Canaries battle back for draw

Heffernan: First half header

Norwich City battled back from a one-goal deficit to claim a share of the spoils against relegation rivals Doncaster Rovers.

The Canaries made a flying start, but were unable to turn their possession and good field position into the opening goal of the game.

Bryan Gunn's side were punished as Rovers forged ahead when Paul Heffernan headed into an empty net from John Spicer's cross.

Norwich picked up their game after half time and deservedly equalised when Jonathan Grounds was left unmarked to head home Lee Croft's cross.

Both sides pressed forward late on in search of a winner, but in the end the teams settled for a point that sees them move two points clear of third from bottom Derby.

Croft down the Norwich right looked the most likely source of inspiration and so it proved as he carved out the game's first chance in the 10th minute, cutting inside the full-back and into the area before firing a low shot narrowly wide of the far post.

Foothold

Doncaster, though, slowly began to gain a foothold in midfield and twice went close before taking a 23rd-minute lead.

First James Coppinger's dangerous cross from the left was anxiously scrambled clear by the Canaries defence and then Heffernan had an effort blocked from in front of the goal line.

And the pressure told just moments later when Heffernan followed up to nod home from close range after Norwich keeper David Marshall had made a brave initial save.

Mark Fotheringham and Richie Wellens were then fortunate to escape with no more than a talking to from the referee after they squared up to each other following a hefty challenge from the Norwich skipper.

The visitors suffered another blow in first-half stoppage-time when Darel Russell went off injured, replaced by Carl Cort.

Almost level

Norwich almost drew level straight after the break, Wes Hoolahan taking a long ball on the chest and crossing for Jamie Cureton, whose first touch took him away from his marker but Neil Sullivan came out to make a smart save.

And Norwich equalised in the 61st minute when Grounds headed Croft's clipped ball in from the right past Sullivan.

Doncaster then had a penalty appeal waved away, while at the other end Jon Otsemobor blazed a glorious chance high over the bar after Pattison's neat pass had played him in.

Marshall then had to be at his athletic best to tip Coppinger's fierce drive over the bar as the game began to really open up.

In the 73rd minute Matt Mills sidefooted over after getting free round the back from a free-kick, while Heffernan stabbed the ball wide from the increasingly-influential Coppinger's pull back.

But for all Doncaster's late pressure they could not find a winner as their run of victories came to an end.