Match Review 2011 - 2012

Norwich took on Wolves at Molineux in their second away match in the space of four days in what turned out to be another pulsating Premier League fixture as the busy Christmas schedule continued.

Surprisingly Lambert opted against any changes to the side which ground out a creditable draw at Goodison Park on Saturday, no doubt hoping to capitalise on Wolves horrendous recent form by playing the two big men upfront.

It was a bright start by the Canaries, with plenty of neat interplay and early possession. The first half chance fell to Andrew Surman in the eighth minute when his weak shot from the edge of the box was easily saved by Hennessey.

Norwich were really turning the screw and the early breakthrough duly arrived in the 12th minute after a lovely crisp passing move resulted in superbly whipped cross from Wes Hoolahan being met with a bullet header from the onrushing Surman. The goal was no more than Norwich deserved with Wolves hardly breaking out of their own half.

The onslaught continued and Surman could easily have grabbed his second minutes later, with arguably an easier header than the one he scored but his weak effort was comfortably held by Hennessey.  In the 17th minute, good pressure from Morison created another superb opening but as he was quickly closed down Andrew Crofts struggled to get any power in the shot and it was another easy save for the keeper.

Norwich were almost made to pay for squandering all their play and possession when Stephen Hunt smashed a close range shot over the bar after Ruddy saved the intial Ebanks-Blake effort and the defence failed to clear the loose ball.

Despite that Norwich went straight up the other end and no more than a minute after that scare Marc Tierney's cross found Morison in acres of space and with the goal at his mercy headed straight down Hennessey's throat. Another guilt edged chance that the Canaries had squandered.

A speculative effort from Hoolahan which whizzed over the bar chalked up another effort on goal for City but unfortunately out of nowhere Wolves equalised in the 37th minute. Stephen Ward's low cross from the left hand side was met by Hunt, who's effort was blocked by Whitbread. Unfortunately the ball spun up and fell invitingly for Ebanks-Blake and his scuffed left foot shot crawled over the line - somehow squeezing through two defenders and John Ruddy who had bizarrely committed to his right before the shot had been sent his way.

After bookings for Naughton and Zubar, Wolves ended the first half on the front foot and Norwich were left to rue their earlier missed opportunities.

Half-Time: Wolves 1-1 Norwich

Wolves picked up where they left off in the first half with a good tempo and plenty of possession, but the first real chance fell to Norwich when more excellent play by Morrison led to a dinked effort from Grant Holt being easily saved. The shot selection seemed a very strange choice and Holt really should of just put his foot through the ball.

The game was now being played at an electric pace with both sides clearly not wanting to settle for a point, although it was Wolves in the ascendancy with Stephen Hunt missing the best of a series of half chances for both sides when he dragged a left foot shot wide.

Shortly after in the 65th minute Morison almost found himself clear on goal as Wolves poured forward but Zubar made a superb last ditch tackle to deny him.

The two teams continued to exchange blows with no real clear cut opportunities and at this point Lambert decided to make his first changes with Holt and Fox making way for Jackson and Bradley Johnson.

The double substitution immediately worked as in the 76th minute Morison shrugged off Wolves defender Roger Johnson, cut it back from the byeline and Jackson, despite his best attempts to miss, bundled home from no more than a yard out.

Wolves ramped up the pressure immediately and the Canaries lead had lasted barely five when Zubar, totally unmarked, powered home a header from an outswinging Jarvis corner.

For the remainder of the match it was all Wolves and as the game entered stoppage time Norwich gave the ball away cheaply in midfield and in the blink of an eye the ball was swiftly swept in from the right handside by Matt Jarvis and powered home by the onrushing Stephen Fletcher. With pretty much all of in Molineux in ecstasy it had gone completely unnoticed that the linesmans flag had come to Norwich's rescue. If it was offside then the run was poorly timed by Fletcher.

Somehow there was still more drama when in the last minute of added time Wolves substitute Hammill headed straight at Ruddy from point blank range. The ball was only half cleared before Milijas' follow up shot whistled narrowly wide in the dying seconds of what was an absolutely incredible match.

Full-Time: Wolves 2-2 Norwich

Any point away from home in the Premier League is a good point. Norwich may have only won once away from Carrow Road but they've not lost away to a team in the bottom half.

The team always look likely to score and the amount of headed goals this season is staggering. 11, which is 4 more than any other team.

It was a thrilling match and it would of been extremely disheartening to end up on the losing side.

Nobody is playing particularly poorly at the back but again we conceded two (the second being a free header) and it could of easily been more. Is there any underlying communication problem?

Norwich were in control after 30 minutes and ultimately clung on for a point. Wolves were definitely there to be had.

There seemed to be several tiffs on the pitch between players, Morison and Tierney had one particular spat. Is the pressure getting to them or are they just desperate to win?

Steve Morison

Nenad Milijas

Match Report by Ben Nelson and Steve Brockes.