Wolves missed the chance to move clear of the relegation coming from behind twice to salvage a late point against in-form Norwich at Molineux.
Mick McCarthy’s side hovered a point above the bottom three before the visit of the Canaries and will rue the missed opportunity as they remain in deep trouble heading into Christmas. Norwich, on the other hand, will be delighted to have taken something away from the Midlands to maintain their fine start to the season that see’s them sit comfortably in the top half of the Premier League table. Paul Lambert’s side had taken four points from games against Newcastle and Everton in recent weeks and carried on their impressive form at Wolves. Andrew Surman gave them the lead with just 12 minutes on the clock only for Sylvain Ebanks-Blake to level for the home side before Simeon Jackson restored their lead in the second half. However they couldn’t hold on as Ronald Zubar popped up with eight minutes remaining to score Wanderers’ second equaliser of the night. It will come as a welcome relief to McCarthy who saw his side beaten at Molineux four days earlier by Stoke although he will be deeply unhappy that his players failed to secure maximum points.
It was the away side who started the brighter and they took a deserved lead just before the quarter hour mark with Surman heading Wes Hoolahan’s cross past Wayne Hennessey to leave Wolves with it all to do. It almost got even worse for the hosts with Norwich not allowing them to catch their breaths after going behind. Surman was again involved but couldn’t covert another headed opportunity before claiming he should have been awarded a penalty following a foul by Zubar. Wanderers were struggling to impose themselves on the game as the visitors continue to create chance after chance without showing any real conviction in front of goal. McCarthy’s men did have a glorious chance to equalise mid-way through the first half only for Steven Hunt to blaze over with the goal at his mercy after being found by Ebanks-Blakes cross shot. The same duo combined just before half time to finally bring Wolves level with Hunt’s shot charged down by Russell Martin only for the ball to find Ebanks-Blake who cooly steered the ball home from 10-yard.
Still, it was the Canaries who looked the more likely to score next after the break and after a period of pressure finally retook the lead in the 76th minute through substitute Jackson. The striker was in the right pace at the right time to connect with Steve Morison’s cross to score with his first touch after coming on for Grant Holt and he could have made the game safe with 12 minutes to go but could only blaze well over the bar after being sent through on goal. The scene was now set for a grandstand finish with Wolves cranking up the pressure in search of an equaliser that would put them two points clear of the drop zone. They didn’t have to wait long with the away side’s lead lasting only six minutes before Zubar rose to head Nenad Milijas’s corner past Ruddy to send a huge sigh of relief around Molineux. There was still time for more drama though as Steven Fletcher thought he had won the game in stoppage time smashing home Matt Jarvis’ cross but the Scotland international was adjudged to be offside.
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