Hyam mighty as Canaries blow their shot at revenge

DOM HYAM knocked the Canaries off their perch just as David Wagner’s side were sensing a successful revenge mission spiced with some Chile.

Spanked 3-1 at Carrow Road back in November by Rovers, Norwich were on their way to the perfect riposte through an unstoppable free-kick from Marcelino Nunez.

It came in the 22nd minute after Kenny McLean was tripped just outside the area allowing Chile international Nunez to curl into the top corner for his first goal of the season.

But Blackburn snapped back with a 56th-minute equaliser, central defender Hyam heading in from a Harry Pickering corner.

Rovers boss John Eustace said: “We showed character and belief to come back from behind against one of the best teams in the league. We’re making small steps to go forward.”

And in livewire striker Sam Gallagher there were some anxious moments for a Norwich side with ambitions of a play-off spot, keeper Angus Gunn having to make outstanding stops to foil him three times. But they still carved out the better opportunities on the break, the pick falling to Christian Fassnacht who was one-on-one with Aynsley Pears only for the keeper to come out on top.

Wagner said: “The frustration was we weren’t ruthless. We should have scored more than one but we’re on the right track.”

BLACKBURN: Pears 6; Hyam 7, McFadzean 6, Wharton 6; Brittain 6, Buckley 6 (Moran (75) 6), Tronstad 6, Hedges 5 (Pickering (15) 7); Dolan 7 (Sigurdsson (85) 6), Szmodics 6; Gallagher 7

NORWICH: Gunn 7; Stacey 7, Hanley 6 (Sorensen (85) 6), Gibson 6, Giannoulis 6 (McCallum (85) 6); Nunez 7 (Barnes (75) 6), McLean 7; Fassnacht 6 (Gibbs (85) 6), Sara 6, Sainz 6 (Hernandez (63) 7); Sargent 6

STAR MAN: Kenny McLean – Ran the Canaries midfield but couldn’t spark a victory.

REF: Oliver Langford 6