Dan Ballard powers a header past Angus Gunn for his second goal in as many games to draw Sunderland level in the 47th minute
Sunderland came from behind to see off 10-man Norwich in a tetchy Championship game at a windswept Stadium of Light.
Anis Ben Slimane thumped home in a scramble to put the visitors ahead on 21 minutes but Dan Ballard headed the equaliser soon after half-time for his second goal in as many games.
Norwich defender Jose Cordoba was sent off after receiving a second booking with 20 minutes remaining and Jobe Bellingham superbly curled the hosts ahead moments later.
Anthony Patterson tipped Canaries substitute Ashley Barnes' effort onto the post late on to ensure Sunderland kept pace with the top three, while Norwich fell further adrift of the play-off places.
The visitors made a positive start and Patterson made a smart save to deny Emiliano Marcondes, getting down low to his right to turn an angled shot around the post.
However, from the resultant short corner, Borja Sainz's swirling cross was nodded back into the middle at the far post by Cordoba, and Ben Slimani smashed home from close range at the second attempt after Patterson had blocked his initial stooping header on the line.
Marcelino Nunez lashed a speculative effort over the bar before Shane Duffy produced a great challenge at the other end to deny Wilson Isidor after a fine mazy run from Patrick Roberts.
The equaliser arrived within two minutes of the restart after half-time when Dennis Cirkin nodded a deep free-kick from Luke O'Nien back across goal before Eliezer Mayenda crossed back into the middle for Ballard to powerfully head his second goal in as many games.
Sunderland piled on the pressure as they sought to complete the turnaround but Ante Crnac almost punished them against the run of play, firing a low shot past Patterson's near post from the edge of the box.
Festive spirit was in short supply as four players from either team had been cautioned by the referee as tensions rose. Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris and Sainz had a confrontation on the touchline, while Duffy and his own keeper Angus Gunn even had a disagreement about who would take a Canaries free-kick.
With 20 minutes remaining, Isidor robbed Nunez of possession after a free-kick and raced clear only to steer over under pressure from the back-tracking Jack Stacey, with only Gunn to beat.
Cordoba received the 10th booking of the match, and his second, soon afterwards, for raising a high boot against Chris Mepham, having received his first caution for preventing a quick free-kick in the first half.
The hosts made them pay seconds later when the resulting set-piece dropped to Cirkin, whose backheel found Bellingham on the left of the area and he showed lovely poise to take a touch inside a defender onto his right foot and curl into the far corner past Gunn from an angle.
In the closing stages, Patterson kept the lead intact with a fine save to turn City substitute Barnes' effort onto the post after a slip from Ballard, while Mayenda was twice denied a late third for Sunderland at the other end by Gunn.
The win saw the hosts remain unbeaten at home and matched the three-point haul of the top three, while the Canaries are down to 13th after an eighth away game without a win.
'Red card changes a lot' - reaction
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle:
"It was another tough game. Our opponent played well, we expected that, they are a good team, they can press and defend. It was a good challenge for us.
"The game was unstable with many mistakes from both sides but in the end we found a solution to win so it's good for us. The game was a little bit crazy, [a team] has to manage it properly. The referee did what he thought was best.
"During the corner kick (from which Norwich scored) I think it's a question of mentality. We had a lack of energy during that part of the game and it changed the dynamic.
"If we want to win more games we have to be well-rounded and set-pieces are very important for that. It's not a question of snapping your fingers, you have to work on it, to show your improvements, from corners we are probably better, from throw-ins we still have work to do.
"Jobe is so powerful. He has the good quality to affect the game. It's not a surprise to us, he did very well today."
Norwich boss Johannes Hoff Thorup told BBC Radio Norfolk:
"I am not satisfied with the second half. One thing is the goal, we conceded after a set-piece, that can happen, but I'm not happy with the 20 minutes after that when we were not solid enough, not consistent enough, too hectic and take silly decisions.
"Jose needs to be more clever in that moment. It's a big factor of the game because it's not bad for us to be 1-1 after 65 minutes, that's an ok result in a difficult place to go. We were threatening on the counter. That was not good enough and of course changed the game for us and for them.
"The red card changes a lot, we had to make changes and change the formation and system and everything becomes more open.
"You have to stay away from that challenge, you cannot give the ref the option (to send you off). We could all see he was just waiting for that moment. You have to be more experienced and professional than that so you don't give him the option. Unfortunately it changed the game too much for us.
"There were four, maybe five, really big calls, I don't know what's going on. I'm so sad I have to stand here and talk about those moments. I would like some luck. I hope Christmas might be the time when some of those calls go in our favour."
