EXPRESS AND STAR
A goal drought at The Hawthorns ended with a first-half avalanche in Storm Bert – but it was only enough to share the spoils with Norwich.
Albion ended a run of 400 home minutes without a home goal as defender Mason Holgate flicked in an 11th-minute opener.
But Emiliano Marcondes equalised and Norwich went 2-1 up through a Torbjorn Heggem own goal five minutes before the break. Josh Maja crashed in his 10th goal of the season seconds later and on the stroke of half-time Carlos Corberan’s men were denied another for a controversial handball call on Karlan Grant.
The goals ended at the interval and 2-2 felt about right in an even and very watchable contest – albeit one that failed to live up to the hype in the second half. Bottom-half Norwich ended a run of three defeats in their winless run of seven.
For the Baggies it was just a third and fourth home goal of the campaign, in eight fixtures, and just the second and third conceded.
Corberan’s men remain winless in five at home, though, with four draws on the spin ahead of a trip to high-flying Sunderland on Tuesday.
Stormy conditions did nothing to put either side off an open start to the contest, with Corberan’s hosts in the ascendency.
Albion rained in shots on returning goalkeeper Angus Gunn’s goal as the torrential rain heaved down. Wingers Tom Fellows and Mikey Johnston had shots blocked in the first 10 minutes, as did left-back Callum Styles.
Albion were rewarded for their bright start on 11 minutes – from a very unlikely route and source.
Corners and set-pieces have done nothing for Corberan’s men this term. But one was taken shortly from the left to Grant and the attackers delivery was on the money.
A curled inswinger towards the back post was met by Holgate and a deft left-footed flick helped it on its way past Gunn.
It was Holgate’s first Albion goal in five-and-a-half years and Albion’s first at home in around exactly 400 minutes.
Norwich responded from the opening and Albion struggled to handle their lead.The Canaries equalised on 20 minutes. Skipper Richard Duffy’s through ball sent right-back Jack Stacey clear of Styles and his low cross from the byline was on the money for Marcondes, sliding in, to finish into the corner from close range.
Albion owed Alex Palmer moments later for a one-v-one save from livewire Borja Sainz after Holgate misjudged the flight of the ball.
The hosts tries to recover with Maja unable to shoot from Fellows’ cross before Grant’s fine low strike from 25 yards deflected inches wide. Johnston was then denied by Gunn who held on.
Norwich’s Amankwah Forson curled one mightily close to Palmer’s right post on half hour of a busy half.
Albion tried to push and rediscover authority and Johnston should’ve done better when he lashed a volley well over from eight yards. Another good Grant strike from distance was then held by Gunn.
It was a double-whammy blow five minutes before the break as first a Darnell Furlong caution meant five for the season and suspension for Tuesday at Sunderland.
Seconds later the visitors darted into Albion’s box with sharp interplay and combination. Heggem tried to catch Sainz but inadvertently toed into his own bottom corner from six yards.
Barely two minutes later Albion hit back with an immediately response. Fellows had been excellent and his cross from the byline was on the money for Maja to volley in superbly for his 10th goal of the season.
