Birmingham City 1-1 Norwich City

[Huckerbys right foot]

Darren Huckerby's second-half strike gave Premiership strugglers Norwich a deserved draw away to Birmingham City.

Huckerby pounced from three yards out to tap in from David Bentley's cross.

Birmingham took the lead when Clinton Morrison nodded in from close range after Emile Heskey's header rebounded off the crossbar.

Morrison had two more efforts that were well saved by England keeper Robert Green, while Huckerby was guilty of screwing wide in the first-half.

The story of the first half centred around the potent partnership of Heskey and Morrison.

Morrison, in particular, was in superb form.

The Republic of Ireland hitman was thriving on the good supply provided by David Dunn and Damien Johnson, but it was the selfless running from Heskey that opened up the Norwich defence on several occasions for Morrison.

The striker was unfortunate not to double his tally just before the break after a good one-two with Heskey on the edge of the area but his placed effort found the hands of a relieved Green..

And just before the interval, Green's international credentials were tested to the limit when he somehow managed to tip Morrison's snap-shot over the crossbar.

The Canaries were limited to just one chance on goal, which Darren Huckerby struck woefully wide after he was put through by Mathias Svensson.

The second-half was an entirely different affair, as Nigel Worthington's men came out of their changing-room with renewed vigour.

Midfielder Phil Mulryne became the first Canaries player to test Maik Taylor with a fierce low 20-yard-effort.

Svensson then went closer with a four-yard effort that he scuffed into Taylor's hands.

But the Blues shot-stopper had little chance with Norwich's next shot on goal.

Taylor palmed an inswinging ball into the path of Bentley who fired a low cross into the penalty area.

The ball eluded Leon McKenzie and Svensson but found Huckerby who gleefully took his chance.

Further opportunities fell to both sides during a frenetic last 10 minutes, but in the end a draw proved to be the fair result.



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Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Melchiot, Cunningham, Upson, Clapham, Johnson, Savage, Anderton, Dunn, Morrison, Heskey. Subs: Gronkjaer, Martin Taylor, Vaesen, Clemence, Yorke.

Norwich: Green, Edworthy, Fleming, Charlton, Drury, Bentley, Mulryne, Holt, Brennan, Svensson, Huckerby. Subs: Jonson, McKenzie, Ward, Helveg, Doherty.

Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire)

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all in all with our on form player out (Francis) we werent gunna be like last week but Green kepted us in the game and Huckerby scores after 4 games without scoring!

botyom of the prem looks very close now a win would put us like 14th

[canarymatt256]

Not a bafd game, very enjoyable second half. Was the reverse pof the play off final with them scoring first, which felt good, just a shame we could go on to win.

[alexgreg96]

what formation were we playing at the end of this match?

[Huckerbys right foot]

i think Worthy used 4-4-2 with Huckerby upfront with Svensson

2nd half he moved Huckerby to left midfield with McKenzie/Svensson upfront

[alexgreg96]

I take it Helveg was a direct replacement for Holt?

[canarymatt256]

yeah, iv been wondering about that actually, maybe with francis out we should try helveg playing in centre midfield in the holt role, its worth a try neways.