A PULSATING clash at Carrow Road saw the battling Canaries claw back a two-goal deficit to share the spoils with Charlton and knock the Londoners off the top of the League One table.
Goals from Wes Hoolahan and an injury-time equaliser from skipper Grant Holt earned City a gritty point after strikes from Deon Burton and Jonjo Shelvey had appeared to put the Addicks in a commanding position.
The Canaries had already spurned two or three good opportunities when Deon Burton stooped to head home a Jonjo Shelvey corner against the run of play in the 18th minute.
In a stormy first half with referee Steve Tanner in the thick of things with a couple of controversial decisions, Charlton doubled their lead when Shelvey headed home after good work from the dangerous Lloyd Sam on the right on 40 minutes.
But City struck back a minute before the break as Wes Hoolahan celebrated his recall to the starting eleven by blasting home from Grant Holt's quick throw-in to reduce the deficit and set up an exciting second half.
After the break City carved out a number of chances but the closest they came to scoring in regulation time was a bouncing half-volley from the excellent Korey Smith in the 83rd minute which Rob Elliot in goal for Charlton palmed over brilliantly.
Just as it looked like finishing a frustrating afternoon for the Norwich faithful they were sent into ecstasy, as sub Chris Martin's deflected cross was might by the towering figure of Grant Holt and the ball spun in off his back in front of a delirious Barclay Stand.
There was nearly a sensational City winner in the last action of the game as sub Cody McDonald hit an acrobatic overhead effort a yard wide.
City boss Paul Lambert praised his side's effort in overcoming a 2-0 deficit against the league leaders to secure a point with a 2-2 draw: "It was brilliant," he said. "I don't think we deserved to be a goal down in the first place. So effort-wise and the hunger and desire to come back from 2-0 against the team top of the league is absolutely fantastic.
"For effort I thought they were brilliant I really did. I thought we could have sneaked it with Cody's late effort and their goalkeeper has kept them in the game with some terrific saves against Korey Smith - absolutely brilliant."
Lambert looked to celebrate Grant Holt's last-minute equaliser in style, running down the touchline, and the Norwich manager said it was a natural reaction in such a game: "You lose control, it's just the passion for the game."
Full-Time - A pulsating end to the match here at Carrow Road, where Wes Hoolahan on his recall is named the Anglian Man of the Match. In truth it was all City second half, Charlton struggling to get out of their half at times. Fraser Forster though did make three good saves. After a bright start, Charlton's goal knocked City flat for a period, Shelvey doubled the lead on 40 minutes but Hoolahan's goal a minute before half-time meant City came out second half with great intensity and purpose, rewarded in injury time by Holt's equaliser.
90+2 - McDonald comes so close to winning it for City, the sub with an overhead kick and Elliot is motionless as he watches it fly the wrong side of the post from a City perspective.
90+1 - A fully deserved equaliser for City and it is Grant Holt with it, just about anyway. The striker, I think off his back, from Chris Martin's deflected cross, spinning over the line as three Charlton defenders tried to chase it down. Paul McVeigh replaces Adam Drury.
90th - Burton returns to the field with the unnamed, unnumbered blood shirt. We will have four minutes of added time. Referee Tanner books McLeod for stopping the taking of a free-kick.
89th - Head injury inside the City box, a Charlton player down, the players take on some water as the clock ticks towards stoppage time. Cody McDonald is going to come on for Korey Smith. Deon Burton it is with the injury, think a bloody nose for the striker, he has gone off for treatment.
85th - A quick smart break from the visitors. Up the line in behind for the pace of McLeod, the sub latches on and goes for go, but rolls his effort wide of the far post. As the Canaries continue to push on and commit bodies, gaps are and will open up at the back.
83rd - What an outstanding save by Rob Elliot. Hoolahan with the tricks in midfield to create space and deliver a cross looking for Holt, who has peeled off his marker and unselfishly heads the ball bath into the path of Smith. The young midfield has to take it acrobatically, down into the ground but Elliot at full-stretch to his right tips it over.
81st - Inside the last ten minutes and a Lappin free-kick from ten yards inside the Charlton half sees the unwelcome sight of the assistant's flag again, silly offside from a deep free-kick.
79th - Spillane on the stretch heads Lappin's corner over . Lambert on the sidelines urges his troops to continue at the same intensity.
76th - Hoolahan plays in Holt and the striker has a clear run on goal only to be halted by the assistant's raised flag, looked tight, no benefit of a replay unfortunately, Mark Bahram disagrees. Another tight one, Hoolahan delays and then plays in Drury who crosses for Smith but again the assistant's flag halts Drury.
75th - Looks like Chris Martin has come wide left, with Lappin moving into the centre and Smith to the right of midfield. For Charlton Wagstaff is a direct replacement for Sam on the right of midfield and McLeod goes up top with Burton dropping deeper.
73rd - Double change by former Colchester United manager Phil Parkinson, on come Izale McLeod and Scott Wagstaff for Jonjo Shelvey and Lloyd Sam.
71st - The sub can eventually be made, Chris Martin replaces Luke Daley, we'll let you know what that does to the formation in a bit. City break quickly through Smith, slides in Hoolahan behind but needed a fraction more pace on it as Hoolahan has to check before unleashing his shot, which is blocked and loops out for a corner.
70th - The good has become wide open the past ten minutes or so. Charlton looking to counter whenver they can, a good break down the left culminates in Forster pushing a Shelvey effort round the post for a corner.
66th - Good football by City works an opening. Into Holt's feet, the big man, turns and tries to play in Drury on the overlap but is blocked by Richardson, nevermind, Holt picks up the loose ball and delivers a left-footed cross, which Elliot can only get a hand to. Korey Smith is there to control the bouncing ball but can't quite gather properly and his attempted shot is blocked.
65th - City keeping the pressure up on the visitors goal with a succession of corners and crosses that they struggle to deal with. The Addicks camped inside their own half at the moment. Looks like Chris Martin to be introduced.
62nd - Hoolahan gets on the end of Holt's knock down but the Irishman tries to work the ball back on to his left foot, when perhaps a strike on his right might have been the better option. Charlton gets their bodies and legs in the way and Daley's follow-up is deflected for a corner.
60th - Youga makes an error and heads Otsemobor's long ball behind. Lappin's flag kick sees the ball bounce off Dailly's back with Askou and Otsemobor waiting to pounce. In the next attack Lappin's deep cross is headed over by Holt from a tight angle.
57th - A teasing ball from Lappin forces Dailly to head behind. Lappin's corner is too long though and Charlton eventually get it away.
55th - Shelvey's effort comfortably saved by Forster. Then loud cheers as Miguel Llera is booked for an illegal challenge on Holt.
54th - City are enjoying a good spell of pressure without finding that killer final ball to unlock the Charlton defence.
54th - Jose Semedo is booked for a challenge on Wes Hoolahan.
50th - The attendance is announced as 24,018.
50th - Good stuff from City as Lappin and Hoolahan combine to set up Korey Smith, who hits a scorching effort just over from 22 yards.
48th - Lloyd Sam sprints forward and lets fly with a 25-yarder which goes well wide.
46th - Charlton get us underway for the second half. Mr Tanner receives a frosty welcome from the City faithful.
"Why do refs hate us so much?" - IMT
Half-time: Norwich City 1, Charlton 2
45th - Carrow Road erupts in anger as referee Steve Tanner gives his most controversial decision yet, deciding Charlton skipper Nicky Bailey only needs a talking-to after crashing through the back of Grant Holt. Arguably, the offence was at least as severe as the one earlier by Askou for which the referee was swift to reach into his pocket.
44th - GOAL!!!! This time City are clinical and it's game on as Grant Holt spots the run of Wes Hoolahan and takes a clever quick throw to release the Irishman. With Charlton caught totally napping the Irishman blasts City back into the game.
42nd - City make a swift counter of their own and Holt's diving header to meet a whipped-in cross from Lappin goes over. City have certainly had their chances but Charlton have quite simply been more clinical.
40th - Goal. Charlton double their lead with a goal on the counter. Adam Drury's deep free-kick is easily cleared by Llera and suddenly the Addicks are pouring forward in attack. Sam receives the ball out wide on the left and teases and turns enough to evade Drury and float in a cross towards Shelvey, who nets with a glancing header from six yards giving Forster no chance.
37th - Ironic cheers greet ref Steve Tanner's decision to award a free-kick for City for Llera's challenge on Holt. The Charlton defender then requires treatment and is loudly booed for his pains. Lappin's kick is poor unfortunately.
37th - Drury slips alloowing Lloyd Sam to cut inside and try his luck with a fierce diagonal drive which flashes wide of the far post.
35th - Play switches from end to end, successive crosses for City frantically cleared by Charlton then the visitors race to the other end and force a corner with a shot deflected behind off Askou. The flag kick comes to nothing - the tempo has raised noticeably in the last couple of minutes.
