TWO goals from substitute Darel Russell earned City a draw in their final pre-season friendly against Colchester United at Carrow Road.

The game saw Canary debuts for loanees John Kennedy and Arturo Lupoli - but League One United led 1-0 at the interval thanks to a great strike from club record signing Steve Gillespie.

Half-time sub Russell bagged two well-taken goals in the space of three minutes to edge City ahead but the Us replied through Anthony Wordsworth.

After a bright start to the game from City they took their foot off the gas and Colchester took the lead a minute before the break. It came when a mistake by John Kennedy on his City debut allowed Gillespie to float in a lovely chip from 22 yards which Marshall could only palm into his own net.

DEBUT ITALIAN: Arturo Lupoli made his City debut
after receiving international clearance

Glenn Roeder made two changes at half-time, with Russell and Lee Croft entering the fray in place of Lupoli and Pattison.

And it was Russell who conjured up a bit of magic to level the scores in the 59th minute, latching on to a slide rule pass from Hoolahan before curling a delightful 25-yard effort into the top corner.

RUSSELL AT THE DOUBLE: Darel Russell celebrates
his second goal at Carrow Road

Within three minutes Russell, playing very effectively as a makeshift striker, grabbed a second. Fellow sub Croft was the provider, whipping in a low cross from the right which Russell met with a first-time shot in off the post.

Celebrations were cut short as with their very next attack Colchester equalised, Yeates' pass catching the Canary defence flat-footed and Wordsworth easily beating Marshall from 12 yards.

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