Tale of two halves as Norwich peg back Fulham

IT was a tale of two halves for Fulham at Carrow Road today. Having totally dominated the first half, the Whites sat back throughout the second period to allow the Canaries to snatch a late draw.

Fulham went into today's game in Norfolk with huge physiological advantage. The last time the Whites faced Norwich City, the west Londoners hammered City 6-0 at the Cottage to sink the Canaries to the Championship on the final game of the season in May 2005.

But today, Norwich's fortune's appear to have turned around, starting seven points clear of the drop zone and two points and place above Fulham before kick-off.

Fulham started the brighter of the two sides and opened their account on six minutes with a fierce Orlando Sa (pictured) strike – the Portuguese internationals first goal in English football.

Norwich's back four were all a fluster and were lucky not concede another Sa goal on nine minutes, only a Kyle Naughton clearance off the line kept the Canaries in the game.

Norwich quickly picked themselves up and were soon causing plenty of problems for the Whites. Bradley Johnson came close with a low left-footed drive on the edge of the box, which just went wide of Stcodales left post.

Norwich kept up the pressure and were denied a goal after a powerful header from Zak Whitebread was superbly saved by Stockdale, combined with a Frei header on to the bar, on 14 minutes. The resulting corner saw Steve Morison's effort cleared off the line by Frei and the city striker's second attempt was pounced on by Stockdale to calm a shaky Fulham.

Fulham began to settle and Luiz and Frei continued to cause havoc in the City half, tearing apart the Canaries back line on a number of occasions.

The two combined again on 33 minutes when Dempsey headed against the crossbar with John Ruddy beaten from a swift Kelly cross.

But the first half belonged to teenage Swiss star Frei, who went on a blistering run from his own half to test an outstretch Ruddy with a curling right-footed shot from just outside the 18-yard box on 38 minutes.

The second half , in contrast, was all Norwich. Continued pressure from the home side saw Fulham look pedestrian at times and only some superb goalkeeping from Stockdale kept Fulham in the lead. Fulham only managed two chances on goal throughout the second period with Dempsey firing wide on both occasions.

The Canaries were lining up to score and any number of players could have grabbed the equaliser. Pilkington had an effort thwarted by Risse on 57 minutes and a minute later Johnson's deflected strike found its way to Kyle Naughton who skimmed the top of the bar with his dipping effort.

Grant Holt came close with a powerful header on 77 minutes. Substitute Simeon Jackson tested Stockdale with a cutting run and shot which had Stockdale at full stretch to tip away the Canadian's strike.

But it was Jackson who managed to break the deadlock for the Canaries with his 94 ^th minute header, his second goal of the season, to send Fulham back home to London lucky not to have lost all three points.