Everton v Norwich

Everton 1

Naismith 12′

Norwich 1

Bassong 90′

FT 90 +5
HT 1-0

Sebastien Bassong celebrates his last-gasp equaliser for Norwich

By Chris Bevan BBC Sport

Sebastien Bassong's 90th-minute header denied Everton victory and extended Norwich's unbeaten run to six Premier League games.

Steven Naismith put the Toffees ahead early on, powering into the roof of the net after good work by Bryan Oviedo.

But Everton faded after their bright start and Norwich began to threaten.

Robert Snodgrass had a shot cleared off the line and Anthony Pilkington went close, before Bassong met Javier Garrido's free-kick to snatch a point.

Everton were unhappy with the decision that led to Norwich's equaliser, with referee Mike Jones spotting a push on Steve Morison by Leighton Baines.

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Moyes: Disappointed with Norwich draw

But in truth the Toffees only had themselves to blame for their failure to turn their early dominance into more goals, and for allowing Norwich back into the game.

Everton remain fifth in the table, having drawn five of their last seven games, but they are three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea having played a game more, and they will know they have wasted another opportunity to close the gap on the sides above them.

David Moyes's side certainly began the game well enough, and were first to threaten when Sylvain Distin found Naismith with a long diagonal ball and he teed up Leon Osman to curl a shot wide.

The home side kept the pressure up and took the lead after 12 minutes.

Steven Whittaker was unable to deal with Thomas Hitzlsperger's lofted pass down the left, allowing Oviedo to cut in and find Naismith, who buried his first-time strike.

Bassong finds the back of the net

Sebastien Bassong's header was his first goal for Norwich, and his first since he scored for Tottenham in a 1-1 draw with Birmingham on 4 December 2010.

That was only the second goal a newly resolute Norwich side had conceded in a run of three wins and two draws in the league since a 4-1 defeat by Chelsea on 6 October.

But more looked likely to quickly follow, with Everton's midfield dominating thanks to some quick-fire passing. Further chances duly arrived, with Baines forcing Ruddy into a fine low save from the best of them.

In contrast, Norwich did not test Tim Howard inside the first 30 minutes, but things began to change when Grant Holt went on a rampaging run, battling past two defenders before screwing his shot wide.

The Toffees got lucky before the break when Bassong met a Snodgrass corner but saw the ball come off his shoulder and bounce wide.

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Hughton: Everton tough place to play

And, having seen his side surrender a first-half lead in their defeat by Reading last week, the alarm bells were surely ringing for Moyes as his side made a sluggish start to the second period.

Norwich, meanwhile, were growing in confidence. Pilkington forced Howard to scramble across his goal to keep out his free-kick and the Toffees keeper was fortunate when he flapped at Whittaker's through-ball but got just enough on it to deny Grant Holt.

Holt was involved again when he set up Snodgrass to fire in a shot which was hacked off his line by Johnny Heitinga, while Howard did well to keep out a Pilkington header after being initially wrong-footed.

Baines offered Everton some respite, embarking on a dazzling solo run that ended when Ruddy pushed away his shot, and also firing narrowly over from a free-kick.

But Norwich continued to press and got their reward right at the end of the game.

Baines was penalised for the merest of touches on Morison and Bassong met Garrido's delivery at the back post, his header coming back off the bar and bouncing in, with Holt waiting to knock it over the line if required.

Everton manager David Moyes was unhappy with the decision that led to Norwich's equaliser: "I thought Steve Morison mis-kicked the ball in front of us and I don't think it was a free-kick.

"It was a tough game but we should have seen it out and I am disappointed to concede a goal.

"We had the opportunities to make it 2-0 but Norwich were always knocking on the door and their form has been very good of late so we knew it was going to be a tough game and it proved to be that.

"We played some excellent football in the first half, particularly the first 25 or 30 minutes and maybe we could have capitalised a little bit more.

"But we need to turn this good play and opportunities into goals. You can have as many passes and as much possession as you like and play whatever style you like, but the most important thing in foot is to win and that is the most important thing for me."

Norwich boss Chris Hughton: "We know the things we have to do to get points in the Premier League, and games do not get any tougher than having to come to Everton, who are on a really good run.

"But we are on a good run ourselves at the moment and where I was delighted today was that, at 1-0 down, we always looked a threat.

"The game was very scrappy at times but it is always very pleasing when you score that late. It really is a valuable point for us.

"After five or six games we were not doing too well but our form was not actually that bad - we just were not able to pick up the points we would have liked.

"The pleasing thing for us now is that there are now points coming with our performance."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (4)

Everton

24 Howard
03 Baines
05 Heitinga Booked
06 Jagielka
15 Distin
08 Oviedo
16 Hitzlsperger
21 Osman
22 Pienaar
07 Jelavic
14 Naismith (Vellios - 90' )

Substitutes

01 Mucha
02 Hibbert
34 Duffy
20 Barkley
31 Kennedy
19 Gueye
27 Vellios

Norwich City

01 Ruddy (Bunn - 82' )
03 Whittaker
05 Bassong
18 Garrido Booked
24 R Bennett
04 Johnson Booked
12 Pilkington
14 Hoolahan (Morison - 75' )
27 Tettey Booked
07 Snodgrass (Jackson - 89' )
09 Holt

Substitutes

28 Bunn
20 Barnett
23 Tierney
08 Howson
17 E Bennett
10 Jackson
16 Morison

Ref: Jones

Att: 34,502

Match Stats

Possession 56 44

Shots

14 8

On target

9 4

Corners

4 2

Fouls

10 18

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:59 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +2:49

Simeon Jackson is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Phil Jagielka.

90:00 +2:17

Unfair challenge on Alexander Tettey by Apostolos Vellios results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Mark Bunn.

90:00 +1:33 Substitution

Substitution Apostolos Vellios is brought on as a substitute for Steven Naismith.

89:53

Assist on the goal came from Javier Garrido.

89:53 Goal scored

Goal - Sebastien Bassong - Everton 1 - 1 Norwich Sebastien Bassong grabs a headed goal from close range. Everton 1-1 Norwich.

89:05

Leighton Baines challenges Steve Morison unfairly and gives away a free kick. Javier Garrido sends in a cross,

88:32 Substitution

Substitution Robert Snodgrass goes off and Simeon Jackson comes on.

87:30

Leighton Baines fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

87:30 Booking

Booking Booking for Alexander Tettey for unsporting behaviour.

86:09 Booking

Booking Javier Garrido is cautioned.

86:01

Unfair challenge on Bryan Oviedo by Javier Garrido results in a free kick.

84:22

Anthony Pilkington takes a shot. Save made by Tim Howard.

82:24 Booking

Booking Booking for Johnny Heitinga for unsporting behaviour.

82:07

The offside flag is raised against Nikica Jelavic. Free kick taken by Mark Bunn.

81:01

Corner taken left-footed by Leighton Baines.

81:01 Substitution

Substitution Mark Bunn replaces John Ruddy.

77:09

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Leighton Baines by Robert Snodgrass. