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Norwich 2-2 Everton: Ricky van Wolfswinkel seals point on Canaries debut
Everton were 2-1 up through Ross Barkley and Seamus Coleman before the Dutchman headed Norwich level
Norwich and Everton treated a packed Carrow Road to a football feast... after 45 minutes of famine.
A quiet and cagey opening half was followed by a no-holds-barred second *period which produced four goals, and a nerve-racking finale.
Steven Whittaker and new record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel were on target for Norwich.
Ross *Barkley and Seamus Coleman earned Everton a deserved share of the points.
Norwich boss Chris Hughton was happy with his sides efforts and said: I am more pleased with the *performance and the result than disappointed.
We were up against a full-strength Everton side with quality and maturity throughout the team so I am happy with a point and I think it was a fair reflection of the game.
An unprecedented level of investment by the Norwich board has raised *expectations beyond anything previously *experienced at the club.
Hughton has spent *£27million rebuilding a squad many believe to be the best ever assembled at Carrow Road.
For Everton, its definitely a case of work in progress as they look to find their feet under Roberto Martinez.
Norwich, who somehow clambered from relegation danger to the mid-table *comfort zone last season, took a while to get into their stride as Everton closed ranks.
The home side carved out the first real chance of the game when van *Wolfswinkel almost marked his debut with a goal but his header was deflected wide.
Slowly but surely, Everton began to impose themselves and laid siege to the Norwich goal with a series of quick-fire attacks.
Marouane Fellaini, having just headed over, looked to be in a great position to at least hit the target but lashed his volley criminally wide.
In between, Evertons most dangerous player, Kevin Mirallas, sent his shot wide after a neat build-up.
The Toffees began the *second half showing the same attacking *intent and from a Coleman cross, *Mirallas found the side netting.
But it was the home side, somewhat against the run of play, who took the lead after 51 minutes through an *unlikely source.
More by luck than judgement perhaps, *Norwich full-back Whittaker danced his way through the Everton *defence before *curling a shot beyond Tim Howard.
When the ball clipped the far post and came back into play, Whittaker was the first to react and his *second *attempt was unerring.
Everton drew themselves level on 61 minutes as *Barkley showed himself as a young player to watch with a *wonderful left-foot shot on the turn.
Norwich were *rattled and found themselves a goal down four minutes later as another full-back decided to take *centre stage, Coleman *sweeping the ball home from close range after John Ruddy had parried *Nikica Jelavics initial effort.
The Norwich *response was both swift and effective as Whittakers *attempted shot turned out to be the perfect cross for van Wolfswinkel, who headed *beyond Howard.
Ruddy then saved from *Steven Naismith and from the rebound Russell Martin blocked a goalbound effort from Jelavic.
Martinez said: I was pleased with the chances we created and delighted to score two good goals from open play. But I am also disappointed to have conceded two soft goals like that.
Everton were 2-1 up through Ross Barkley and Seamus Coleman before the Dutchman headed Norwich level
Norwich and Everton treated a packed Carrow Road to a football feast... after 45 minutes of famine.
A quiet and cagey opening half was followed by a no-holds-barred second *period which produced four goals, and a nerve-racking finale.
Steven Whittaker and new record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel were on target for Norwich.
Ross *Barkley and Seamus Coleman earned Everton a deserved share of the points.
Norwich boss Chris Hughton was happy with his sides efforts and said: I am more pleased with the *performance and the result than disappointed.
We were up against a full-strength Everton side with quality and maturity throughout the team so I am happy with a point and I think it was a fair reflection of the game.
An unprecedented level of investment by the Norwich board has raised *expectations beyond anything previously *experienced at the club.
Hughton has spent *£27million rebuilding a squad many believe to be the best ever assembled at Carrow Road.
For Everton, its definitely a case of work in progress as they look to find their feet under Roberto Martinez.
Norwich, who somehow clambered from relegation danger to the mid-table *comfort zone last season, took a while to get into their stride as Everton closed ranks.
The home side carved out the first real chance of the game when van *Wolfswinkel almost marked his debut with a goal but his header was deflected wide.
Slowly but surely, Everton began to impose themselves and laid siege to the Norwich goal with a series of quick-fire attacks.
Marouane Fellaini, having just headed over, looked to be in a great position to at least hit the target but lashed his volley criminally wide.
In between, Evertons most dangerous player, Kevin Mirallas, sent his shot wide after a neat build-up.
The Toffees began the *second half showing the same attacking *intent and from a Coleman cross, *Mirallas found the side netting.
But it was the home side, somewhat against the run of play, who took the lead after 51 minutes through an *unlikely source.
More by luck than judgement perhaps, *Norwich full-back Whittaker danced his way through the Everton *defence before *curling a shot beyond Tim Howard.
When the ball clipped the far post and came back into play, Whittaker was the first to react and his *second *attempt was unerring.
Everton drew themselves level on 61 minutes as *Barkley showed himself as a young player to watch with a *wonderful left-foot shot on the turn.
Norwich were *rattled and found themselves a goal down four minutes later as another full-back decided to take *centre stage, Coleman *sweeping the ball home from close range after John Ruddy had parried *Nikica Jelavics initial effort.
The Norwich *response was both swift and effective as Whittakers *attempted shot turned out to be the perfect cross for van Wolfswinkel, who headed *beyond Howard.
Ruddy then saved from *Steven Naismith and from the rebound Russell Martin blocked a goalbound effort from Jelavic.
Martinez said: I was pleased with the chances we created and delighted to score two good goals from open play. But I am also disappointed to have conceded two soft goals like that.
