West Bromwich Albion eased their worries about failing to make the Championship play-offs with a 2-1 win at Norwich City.
The Baggies bounced back from a 3-1 defeat to Stoke City last Saturday with a 2-1 victory over Norwich City at Carrow Road, but were forced to leave it very late.
City netted just 13 minutes into the second half through Dickson Etuhu who netted against Hull City last Saturday to open the scoring before Sam Sodje (73) equalised.
The visitors battled hard to try and find a winner, they did that with a stoppage time winner; Diomansy Kamara heading home to give Albion fans strong hope of sealing a top six spot.
It was the Canaries who kicked off the game, attacking the Barclay End goal and it was the home side who looked the strongest in the early stages.
Paul Robinson was fould in the 13th minute, with Lee Croft receiving a booking for his actions and seven minutes later Darren Carter rattled the crossbar from long range.
Adam Drury was cautioned for his foul on Zoltan Gera after just 23 minutes in a tense affair for both sides as the visitors slowly took control of the game and looked the likely to net the first goal.
The Baggies woodwork hoodoo was to continue when Koran grazed the bar with his effort. Canaries Youssef Safri limped off injured and was replaced by Mark Fotheringham four minutes before the break.
After the break Jason Shackell became the third City player to be written into the referee’s book. Gera then accidentally elbowed Drury who lost a tooth as a result with the challenge going un-noticed by the officials.
Dickinson Etuhu then rose up first at the near post to head home Drury’s left wing cross to put the Carrow Road faithful ahead and Darren Huckerby saw his shot deflected for a corner whilst Robinson was booked for fouling Chris Martin.
City keeper Tony Warner pulled off a great save from Zoltan Gera before Jason Koumas replaced Darren Carter.
The Baggies finally drew level when substitute Fotheringham headed Sam Sodje’s header off the line before the on loan defender (from Reading) volleyed into the roof of the net from 12 yards out. Fotheringham also cleared off the line once more from Jonathan Greeing.
A foul on Darren Huckerby went unpunished as the game moved into stoppage time and the game looked set to be honours even.
There was to be one surprise in the story of this game; substitute Richard Chaplow set Gera free on the right hand side of the penalty area, his superb cross was met by the head of a diving Diomansy Kamara from six yards out.
Veteran Dion Dublin looked to be flattened in the box but the referee turned any appeals away.
The victory puts the Baggies fourth in the table, and four points behind Birmingham City who lost 1-0 at Barnsley with Daniel Nardiello breaking away to complete a memorable victory for the Tykes.
Albion can put pressure on the Blues ahead of next Saturday’s fixtures if the Baggies can beat Sheffield Wednesday next Friday in front of live Sky television at the Hawthorns.
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