Francis has dead men walking

Norwich City 3 - West Bromwich

There is life down among the dead-men, though West Bromwich Albion may soon have to prepare for a footballing funeral. For a long time yesterday in chilly Norfolk it looked as though the bottom two teams would cut each other's throats, but for the second home game in succession Norwich staged a resurrection to keep their supporters hoping.

On the previous occasion, Nigel Worthington's braves scored three times in the last 12 minutes to draw 4-4 with Middlesbrough; yesterday, twice behind, they won a gripping encounter with Damien Francis's fierce drive five minutes from time. That put them three points in front of Albion, two ahead of Southampton, who play at home to Everton today, and only two behind Crystal Palace.

West Bromwich, improving fast under Bryan Robson, were desperately unlucky to lose in depressingly familiar circumstances. They have now tossed away 15 points in the final few minutes of matches, frequently with goals from set-pieces. Even Robson had admitted beforehand that neither side could afford to lose, but such a natural warrior was understandbly not prepared to surrender at this stage.

"There's a lot of points to play for and we've got some good home games to come," he insisted. "But basic defending as a team is something we're not good at. It's about mental strength and commitment and it's losing us games. I'm really disappointed, because for long periods we outplayed Norwich and created good chances."

There is certainly a sharper edge to the side now that Kevin Campbell and Robert Earnshaw have been paired in attack. Kieran Richardson, on loan from Manchester United, added a spiky midfield presence on his full debut; the attacking players, however, must despair of some of the negligence behind them.

In keeping with the do-or-die nature of the occasion, the home side went for broke with a 4-3-3 system featuring Darren Huckerby and Leon McKenzie wide in attack on either side of Dean Ashton, the latest product of Dario Gradi's admirable Crewe Alexandra academy. Tall and strong, he has provided a new option for Norwich, despite occasionally looking as green as their shorts.

Albion therefore had the luxury of an extra man in midfield, though the quartet were often by-passed by long balls from the back. In a lively first half, those methods proved more effective than Norwich's more subtle approach, producing some nasty moments for the home crowd even before the first goal.

Ten minutes from the interval there was an astonishing double let-off for City, who have been complaining of not getting the breaks. They enjoyed one as Earnshaw, fed by Richardson, smacked a shot against the crossbar, and another within 60 seconds, when Jonathan Greening rattled the post after being set up by Zoltan Gera's persistence.

The pressure was increasing and in the 41st minute it finally told. Robert Green, England's third-choice goalkeeper, hit a poor clearance to Greening, 35 yards out; Earnshaw, reacting more quickly than any defender, picked up his pass and raced away to score. An air of resignation descended on the ground, not least because Norwich had previously scored only five times before half-time this season.

But dramatically, and almost comically, there was a sixth in stoppage time, following a corner by the new signing from Charlton, Graham Stuart. Craig Fleming's header, looping towards goal, ought to have provided no problems for Russell Hoult, but under challenge from Francis, he meekly helped it into his own net. For the second half Huckerby sat deeper, presumably to stop Gera pushing forward down the right. He was powerless to prevent Albion regaining the lead within four minutes from a move emanating in that area, but soon created an equaliser as both defences struggled to cope. Norwich's allowed the nippy Earnshaw through on to Campbell's pass and although Green diverted his chip, Richardson scored at the second attempt, his first having struck the bar from two yards out.

Back came the home side, Gary Doherty glancing home Huckerby's cross as three Norwich players queued to meet it at the far post - two of them totally unmarked. It was all much livelier stuff than the grim goalless draw between the teams on the same ground as they fought for promotion a year ago. Whereas a point each suited both of them on that occasion, it was of less use this time, and the ball continued to ping from end to end.

Hard as it was on the visitors, they were eventually beaten by Norwich's first scoring opportunity since the equaliser some 23 minutes earlier. Failure to clear a free-kick led to Ashton and then Fleming forcing the ball forward and Francis drove it fiercely past Hoult on the half-volley. In the final act, Richardson hit an acceptable chance wide from 12 yards. Robson, Albion and their supporters looked shattered.