This was as wonderful as it was unexpected. As thoroughly-deserved as it was hard earned. A victory that showed Watford do, indeed, have cojones and can knuckle down to do the job required in the face of adversity.

Shorn of 10 players through injury and another by suspension before kick off, the Hornets saw three more limp off during the game.

They had just one recognised midfielder, gave a first league start to James Morris and ended the game with cramp and limping soldiers all over the pitch.

Yet despite all the understandable pre-match fear and coming so soon after the humiliating shambles at Swansea, Watford showed their fans, their head coach and – significantly – themselves that they can slug it out with anyone to grind out a win when everything seems against them.

This performance was full of energy, crammed with character and commitment and showcased an attitude that was so sadly lacking at Swansea.

And let’s not paint this away win as a smash and grab. It was far from that. Although the Hornets were set up to attack on the break, this was not an afternoon that called for Alamo-like defending.

Watford created more, and better, openings. They could have been ahead by half time, they had the chances to have sealed the points well before they did, and there was nothing fortunate about the result.

The only negative was three more injuries, as Kalu, Davis and Kabasele all limped off with hamstring injuries. However, with an FA Cup tie to come there is hope that by the next league game, Bilic will have more options – not least because the likes of Ismael Kone and Matheus Martins will be eligible.

However, this is not an evening to dwell on the injuries. As much as the journey home from Swansea was one full of negativity, this trip west out of Norwich should fill all with much more hope.

This was a ‘coming of age’ performance from a squad that hasn’t always handled the toughest challenges in the most mature of ways.

Bilic shuffled his very limited pack again: Sierralta, Kalu and Morris came in for the injured Dele-Bashiru, plus Asprilla and Troost-Ekong, who dropped to the bench.

The Hornets started with 3-4-3, Ngakia and Morris as wing backs with Gaspar partnering Bacuna in the centre of midfield.

Davis led the line, with Sarr and Kalu on the flanks.

Gunn had to make a smart stop at his near post after five minutes when Gaspar’s pass allowed Davis to burst into the box and hit a low shot.

There were worries as both Kabasele and Bacuna needed spells of treatment before Kalu and Ngakia combined to tee up Davis for a curling shot which just went wide.

Within a minute Davis turned provider, driving towards the by-line before dragging the ball ball. Sarr struck it first-time and it was on target but McCullum stuck out a leg to block.

Sarr then climbed well to head down and wide from an Ngakia cross before Kalu turned and shot wide from just inside the box.

That was Kalu’s final involvement though soon after he limped off, and Bayo came on.

Norwich had the ball in the net after 35 minutes but Hanley was rightly given offside as he headed home.

Watford continued to press and a superb diagonal pass from Cathcart set Ngakia away on the right. His lofted cross was headed one by Sarr but Gunn was able to grab the ball before Morris pounced.

In first-half stoppage time Sargent got in behind the Watford defence on the left of the box but his driven low cross was blocked at the near post by Bachmann.

Five minutes onto the second half Davis broke and played the ball left to Morris, who crossed deep. Gaspar had peeled off and headed the ball back across goal where Bayo stabbed it goalwards. Gunn blocked with his legs superbly from very close range.

Then Bayo met Gaspar's corner but his header hit a defender and Gunn was able to gather comfortably

Incredibly, another injury struck Watford as Davis went down in the middle of the pitch after playing a pass, and limped off soon after with a bag of ice strapped to his hamstring.

In the 69th minute a good move from Norwich ended with Nunez dragging his shot wide of the near post.

Two minutes later McCullum slipped the ball through the centre for Sargent to run onto. The striker saw Bachmann dashing off his line and lifted his shot over him but also the bar. The pair then collided and Bachmann stayed down for an extended period of treatment.

Norwich went close again as Idah cut in from the left and shot from 20 yards, the ball just going wide of the far post

In the 81st minute Pukki broke down the left as Kabasele fell to the ground holding his leg. The striker crossed and Sara sent a shot just wide.

Shortly after Kabasele limped off and Troost-Ekong took his place.

Then, four minutes from time and against all the odds, Watford grabbed the winner with a typically rapid counter attack.

Sarr headed on a sliced Norwich pass and then burst away down the left onto a return ball from Asprilla. He steadied himself as he got into the box and then rolled square for Bayo to score at the back post.

Cue pandemonium among the away fans, and also around the Watford dug-out, but there were still nine minutes of stoppage time to endure.

The closest Norwich came was in the fifth of them, when a free-kick from Sara out on the right curled towards the top corner but clipped the junction of post and bar.

Watford: Bachmann; Kabasele (Troost-Ekong 81), Sierralta, Cathcart; Ngakia, Gaspar, Bacuna, Morris; Sarr, Davis (Asprilla 62), Kalu (Bayo 29). Subs: Hamer, Pollock, Hungbo, Blake