West Ham United battled back from two goals down to score a dramatic 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw at Norwich City.
The Hammers, who have not won a league game at Carrow Road since Bryan ‘Pop’ Robson scored the only Division One goal in February 1973, looked set to lose in Norfolk again when Irish pair Robbie Brady and Wes Hoolahan put the hosts ahead after half-time.
However, Slaven Bilic sent on the attacking cavalry and got his reward as substitute Victor Moses played a pivotal role in Dimitri Payet’s goal, which dragged West Ham back into it with 16 minutes to go.
Three minutes later, the comeback was complete as Moses started a move that saw fellow replacement Andy Carroll find Payet on the byline. The Frenchman looked up and cut back for Mark Noble to slam high into the net from 18 yards.
Both teams had big chances to snatch all three points in a frantic final period, but had to make do with a deserved share of the spoils in the end.
Much earlier, with both teams employing 4-2-3-1 formations, the first half was an evenly-contested, eventful if goalless affair, with both teams taking turns to enjoy periods in the ascendancy.
Accordingly, each also created a handful of goalscoring opportunities, half-chances and dangerous set piece positions, but neither could find a way past the opposition goalkeeper.
After Norwich had made the brighter start, with returning captain Russell Martin firing high and wide inside 30 seconds, the Hammers took control with their pass-and-move game inside the Canaries half.
Leading the line, Enner Valencia repeatedly attempted to run in behind the Norwich back four, with varying degrees of success.
On eleven minutes, he broke the offside trap onto Mark Noble’s pass, only for his touch to let him down as he tried to bear down on John Ruddy’s goal.
Seven minutes later, the Ecuador star showed a far firmer control when he collected from Dimitri Payet, took two touches and stung Ruddy’s fingertips with a rasping left-foot shot from 20 yards.
Pedro Obiang then slipped as he attempted a long-range effort and that moment appeared to turn the tide of the game.
Norwich went back on the offensive and showed some real poise around the West Ham penalty are, with Wes Hoolahan in particular looking elusive and skilful, but once inside the 18-yard box things fell apart.
On 24 minutes, Hoolahan drew a foul from James Collins – who became the first of three first half bookings – after Adrian had put Michail Antonio under pressure with a quick throw, but Robbie Brady curled the free-kick over the top.
Collins and Steven Naismith both saw weak efforts elude the target as half-time approached and the two managers were able to regroup with the game still level at the break.
The second half was a completely different animal, with chances galore, Norwich racing into a two-goal lead and West Ham staging yet another late comeback to grab the point which takes them to 40 for the season.
Cameron Jerome had already fired wide before Brady opened the scoring ten minutes after the break, robbing Antonio before curling an exquisite shot past Adrian via the underside of the crossbar.
Ten minutes later, the game appeared to be up for Bilic’s side as Naismith’s shot was deflected into the path of Hoolahan, who calmly placed his shot under the advancing goalkeeper to make it 2-0.
In between the goals, the West Ham manager had brought on Carroll and Moses for Valencia and Alex Song, and those substitutions would pay off late on.
As the game went into the final 20 minutes, Antonio saw a low shot saved by Ruddy, but it would not be long before the Hammers found the net.
Moses raced clear from halfway into the Norwich box, appeared to be fouled twice, stayed on his feet and shot low and hard, Ruddy parried and the supporting Payet slid the ball into the unguarded net.
Three minutes later, it was two-all in stunning fashion. Moses found Carroll by the left touchline, and the England striker poked the ball through for Payet to run onto, look up and pick out Noble, who slammed a shot high past Ruddy from the edge of the area.
The final 15 minutes or so of normal and added time were breathless, with West Ham going close three times – twice through substitute Emmanuel Emenike and once through compatriot Moses.
Norwich nearly stole it themselves in the final seconds, but Adrian stood firm to save Nathan Redmond’s low shot at the near post.
Seconds later, the final whistle was blown by referee Mike Jones and everyone inside Carrow Road could finally exhale!
Norwich City: Ruddy, Martin ©, Bassong, Klose, Brady, Howson, O’Neil, Redmond, Hoolahan (Dorran 85), Naismith (Olsson 76), Jerome (Mbokani 84)
Subs not used: Rudd (GK), Pinto, Jarvis, Bamford
Goals: Brady 55, Hoolahan 65
Booked: Howson, Naismith
West Ham United: Adrian, Byram, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Song (Moses 62), Noble ©, Obiang, Antonio (Emenike 70), Payet, Valencia (Carroll 62)
Subs not used: Randolph (GK), Oxford, Browne, Parfitt-Williams
Goals: Payet 74, Noble 77
Booked: Collins, Obiang
Referee: Mike Jones
Attendance: 27,101 (2,645 West Ham United)
The Hammers, who have not won a league game at Carrow Road since Bryan ‘Pop’ Robson scored the only Division One goal in February 1973, looked set to lose in Norfolk again when Irish pair Robbie Brady and Wes Hoolahan put the hosts ahead after half-time.
