Andy Carroll converted a late penalty to snatch a point from Carrow Road in a 1-1 draw against Norwich City.

Adam Idah gave the hosts the lead early in the second half after a goalless opening 45 minutes, but the visitors held strong throughout and managed to nab a goal in the closing stages after Nesta Guinness-Walker was upended in the box.

Starting fast, it was Tuesday’s match-winner Tom Ince who had the first effort on target in the match, coming within three minutes. Winning the ball deep in their own half, Junior Hoilett drove at the home defence and enticed Kenny McLean into taking the Canadian out, with some calling for a penalty. Ince fiercely struck the set-piece and forced Angus Gunn to turn it behind for a corner. The hosts did regain a foothold, controlling much of possession in the Reading half.

Lucas Joao felt he should have had the Royals’ second penalty as he was swinging for a bouncing ball in the box, only for the referee to penalise the Angolan international. Norwich should have been in front on the 20-minute mark, fluffing three chances to take the lead. Teemu Pukki was sent clear of the defence to leave him one-on-one with Joe Lumley, but his heavy touch let the on-loan keeper come out to block the shot. Josh Sargent followed up, but his header was cleared off the line by Tom Holmes. Hoilett came close from a free kick on the brink of half-time, but neither side did enough to break the deadlock by the break.

Looking much more of a threat in the second half, it took less than 10 minutes for the Canaries to take the lead, but poor Royal defending played its part. A game of head tennis ensued in the Reading box, and nobody managed to clear the ball before Idah lashed the ball past Lumley from close range. Lucas Joao had the best opportunity to level shortly after, connecting with a corner and forcing Gunn into a smart save with his feet. 

The hosts pushed hard for a second, which would have all-but condemned the Royals to defeat, with Josh Sargent forcing Lumley into a huge save, but the introduction of Guinness-Walker proved an inspired one. Brought on with 15 minutes to go, the former AFC Wimbledon full-back drove into the heart of the defenders and forced them into lunging in, earning the side a penalty with barely 10 minutes left on the clock. Carroll stepped up and converted.

Pressing hard for the winner, the Canaries just did not have enough to break Reading down, taking a very solid point back to Berkshire. Still in the thick of the action, Reading travel to in-form West Brom on Monday looking to make it three matches unbeaten.