Norwich 1 Doncaster 1: Unlucky Rovers earn change in fortune to take deserved point

Paul Lambert’s side started slowly, but stole into a first-half lead through leading goalscorer Grant Holt.

However, Canaries defender Drury headed John Oster’s second-half corner into his own net and Rovers held on to end a run of four straight defeats.

Rovers chairman John Ryan had wanted the game called off because of his side’s crippling injury list and with just one win in their previous nine league matches, his concerns were understandable.

But the visitors took the game to Norwich in the first half and after withstanding a storm in the second half they struck back for a deserved point.

Henri Lansbury, on loan from Arsenal and looking to score in his third straight game, tested Doncaster goalkeeper Neil Sullivan with an early volley.

But midfielder Frank Moussa, Doncaster’s new loan signing, had a goalbound shot blocked by Elliott Ward and was the game’s outstanding player early on.

Doncaster, without 11 first-team players, were proving the better side, but Norwich took a 31st-minute lead against the run of play. Drury broke free down the left and when he sent the ball skidding low across the six-yard box, Holt fired the ball home high into the roof of the net for his 15th of the season.

Norwich looked more assured after their breakthrough and visiting defender Wayne Thomas did well to block Lansbury’s 20-yard effort, while Holt steered a gilt-edged chance from another dangerous ball in from Drury over the crossbar.

After the restart, Moussa again troubled the home defence, first drilling in a thumping drive that goalkeeper John Ruddy held.

Wilbraham twice went close with headers before Andrew Crofts dragged his shot wide but, just as Norwich appeared favourites to double their lead, Doncaster levelled when Oster sent over an inswinging corner and Drury inadvertently headed the ball into the opposite corner of the net in the 83rd minute.

Moussa flashed a volley wide for the visitors, while Norwich’s Zak Whitbread saw his header blocked in the closing stages.

Norwich City: Ruddy, Russell Martin, Whitbread, Ward, Drury, Crofts, Fox (Surman 69), Hoolahan (Jackson 88), Lansbury (Smith 80), Holt, Wilbraham. Unused substitutes: Steer, Gill, Edwards, Tierney.

Doncaster Rovers: Sullivan, Mills, Thomas, Hird, Friend, Oster, Stock (Shiels 59), Wilson, Keegan, Moussa (Souza 89), Euell. Unused substitutes: Gary Woods, Webster, Kilgallon, Grayson, Husband.

Referee: R Booth (Nottinghamshire).