Blackburn Rovers vs Norwich City. Sky Bet Championship.
Ewood ParkAttendance12,956.
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Blackburn Rovers and Norwich City at Ewood Park on Saturday | Dominic Hyam cancels out Marcelino Nunez's Canaries opener to earn point for home side.
Saturday 24 February 2024 18:19, UK
Norwich missed the chance to cut the gap on the top six after drawing 1-1 at Blackburn.
The Canaries started well and their early possession was rewarded in superb style when Marcelino Nunez curled his first goal of the season into the top corner midway through the first half.
Both sides had chances, though, with Sam Gallagher denied three times in the first half by Angus Gunn, and they were eventually rewarded through Dominic Hyam's towering header after the break.
A point was a fair outcome for both sides as neither managed to create a clear-cut chance after the equaliser which means Norwich remain three points outside the play-offs after extending their unbeaten run to five.
Blackburn are still looking for their first win under John Eustace but even though they are winless in four, they have not lost in their last three.
The Canaries certainly enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the early exchanges, but it was Blackburn who had the first real opening when Harry Pickering's 19th-minute corner found Gallagher, whose downward header was parried away brilliantly by Gunn.
That save proved crucial as Norwich hit the front in spectacular fashion three minutes later when Nunez bent a 20-yard free-kick into the top-left corner.
David Wagner's men almost doubled their lead two minutes later when Gabriel Sara slipped Josh Sargent in on goal but goalkeeper Aynsley Pears was out quickly to smother his low effort.
Gallagher had another chance on the half hour when he latched onto a ball down the left but he took one touch too many and Gunn was able to spread himself to block from a tight angle.
Gunn made it a hat-trick of saves from Gallagher when he palmed his far-post header away after the striker met John Buckley's searching cross.
The interval came at a good time for the visitors and they almost regrouped to devastating effect when Christian Fassnacht sprung Blackburn's offside trap but Pears' outstretched leg diverted the ball to safety just as the Swiss winger was set to take the ball around him.
For the second time in the game, superb goalkeeping proved crucial as Rovers levelled in the 56th minute. Pickering's deep corner was met by Hyam who rose above three Norwich players to head home from six yards.
At that stage a grandstand finish felt like it was on the cards but surprisingly it failed to materialise.
Canaries substitute Onel Hernandez looked the most likely provider as he first sent in a cross that Ashley Barnes directed well wide, before more trickery saw him centre for Sargent who was just ahead of the pass.
Blackburn's John Eustace:
"I thought it was a very good performance. We were up against one of the top teams in the league at the moment. They're in a good run of form.
"I thought we created some really good chances in the first half, showed great character to come back in the second half and equalise, which I think is the first time this season at home we've managed to do that.
"We're making small steps forward and I was pleased with the point in the end. I'd have loved three points of course, but again, I thought the lads showed great commitment and character to come from behind.
"To win a game or to stay in games, you have to show that level of commitment and be very difficult to play against. You have to earn the right to play.
"I thought our football at times today was very good. We created two or three fantastic chances from some really good moves.
"It's about being patient and you can see us growing as a group."
Norwich's David Wagner:
"Offensively we played some good football, played from our structure, created enough to score more than only one goal.
"Defensively, we put a shift in, we worked hard. Yes we gave one other opportunity away but in general I think it was a good away performance.
"I'm frustrated at the result to be totally honest, not to win this game after the opportunities which we created, after we got the lead.
"To concede off a set piece, off the corner, this is what frustrates a little bit, but at the end of the day the performance was good.
"We have to be focused on the performances because in recent weeks, the players have performed on a very good level.
"Nothing is decided today. We have a lot of games to play, a lot of points to collect. This game is gone, we got a point, we should have got three."
