MX23RW : Friday, November 22 21:36:58| >> :120:53174:53174:

On this day: Norwich City, Middlesbrough share eight goals

Nine years ago today, Norwich City battle back from 4-1 down to salvage a draw at home against Middlesbrough.

One thing was almost guaranteed from Norwich City's matches during their 2004-05 Premier League campaign - goals.

Never more so was that relevant than when Middlesbrough made the lengthy trip from Teeside to Norfolk nine years ago today.

With all their relegation rivals picking up victories against teams in the top half, it was important that Norwich followed suit against Steve McClaren's men. As it proved, they couldn't achieve that feat, but the Canaries would send their supporters home happy.

Middlesbrough started brightly, only for Norwich to break the deadlock in the 18th minute when Damien Francis was on hand to turn in Darren Huckerby's shot, despite protests from the Boro defence that the midfielder was in an offside position.

However, the visitors scored the goal that their performance had deserved up until that point 11 minutes before the break courtesy of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who converted Stewart Downing's cross.

That equaliser appeared to galvanise Boro after the restart and they made the most of their domination by scoring three times before the 78th minute through a brace from French defender Franck Queudrue, before Hasselbaink added his second of the contest from distance.

At 4-1 down, the Norwich players could have been forgiven for believing that they were beaten. Nevertheless, home debutant Dean Ashton provided them with a flicker of hope when he scored from inside the penalty area with 10 minutes left to play, but even when Leon McKenzie added a third, it appeared to be too little too late as the match ticked into stoppage time.

Yet, with what was their final attack of the game, Ashton forced a corner for Norwich, which was swung over by Huckerby. In what was a packed area, Adam Drury reacted quickest to stoop and send a headed effort beyond a static Mark Schwarzer to salvage a dramatic share of the spoils for the home team.

"It was a nice goal to score. Scoring four at home, we should be winning, but it still feels like a victory to everyone in the dressing room. Everyone who's been around this city for the past three or four years knows that we've got a great team spirit and we showed that again today. We'll enjoy this point and hope to build on it," Drury said after the match.

NORWICH: Green; Edworthy, Doherty, Fleming, Drury; Jonson (McVeigh), Mulryne (Holt), Francis, Brennan (McKenzie); Huckerby, Ashton

MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer; McMahon, Reiziger, Southgate, Queudrue; Parlour, Doriva (Morrison), Zenden, Downing; Job (Graham), Hasselbaink

ID:132013: cacheID:132013:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4505:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Leon McKenzie
Read Next:
Leon McKenzie jailed for six months
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Steelers
19-24
Browns
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland1594225111431
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1510321971231
3Leeds UnitedLeeds158522491529
4Burnley157621861227
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom15672169725
6Watford158162322125
7Middlesbrough157352317624
8Millwall156541813523
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City155732019122
11Swansea CitySwansea155461110119
12Derby CountyDerby155461919019
13Stoke CityStoke155461819-119
14Norwich CityNorwich154652322118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds155371725-818
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd154561718-117
17Coventry CityCoventry154472021-116
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth154471526-1116
19Hull City153661620-415
20Preston North EndPreston153661523-815
21Luton TownLuton154381726-915
22Cardiff CityCardiff154381423-915
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR151771225-1310


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!