|
|
Adam Shergold at Daily Mail |
Fulham (0) 2-2 (2) Norwich
It took him quite a while to get going, but Chris Martin is finally fulfilling the role of lethal goalscorer Fulham demand of him.
After finally breaking his duck in Saturday’s 4-2 win at Barnsley, the on-loan Scottish striker from Derby County scored again and created another as Fulham stormed back from two-down.
The generosity of Fulham defender Scott Malone had put Championship high-flyers Norwich in complete control at the break. Malone was scatter-brained as he conceded two penalties, both converted by Graham Dorrans.
But Fulham were transformed after half-time, reducing the arrears through Stefan Johansen before Martin equalised against the club that made him.
Fulham were without one of their principal creative forces in Tom Cairney, out injured, while Norwich made just the one change with Robbie Brady replacing Alex Pritchard.
After Saturday’s come-from-behind win at Oakwell, Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic invited them to do the same at Craven Cottage, where they have taken just five points so far.
The early indications looked promising, with Sone Aluko showing a livewire turn and burst of acceleration into the area before his shot forced Michael McGovern into a reflex action.
But the early optimism vanished as soon as it came, and once Norwich took the lead on 17 minutes, you sensed Fulham would find it a long slog back.
Jacob Murphy tore down the right wing and got beyond Malone, who was clearly not fast enough. The Fulham left-back clumsily brought down the Norwich man - a clear penalty.
Dependable Dorrans converted calmly, straight down the middle with David Button diving in vain to his right.
‘We are top of the league,’ sang the yellow hordes who’d colonised the Putney End. The Fulham fans, who’d been armed with cardboard clappers to try and enliven the atmosphere, were silenced.
Aluko, who looked Fulham’s brightest spark with his volatility in and around the box, saw an effort deflected wide by Timm Klose’s desperate intervention, but their discipline unravelled right at the end of the half.
First, Aluko was cautioned for a rash tackle on Wes Hoolahan and, as Norwich subsequently broke, Malone shoved Cameron Jerome in the box as the ball came across.
On first glance, it appeared soft, but referee James Linington made himself even more unpopular in SW6 by pointing to the spot. Again Dorrans made no mistake, firing in off the upright with Button committed the other way.
Early in the second-half, Stefan Johansen curled a free-kick not too far wide as Fulham tried to mount a rescue mission, and the Norwegian soon made a more telling contribution, albeit unwittingly.
Chris Martin traced a route into the box and shot for the far corner, his effort deflecting off Johansen to take it beyond McGovern.
And they levelled not long after when Martin took in a pass from Johansen and patiently waited for his chance before slotting it past McGovern.
Norwich knew they needed a late rally and Alexander Tettey stung the palms of Button with a rasping shot from outside the box.
Aluko might have completed a sensational turnaround at the death, only to drag his shot miles wide after a nice first touch.
Source .