CALAMITY KARL!
But Darlow blushes saved by Lascelles
NEWCASTLE United captain Jamaal Lascelle’s saved a point and his goalkeeper’s blushes with a late equaliser at Norwich. Karl Darlow’s horrible blunder allowed Cameron Jerome to put the hosts 2- 1 ahead, despite Newcastle scoring 23 seconds after the kick-off in a hugely entertaining game at Carrow Road.
Before the Carrow Road clock reached 20 minutes, there had been three goals between the Canaries and the Magpies. This bird cage was rattling.
Lascelles’ late volley spared the leaders a costly defeat but it was his mistake and a howler by Newcastle goalkeeper Darlow that gifted Norwich their goals.
The last three meetings between Norwich and Newcastle had seen a total of 20 goals and this edition of the match-up did not disappoint.
There were still supporters entering the stadium when Ayoze Perez beat Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy. Newcastle kicked off and 23 seconds later, they were 1-0 up.
Norwich hit back in the 12th minute as Lascelles was outmuscled, allowing Jerome in. The 30-year-old passed to the back post for Jacob Murphy to tap home and make it 1-1.
Norwich’s second goal in the 17th was entirely down to a calamitous mistake by Darlow.
A ball over the top should have been cleared simply enough but he sliced the ball, sending Jerome through. With an open goal at his mercy, he celebrated before tapping the ball over the line.
Carrow Road was rocking. There had been a kiss-cam shown on the big screen before kick- off. In a frantic five minutes, Newcastle had kissed their 1-0 lead goodbye.
It was end to end stuff, with the defending leaving plenty to be desired.
This was far from friendly, either. There were scraps and Jonjo Shelvey was involved in an off-the-ball incident with Wes Hooligan but got away with it.
These two sides last met in September — a 4-3 thriller that saw Newcastle win with goals in the 95th and 96th minutes at St James’ Park.
Dwight Gayle got a hat-trick that day but he was on the bench here, having not played for a month due to a hamstring problem.
Gayle, with 20 goals in 24 games this season, eventually came on with quarter of an hour left to save his side.
Instead, it was Lascelles who rescued Newcastle in the 81st minute with a fine finish after a cross by Perez.
Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez said: ‘We were doing really well then made some mistakes and gave Norwich the belief to get the result.
‘At half-time I told the players “Forget about the mistakes and concentrate on the next 45 minutes”. We were doing well, we could win the game. I said “The mistakes have gone — concentrate”.’
Asked whether they should have won, the Spaniard added: ‘Clearly.’
Norwich boss Alex Neil reflected: ‘I’m a whole mix of emotions. The tempo in the first half was Premier League standard. It was really quick, strong. I think a draw was fair.’