31st - Christian Dailly clumsily bundles Holt to the turf as the Norwich striker threatened to break clear. The home fans roar their disapproval as the outcome is a free kick - but no yellow card.
29th - "Sorry everyone that was my fault, I just got in looked at the scores saw Ipswich 1-0 down laughed a while I was just starting a thread laughing at poor old Roy Keane's team and we went 1-0 down DOH!!!! Now thats karma for ya." - briang0604
27th - Askou is booked for catching Shelvey late on the right-flank. The pace of the youngster got him to the ball ahead of the Dane and it's hard to argue with the yellow card.
25th - Grant Holt misses a glorious chance for City to respond. Smith with the industry in centre midfield to rob Jose Semedo, slipped the ball between the centre-back and full-back, a touch to get the ball out of his feet by Holt and everybody was waiting for the net to bulge but he skewed his shot wide.
24th - Burton caught offside but hits his half-volley straight at Forster. City have fallen a little flat since conceding.
21st - "
19th - Holt forces a corner with pressure and Lappin's left-wing delivery is headed just wide by the bandaged up Jens Berthel Askou. The Dane has scars on his forehead and the back of his head.
18th - The league leaders lead here at Carrow Road, Shelvey's corner from the right is met by a stooping header by Deon Burton, through a small crowd of players and in.
14th - Adam Drury is down again, the left-back going in again full of commitment and purpose and is caught in the face or on the head sliding in by Lloyd Sam. Walsall, MK Dons and now today, the man just can't stay out of trouble when it comes to injuries. Looks like physio Simon Spencer is just feeling around his cheekbone, lets hope that metal plate has stood firm.
12th - City have started very brightly, getting about their opposition quickly, in their faces and not letting the league leaders play. Lappin and Drury going in strongly and full of commitment on the left-hand side, which is appreciated by the crowd.
10th - "
9th - Daley's attempted cross is blocked for a corner, which Lappin takes left-footed from the right. Deep to Otsemobor, who wins the header and Rob Elliot parries away but straight to Spillane whose follow-up shot is hacked off the line.
8th - Charlton force a corner, to be taken by Shelvey from the right. Racon climbs all over Smith on the edge of the area after Holt had half headed cleared, free-kick to City, who could have a break on but Forster doesn't see Daley in space upfield.
6th - Korey Smith with the driving run from midfield, exchanges passes with Holt and checks back instead of shooting from a narrow angle. On his left foot he scuffs the shot.
1st - City get us underway and are straight on the attack down the right. Early signs suggest both teams are adopting a 4-4-1-1 formation, Hoolahan behind Holt for City and the talented youngster Jonjo Shelvey behind the experienced Deon Burton for Charlton. Luke Daley on the right and Simon Lappin on the left, Korey Smith and Darel Russell in centre midfield, in the absence of Stephen Hughes, Matt Gill and Owain Tudur Jones.s
A change of ends and a pre-match huddle. City will attack The Norwich and Peterborough Stand first half and will kick-off through Russell and Hoolahan.
"
The sprinkles are on, the sun is shining, the music is loud, the away end is full of red shirts, the rest of the ground full of bright yellow shirts and we're minutes from kick-off.
We're at odds here in the Press Room as to whether Wes Hoolahan will line-up in a wide position or in the hole behind Grant Holt, with Luke Daley on the flank, we'll bring you the shape of the side when we know it.
The team news from Carrow Road is that City make three changes and Charlton remain unchanged in their eight successive league match. Out injured for City are Michael Nelson and Stephen Hughes - sustained during the MK Dons match - and dropping to the bench is Chris Martin. In come Wes Hoolahan, Michael Spillane and Darel Russell. Hoolahan returns for his first appearance since the 4-1 defeat to Sunderland in the Carling Cup almost a month ago.
Charlton's starting line-up are numbers 1 through 8, 10, 11 and Christian Dailly number 35. The missing man is number 9 - Leon McKenzie - who doesn't make the bench for another reunion.
CITY: Forster, Otsemobor, Drury (McVeigh 90), Holt (c), Hoolahan, Spillane, Lappin, Russell, Daley (Martin 71), Smith (McDonald 89), Askou. Subs not used: Rudd (GK), Cureton, Adeyemi, Stephens.
Charlton: Elliot, Richardson, Youga, Bailey (c), Llera, Semedo, Shelvey (Wagstaff 73), Racon, Burton, Sam (McLeod 73), Dailly. Subs not used: Randolph (GK), Spring, Sodge, Solly, Tuna.
Ref: Steve Tanner
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