Sam Allardyce said that this match would be a test of West Ham's nerve after a recent wobble but by the end of it no one could quite remember what all the fuss was about. However, they were given a huge helping hand by a curious refereeing performance from Mark Clattenburg, who infuriated Norwich City with a number of questionable decisions.

Clattenburg awarded West Ham a controversial early penalty and failed to spot a foul on Alex Tettey in the buildup to the second goal, while Norwich also argued that they should have had two penalties, one for handball and the other for James Tomkins's clumsy challenge on Harry Kane. They could not hide their anger and Hughton could be seen waiting for Clattenburg in the tunnel at half-time. He was probably not there to wish him a happy new year.

"You accept sometimes referees get it wrong or they don't see it," Hughton said after a fourth successive defeat. "But the one that really hurts is when penalties are given when they shouldn't be. Even if the penalty stands, you're not going to tell me the Alex Tettey one wasn't a foul."

Hughton knew that his side's acquiescence in the first half was pivotal and allowed West Ham to win for the first time since 1 December.

West Ham began in a frenzy and when Guy Demel looped a high ball towards Winston Reid, Clattenburg pointed to the spot after deciding that Ryan Bennett had a chunk of his shirt. While Norwich raged, Mark Noble sent Mark Bunn the wrong way from 12 yards. "The referee kills the game," said Robert Snodgrass, who struck the post with a free-kick when it was 1-0, on Twitter. "If that's a pen you will need to give 100 pens a season."

Allardyce saw it differently. "Because he's in such a good position there's little else he could have done once he's pulling the shirt off Reidy," he said. "We have seen many times before ones that haven't been given but I think he had a great view of it and it was the correct decision."

In the absence of the suspended Kevin Nolan, Noble captained West Ham and was outstanding, setting the tone for a brilliant first-half display. "The captain's armband, he loves it," Allardyce said. "Kevin Nolan better watch out."

West Ham's dominance merited a second goal but when it arrived Norwich were once again left with a sense of injustice when Carlton Cole flattened Tettey with a flailing arm. Yet Clattenburg waved play on even though Tettey required treatment. Noble wriggled into the Norwich area from the left and his low cross was deflected to Joey O'Brien, who finished clinically.

An astonishing miss from Cole followed, the striker putting Demel's cross over the bar from two yards out. Fortunately for him, Norwich were toothless without the injured Grant Holt and although Russell Martin made it an anxious finish by volleying home Elliott Bennett's cross in the 90th minute, ultimately they were left to rue Clattenburg's generosity.