NORWICH CITY 2

Jerome (19, 81)

blackburn rovers 2

Lucas Joao (73, 78)

LUCAS JOAO came off the bench to inspire a Blackburn comeback at managerless Norwich – but it was only enough to earn them a draw.

The Portuguese striker struck twice in four minutes to cancel out a first-half effort from Cameron Jerome.

But the Canaries, who had played the final 70 minutes with 10 men after defender Mitchell Dijks had been sent off, refused to submit and Jerome fired home his second in the 81st minute to secure a hard-earned point.

Norwich performed well less than 24 hours after the sacking of Alex Neil, but two more dropped points dealt another blow to their fading play-off hopes.

With the home crowd still digesting the news of Neil’s departure on Friday evening the game got off to a low-key start.

Josh Murphy got the home fans into something approaching full voice as the hosts took an 19th-minute lead. Murphy’s cross-shot was only half blocked by Jason Steele and the ball fell kindly for Jerome, who slid the ball home. But the Canaries were quickly brought down to earth when Dijks appeared to go over the ball in a routine midfield challenge with Marvin Emnes and was dismissed.

Blackburn fought back and got the goal they had been threatening. A cross from the left was only half-cleared and Connor Mahoney hooked the ball back into the six-yard box, where Joao was waiting to convert.

Four minutes later they took the lead when Graham sent a delicious cross from the right that was superbly headed in by the Portuguese.

Norwich were not finished, however, and Jerome converted via a slight deflection after Murphy had rolled the ball into his path inside the box.