Royals mustered very little in retaliation as Norwich pressed for the goal that would leave them so close to Premiership football. Damien Francis had two golden opportunities to break the deadlock but was denied by Reading goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown on both occasions.
The 23-year-old, who had another impressive game, dashed out to snatch the ball from the feet of the Norwich forward as he charged into the penalty area with menace mid-way through the second period.
Minutes later the Wandsworth born forward had another golden chance but he was this time foiled by the legs of Ashdown, who did well to deny Francis from close range.
But with Reading unable to create anything going forward, the game was ultimately to belong to Norwich, or more precisely the referee, who's late intervention proved decisive.