The hosts made their dominance pay and rewarded the Britannia faithful for their patience with a brilliantly taken goal when Etherington burst into the Norwich area and got a bit of luck with a failed tackle from his marker to open himself up to goal and strike into the far corner of Ruddy's net.
Aston Villa drew 1-1 with struggling Blackburn Rovers, Midfielder Charles N'Zogbia had given Villa a 24th minute. But substitute David Dunn headed home an equaliser five minutes from time for Blackburn.
Newcastle also drew 1-1 with Sunderland in the Tyne-Wearside derby on Sunday.
Nicklas Bendtner penalty gave Sunderland the lead in the first half but a late equaliser from Shola Ameobi spared the hosts blushes .
Fulham thumped Wolves 5-0 on Sunday. Pavel Pogrebnyak scored a hat-trick to make it five goals in three games.
Pogrebnyak put the Cottagers out of sight with a close range header and a cool finish before half-time, with Clint Dempsey grabbing a brace in the second half either side of the Russian's third.
Manchester United put an 11-point cushion between second and third with a 3-1 win at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
Wayne Rooney put the visitors the lead before the whistle after headed home from a corner. Ashley Young catching the eye first with a well-taken volley from a tough angle and then a delightful finish from outside the area to double his tally.
Jermain Defoe later secured a late consolation having capitalised upon a loose pass.
