Thriller has echo of days gone by

DAVID CUFFLEY
23 November 2009 10:04

It would probably be regarded as unhelpful to either club to dwell on the fact that Southampton against Norwich City at St Mary's Stadium was a Premiership fixture little more than four years ago.

But there were echoes of more prosperous times during a match that would have graced a higher level than League One.

The presence of special guest Mike Channon, who spent most of his Saints career and all his time with the Canaries in the top flight, was a reminder of comparatively successful times for both teams in the 1970s and 80s.

The 21,000-plus crowd, swelled by more than 2,000 travelling fans, helped create a sense of occasion not experienced on many third division grounds.

And the quality of the football on show was a great deal better than the average fare in this division.

In spite of all that, one of City boss Paul Lambert's favourite expressions is “You are where you are - for a reason”.

The reasons for Norwich's current status could fill an entire newspaper, but so far, their still relatively new manager and his players are making a pretty good job of trying to repair some of the damage.

Eight wins and four draws from Lambert's 14 games in charge is a far better return than most supporters would have dared hope for when he was appointed in a bid to find a ready cure for a severe case of the summertime blues.

The difference in team spirit between mid-August and mid-November could not have been better illustrated than by the way the Canaries fought back twice from behind against probably the best footballing side they have faced this season, regardless of their lowly status.

For the first time in weeks, City had to play second fiddle in the opening half at St Mary's and Southampton could have put the match beyond them.

The 21-year-old Adam Lallana and the much-travelled David Connolly together proved a real handful for the visitors and Lallana had already threatened with one shot that struck Gary Doherty on the chest before he opened the scoring in the 11th minute.

Connolly intercepted a poor pass by Wes Hoolahan and the striker's well-judged through-ball enabled Lallana to advance and beat goalkeeper Fraser Forster with a low drive just inside the post.

It was almost 2-0 in the 18th minute when Rickie Lambert met a corner from Lloyd James with a firm goalbound header, but Forster tipped it over the bar.

As the Saints kept up the pressure, Doherty made one important block from Michail Antonio and a powerful effort by Dean Hammond ricocheted off Jon Otsemobor and flew wide.

In the closing seconds of the half, defender Jens Berthel Askou's header from Otsemobor's free-kick just cleared the angle of post and crossbar, but that was as close as City came to levelling.

But they began the second period, in a swirling wind and torrential rain, with much more purpose and were level nine minutes after the break.

Hoolahan picked out Chris Martin on the left side of the penalty area and when Martin was tripped by James, referee Andy Penn pointed straight to the spot. Hoolahan's kick was pushed on to the post by 'keeper Kelvin Davis, diving to his right, but the rebound fell kindly for the Irishman to net his ninth goal of the season.

City thought they had gone ahead when Grant Holt headed home from Darel Russell's free-kick but the flag was up for an infringement.

Instead, the Saints restored their lead after 64 minutes with a superb goal by Connolly, though he was given far too much room in taking Lallana's pass and cutting inside to curl a splendid right-foot shot beyond Forster into the top corner.

City felt they should have had the opportunity to level again from the spot when Neal Trotman appeared to foul Martin, but their protests were ignored, before Martin had a low drive beaten away by Davis, Russell sending his follow-up effort over the top.

Lallana could have made it 3-1, firing just wide after good work by Connolly, but a double substitution by City boss Lambert with 18 minutes left gave them fresh impetus.

The move paid dividends when new Scotland cap Stephen Hughes equalised within three minutes of coming on. Korey Smith flicked Russell's pass into Martin's path and the striker's long-range effort was parried by Davis, but midfielder Hughes was first to the rebound to slide the ball home.

In an end-to end finish, Rickie Lambert almost restored the Southampton lead with a shot from outside the area that Forster dived to his left to keep out, then, with eight minutes left, Holt flashed a header agonisingly wide from Adam Drury's cross.

As the game entered four minutes of stoppage time, Otsemobor made a fine block from Connolly to keep City on terms until, at long last, both sets of fans could draw breath.

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