Norwich 3-3 Middlesbrough: Boro blow two-goal lead

Back in 2005, the Canaries fought back from 4-1 down with three goals in the last 10 minutes to snatch a surprise point. This time around it was two in the last 20. For Boro, the outcome was the same, and the same as it’s been on too many occasions so far this season: a missed opportunity.

Yet again, what should have been and failure to take advantage of a commanding position - though in fairness to Boro, they were ultimately undone by two world class goals and a fluke.

A draw at Carrow Road is no disgrace. Given Norwich have now extended their unbeaten stretch on home turf to 24 games in all competitions, most, if not every Championship side, would snap your hand off for a point in this neck of the woods.

But not when you’re 3-1 up with less than 20 minutes to play having dominated. And not when you’re handed the perfect opportunity to score a fourth goal and put the points well and truly out of reach of the hosts.

Tommy Conway’s missed penalty and missed opportunity to keep the match ball 21 minutes from time proved decisive, for within two minutes Borja Sainz had scored his second stunner to claw the Canaries back into the game at 3-2. It was Sainz who had fired Norwich ahead after just eight minutes but Boro were immense in the period that followed and led 3-1 at the break after what was comfortably their best league half of the season so far.

Conway justified his selection ahead of Emmanuel Latte Lath with a brace, as did Anfernee Dijksteel, who was given the nod ahead of the dropped Luke Ayling. When Finn Azaz scored Boro’s third on the stroke of half-time, Boro were coasting, comfortable and in command. And that remained unchanged for 25 minutes of the second period, with only the odd defensive scare.

And when McGree went down in the box, plenty of Norwich supporters were preparing to head for the exits. But Norwich keeper George Long, who’d had a wretched afternoon up to that point, denied Conway from the spot and just like that the game changed. Blame shouldn’t be pinned on Conway, even with the missed spot-kick, Boro should never have surrendered their position of power. That said - as ridiculous as it might sound - they didn't do an awful lot wrong. Norwich’s second was a moment of individual brilliance and their third a stroke of luck – bad for Boro – when Kellen Fisher’s miscued cross caught Seny Dieng off guard at his front post.

Boro lacked an outlet late on, with Ben Doak – having terrorised the home side – replaced after the Conway penalty along with the striker. After Fisher’s leveller, you feared Boro would drop all three points rather but a red card for Kenny McLean for a lunge on Hayden Hackney three minutes from time took the edge out of the hosts.

As he did at Watford, Carrick will no doubt take heart from the positives – and there were plenty – but they’re once again overshadowed by Boro’s failure to get over the line. Are Boro streetwise enough?

One way of finding out is seeing how they respond to this disappointment against bogey team Coventry City next week. A win against Norwich back in March sparked a nine-match unbeaten run and it’s consistency that Boro are craving now.

Only once this season have they managed to string together successive victories and as crucial as the midweek victory over Sheffield United was, there was an understandable calling for the success to be a springboard. That looked like being the case for long stages on Sunday, after Boro’s instant and terrific response to Sainz’s early opener.

Azaz forced a good save from Long before Doak caused problems to win a corner and when that set-piece was only half cleared, Neto Borges picked out Conway, whose volley should have been kept out by Long but squirmed under the keeper at his front post. A first Boro assist was a deserved reward for a perfectly measured cross from Borges, who is improving all the time.

Borges’ opposite number Callum Doyle was having a torrid time against the unplayable Doak, who was involved in the second goal and made the third. It wasn’t, however, the Liverpool loanee or goalscorer Conway who were the recipients of the highest praise after Boro got themselves in front. Instead, the biggest pat on the back was reserved for Dijksteel, who cleared a corner with a header in one box then galloped up to the other and coolly picked out Conway.

Norwich were desperate for half-time but before the whistle came a deserved third for Boro. Long could only parry Hackney’s shot and Azaz reacted quicker than the home defenders to ensure he was on hand to bundle home Doak’s cross.

Norwich had new first team coach Jack Wilshere in the dugout for the first time. How Johannes Hoff Thorup must have wished he could call on the former England midfielder at his best in his playing days to try and get a grip of the game. He’d have had his work cut out against the dominant Hackney and Aidan Morris, who felt the love of Boro’s fans.

Just before the hour mark Anis Slimane was booked for a foul on Doak. Dragging the winger to the deck was the only way to stop him.

When McGree hit the deck in the box and Conway stepped up, nobody could have predicted how the following 20 minutes would play out. A draw that will have felt like a victory for Norwich and defeat for Boro.