Neither side really had any chances in the opening 20 minutes, Iwan Roberts' shot in the 1st minute going wide for the Canaries. Birmingham had the first shot on target when Mooney then turned and hit a shot after being set up by Marcelo, but the strike was straight at Rob Green and was easily saved.
On the half-hour mark The Blues took the lead when Nicky Eaden's cross from the right found Mooney inbetween Fleming and Mackay, his glancing header going inside the far post.Things then got worse for City when Iwan Roberts was taken off injured on 33 minutes following a challenge by Darren Purse. He was replaced by Frenchman Marc Libbra, scorer of 5 goals this season.
It wasn't until the 43rd minute that Norwich had their first shot on target. A good passing movement involving Darel Russell, Phil Mulryne and Gary Holt culminated in Steen Nedergaard shooting over from distance.
Birmingham continued to press and Mooney netted his second late in first half injury time. A long ball forward was headed down by Marcelo Cipriano into Mooney's path and his superb lob went over Green into the top right hand corner of the goal.
Mark Rivers went off at half-time, being replaced by Striker Alex Notman.
However, Norwich got off to the worst possible start by conceding a third goal on 46 minutes, Marcelo's rifling shot from the edge of the area giving Green no chance and dashing all hopes of a Norwich comeback.
Birmingham were then awarded a penalty on 59 minutes, the referee adjudging that Mackay had tugged on Mooney's shirt. Mooney then sent Green the wrong way to complete his hat-trick.City had a penalty appeal turned down on 65 minutes as Darren Purse appeared to handle the ball in the box under pressure from Paul McVeigh.
Marc Libbra had City's best chance of the half to pull a goal back. Through on goal, Darren Purse just managed to get back to put in a last-gasp saving tackle.
Birmingham played out the half with ease and, I'm sad to say, fully deserved the win. Marcelo, Stan Lazaridis down the left wing and Tommy Mooney up front threatened the City goal on several occasions and could easily have extended Birmingham's lead even further.
Birmingham are up to 10th place in the table with 33 points, while Norwich stay in fourth place with 39 points.
