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LOAN RANGER...Albion's Kieran Richardson tussles with Norwich new boy Graham Stuart |
ALBION twice threw away the lead as they allowed fellow relegation strugglers Norwich the chance to steal all three points in a pulsating Carrow Road encounter.
Kieran Richardson looked to be heading for a dream full Baggies debut as he fired the visitors into a 2-1 lead in the 49th minute.
But Albion, who have still yet to win on their Barclays Premiership travels this season, missed the chance to move off bottom spot and within two points of safety, after fourth-from-bottom Crystal Palace had lost 1-0 to Bolton earlier in the day.
And it was Gary Doherty who levelled for the hosts for the second time in the match in the 63rd minute before Damien Francis fired the winner five minutes from time.
Bryan Robson's men twice hit the woodwork in the first half before Robert Earnshaw fired his tenth goal of the season in the 41st minute to open the scoring.
The lead however, lasted less than six minutes as Russell Hoult failed to punch Craig Fleming's header clear and the ball dropped over the goalline to give Norwich a first-half stoppage time equaliser.
Robson made two changes to his starting XI as he handed Richardson his full Baggies debut in centre midfield.
Riccy Scimeca dropped to right-back with Martin Albrechtsen out with a hamstring injury and Earnshaw replaced Geoff Horsfield, who joined new boy Richard Chaplow on the bench, in attack.
Kevin Campbell found Earnshaw with an early pass in the third minute and the pint-sized striker managed to find room 20 yards out to unleash a low shot which Robert Green gathered at full stretch.
Two minutes later the Canaries responded when Hoult had to tip over Dean Ashton's 15-yard header from Marc Edworthy's centre.
Earnshaw then played in Gera down the right but the Hungarian international's ball to the back post just had too much pace on it to give Campbell a chance of getting a touch.
The hosts hit back immediately on the break as Darren Huckerby was allowed to squeeze in a rising left-footed drive from a difficult angle, which Hoult gathered.
Ashton flashed a long range effort just past the left-hand upright and the Baggies then turned a promising position into a Norwich attack as Scimeca conceded possession in midfield.
Huckerby found Ashton in the penalty area but the former Crewe hotshot could not find a finish under pressure from Neil Clement.
A swift move by Albion in the 14th minute saw Jonathan Greening present Earnshaw with the chance to shoot from the right edge of the box but he screwed his effort well wide.
Earnshaw then missed a golden opportunity to open the scoring in the 22nd minute as Darren Purse played an exquisite one-two with Campbell on the right side of the box and crossed only for the Wales striker to somehow fail to poke the ball into the empty net.
And the end-to-end action continued as Huckerby got out wide and picked out Ashton with a cross in the middle, which the Norwich new boy could only head wide.
Seconds later the dangerous Huckerby cut inside Purse and saw his cross deflect off Scimeca to go just inches wide of the goal into the side-netting.
Unlucky Albion then hit the woodwork twice in the 36th minute as Earnshaw first created some space for himself to unleash a thunderous curling 15-yard effort off the crossbar, with Green beaten.
And with the Canaries struggling to get the ball away, Gera won a series of 50/50 challenges on the edge of the area before feeding Greening, who rocketed a 12-yard shot off the left-hand post from a difficult angle.
Robson's men were now enjoying their best spell of the game and they finally made it count in the 41st minute.
Green, under pressure from Campbell, kicked his clearance straight to Greening who was alert enough to feed Earnshaw. And he raced on to slot home a cool finish low through Green's legs.
The Baggies looked like holding out at the other end when a Simon Charlton free-kick was cleared from under his own crossbar by Clement with Leon McKenzie and Craig Flemming lurking.
But it was only a temporary reprieve as the resultant Graham Stuart corner was headed goalwards by Fleming and Hoult, under pressure from Francis, mistimed his punch and saw the ball drop over the line in the second minute of first-half stoppage time to level the scores.
Albion made a bright start to the second half as Richardson raced into the area from the right but could not get enough power on his shot to beat Green.
Campbell then played Earnshaw through in the same area and although Green got a touch he could not stop the former Cardiff hitman getting the ball to Richardson in the middle.
The on-loan United man fired against the bar with the goal gaping and was fortunate to prod home the rebound at the second attempt in the 49th minute.
Greening broke into a promising position moments later but chose to go it alone when Earnshaw was well placed in front of goal.
It was all Albion but Norwich managed a quick break to give Ashton the chance to fire in a 20-yard shot, which Hoult easily gathered.
Earnshaw tested Green again in the 61st minute as he curled a wicked free-kick goalwards after Paul Robinson had been brought down on the edge of the area.
But just when Albion looked like taking control of the game Huckerby came back inside Scimeca wide on the left and he picked out Gary Doherty who broke free to head home from close range in the 63rd minute.
Just a minute later Gera curled a superb ball around Fleming to put Campbell through on goal but the former Everton striker could only fire straight at Green.
At the opposite end Hoult had to be alert to make a good low save from Francis' 18-yard effort.
Greening found Campbell on the edge of the six-yard box in the73rd minute and he turned Doherty before blazing over the crossbar.
Seconds later Greening followed up with a volley from the edge of the box which Green did well to gather as it bounced uncomfortably in front of him.
Eight minutes from time Clement went close with a 30-yard free-kick which flew inches wide of the angle of post and bar.
Moments later Greening picked up his fifth booking of the season and will now miss the next game.
And it was to get far worse for the Baggies in the 85th minute as they failed to deal with an aerial ball and McKenzie's header on the edge of the area allowed Francis to drill home a powerful drive to steal the points.
Even then there was still time for Albion to salvage a point only for Richardson to fire horribly wide from 12 yards after Campbell's neat head down.
NORWICH (4-3-3): Green; Edworthy, Fleming, Doherty, Charlton (Brennan 45+2); Holt, Stuart (McVeigh 68), Francis; McKenzie, Ashton, Huckerby. Subs not used: Gallacher (gk), Safri, Jonson.
ALBION (4-4-2): Hoult; Scimeca, Purse, Clement, Robinson; Gera, Wallwork, Richardson, Greening (Horsfield 89); Earnshaw, Campbell. Subs not used: Kuszczak (gk), Chaplow, Kanu, Gaardsoe.
BOOKINGS: ALBION - Scimeca (foul 45+1), Robinson (foul 62), Greening (dissent 84).
GOALS: NORWICH - Fleming (45+2), Doherty (63), Francis (85); ALBION - Earnshaw (41), Richardson (49).
REFEREE: C Foy (Merseyside).
ATTENDANCE: 24,292.
ALBION STARMAN: Kieran Richardson.
(Pics by Laurie Rampling)
