Zubar climbs high to make a point for Wolves

Wolves 2 Norwich City 2AN ABSORBING contest produced end-to-end attacking, four goals and no shortage of entertainment, although for Mick McCarthy and Wolverhampton Wanderers this felt like another opportunity missed.

There were wild celebrations on the touchline in stoppage-time when Steven Fletcher converted Matt Jarvis’s cross but McCarthy spotted that the official on the far side had raised his flag.

Norwich, in truth, deserved a draw and must have felt like they were going to go away with all three points when Simeon Jackson scored seconds after coming off the bench.

Ronald Zubar climbed above Russell Martin to head home Nenad Milijas’s corner moments later to earn a draw for Wolves, who had gone behind to Andrew Surman’s fine opener.

There was still time for Wolves to win it after Fletcher’s goal was ruled out for offside but Stephen Ward headed straight at John Ruddy. A smattering of boos greeted the final whistle, with a tough festive period lying ahead for Wolves.

The anxiety among the home supporters was tangible from the outset. Wolves had won only two out of their previous 14 Premier League matches and with three of their next four fixtures against Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, it was understandable that this game had taken on extra significance.

Norwich took the lead inside 12 minutes, when Surman gloriously nodded the visitors in front.

It was a header at the end of a move that Surman had started when he dinked the ball over a static Wolves defence. Steve Morison, who had drawn a fingertip save from Wayne Hennessey moments earlier, wisely stopped in his tracks to remain onside, leaving Wes Hoolahan in the clear.

The Irishman delivered the perfect centre from the left, picking out the run of Surman, who met the ball with a flying header that was never going to end up anywhere other than the back of the net.

Ebanks-Blake evened things up eight minutes before the interval. Stephen Ward swapped passes with Matt Jarvis on the left flank, where Wolves carried the greatest threat, before providing a centre that Hunt met first time.

Russell Martin managed to block Hunt’s effort but it dropping invitingly for Ebanks-Blake, who turned it home on the half-volley.

Although Ebanks-Blake’s goal visibly lifted Wolves, Norwich continued to look dangerous whenever they broke. Grant Holt, who was making his 100th league appearance for Norwich, should have done better when he shot tamely at Hennessey after Morison’s fine nod down, and five minutes later Surman forced the Wolves keeper into a full-stretch save with a curling left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area.

McCarthy was desperate and threw Doyle into the fray but it was Zubar who hauled Wolves level, heading powerfully past Ruddy.

GuardianService

WOLVES: Hennessey, Zubar, Johnson, Berra, Ward, Jarvis, Milijas, Henry, Hunt (Hammill 75), Fletcher, Ebanks-Blake (Doyle 80). Subs not used: De Vries, Guedioura, Stearman, Elokobi, Forde. Booked: Zubar,Hunt.

NORWICH CITY: Ruddy, Naughton, Martin, Whitbread, Tierney, Fox (Johnson 75), Crofts, Surman, Hoolahan (Bennett 87), Morison, Holt (Jackson 75). Subs not used: Rudd, Wilbraham, Barnett, Pilkington. Booked: Naughton, Martin.

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).