Sheffield United squandered the chance to move up to seventh place in Division
One as Darren Kenton struck a late equaliser for Norwich at Bramall Lane.
The 22-year-old defender struck a low 87th-minute shot past Frank Talia to
rescue an unlikely point for the struggling Canaries, looking to steer clear of
a relegation scrap.
Earlier Iwan Roberts - Norwich's nine-goal top scorer - had headed past his
own goalkeeper to seemingly continue the East Anglians' dreadful run of form.
But with a move up to seventh place within their grasp, United's night was
ruined when an unmarked Kenton drove home - and Norwich could even have stolen
all three points at the end.
After a cautious opening 10 minutes, the hosts should have established a lead
through Peter Ndlovu.
Paul Devlin, playing with some incisive pace on the right, centred and after
Nick Montgomerie had teed up the ball, Ndlovu wastefully drove high into the
stand.
Former Coventry striker Ndlovu was at the centre of the action again three
minutes later, racing down the right and picking out Darren Bullock, whose
instinctive shot was always rising above Robert Green's goal.
United, whose excellent home form is the sole reason they are still in with a
shout of reaching the play-offs, began to dominate possession as the half wore
on.
And it was no surprise when they broke the deadlock after 31 minutes, although
there was some fortune attached to the final execution.
Devlin's in-swinging free-kick found Shaun Murphy on the six-yard line, but he
almost missed the ball and it deflected off Roberts into the back of the net.
Early in the second half the visitors almost fell further behind after
hesitation from keeper Green. The 21-year-old's mis-control almost let in
Ndlovu, but he was unable to find a way through for United's second.
After a home defeat to Barnsley on Saturday, Neil Warnock's Blades were out to
settle the game as quickly as possible, and in-between a succession of corners
Murphy's low shot was well blocked by Green.
Midway through the second period Norwich introduced Paul Peschisolido, in
place of the anonymous Alex Notman.
The Canadian had spent a few weeks at Bramall Lane on loan earlier in the
season, but even he was unable to transform an attack seemingly bereft of
ideas.
But with a fifth defeat in six games looming, the visitors continued to strive
keenly for an equaliser, and Chris Llewellyn's 77th-minute thunderbolt was close
enough to worry Talia.
Then, with time running out, Norwich found the leveller when Kenton made space
for himself before firing beyond Talia, following Adam Drury's free-kick.
And in stoppage time City's comeback was almost completed when Peschisolido's
cross found Llewellyn, but the Welshman headed wide.
Teams:
Sheff Utd: Talia, Kozluk, Uhlenbeek, Murphy, Curle,
Bullock (Jagielka 79), Ford, Devlin, Montgomery,
Ndlovu (Suffo 89), Asaba.
Subs Not Used: Kelly, Thetis, Thomas.
Booked: Uhlenbeek, Bullock.
Goals: Roberts 31 og.
Norwich: Green, Drury, Fleming, Jackson, Kenton, Mackay,
Russell, Mulryne, Llewellyn, Notman (Peschisolido 62), Roberts.
Subs Not Used: Holt, Forbes, Abbey, Gay.
Goals: Kenton 86.
Att: 16,072
Ref: S.G. Tomlin.
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