However, Slaven Bilic sent on the attacking cavalry and got his reward as substitute Victor Moses played a pivotal role in Dimitri Payet’s goal, which dragged West Ham back into it with 16 minutes to go.
Three minutes later, the comeback was complete as Moses started a move that saw fellow replacement Andy Carroll find Payet on the byline. The Frenchman looked up and cut back for Mark Noble to slam high into the net from 18 yards.
Both teams had big chances to snatch all three points in a frantic final period, but had to make do with a deserved share of the spoils in the end.
Much earlier, with both teams employing 4-2-3-1 formations, the first half was an evenly-contested, eventful if goalless affair, with both teams taking turns to enjoy periods in the ascendancy.
Accordingly, each also created a handful of goalscoring opportunities, half-chances and dangerous set piece positions, but neither could find a way past the opposition goalkeeper.
After Norwich had made the brighter start, with returning captain Russell Martin firing high and wide inside 30 seconds, the Hammers took control with their pass-and-move game inside the Canaries half.
Leading the line, Enner Valencia repeatedly attempted to run in behind the Norwich back four, with varying degrees of success.
On eleven minutes, he broke the offside trap onto Mark Noble’s pass, only for his touch to let him down as he tried to bear down on John Ruddy’s goal.
Seven minutes later, the Ecuador star showed a far firmer control when he collected from Dimitri Payet, took two touches and stung Ruddy’s fingertips with a rasping left-foot shot from 20 yards.
Pedro Obiang then slipped as he attempted a long-range effort and that moment appeared to turn the tide of the game.
Norwich went back on the offensive and showed some real poise around the West Ham penalty are, with Wes Hoolahan in particular looking elusive and skilful, but once inside the 18-yard box things fell apart.
On 24 minutes, Hoolahan drew a foul from James Collins – who became the first of three first half bookings – after Adrian had put Michail Antonio under pressure with a quick throw, but Robbie Brady curled the free-kick over the top.
Collins and Steven Naismith both saw weak efforts elude the target as half-time approached and the two managers were able to regroup with the game still level at the break.
The second half was a completely different animal, with chances galore, Norwich racing into a two-goal lead and West Ham staging yet another late comeback to grab the point which takes them to 40 for the season.
Cameron Jerome had already fired wide before Brady opened the scoring ten minutes after the break, robbing Antonio before curling an exquisite shot past Adrian via the underside of the crossbar.
Ten minutes later, the game appeared to be up for Bilic’s side as Naismith’s shot was deflected into the path of Hoolahan, who calmly placed his shot under the advancing goalkeeper to make it 2-0.
In between the goals, the West Ham manager had brought on Carroll and Moses for Valencia and Alex Song, and those substitutions would pay off late on.
As the game went into the final 20 minutes, Antonio saw a low shot saved by Ruddy, but it would not be long before the Hammers found the net.
Moses raced clear from halfway into the Norwich box, appeared to be fouled twice, stayed on his feet and shot low and hard, Ruddy parried and the supporting Payet slid the ball into the unguarded net.
Three minutes later, it was two-all in stunning fashion. Moses found Carroll by the left touchline, and the England striker poked the ball through for Payet to run onto, look up and pick out Noble, who slammed a shot high past Ruddy from the edge of the area.
The final 15 minutes or so of normal and added time were breathless, with West Ham going close three times – twice through substitute Emmanuel Emenike and once through compatriot Moses.
Norwich nearly stole it themselves in the final seconds, but Adrian stood firm to save Nathan Redmond’s low shot at the near post.
Seconds later, the final whistle was blown by referee Mike Jones and everyone inside Carrow Road could finally exhale!
Norwich City: Ruddy, Martin ©, Bassong, Klose, Brady, Howson, O’Neil, Redmond, Hoolahan (Dorran 85), Naismith (Olsson 76), Jerome (Mbokani 84)
Subs not used: Rudd (GK), Pinto, Jarvis, Bamford
Goals: Brady 55, Hoolahan 65
Booked: Howson, Naismith
West Ham United: Adrian, Byram, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Song (Moses 62), Noble ©, Obiang, Antonio (Emenike 70), Payet, Valencia (Carroll 62)
Subs not used: Randolph (GK), Oxford, Browne, Parfitt-Williams
Goals: Payet 74, Noble 77
Booked: Collins, Obiang
Referee: Mike Jones
Attendance: 27,101 (2,645 West Ham United)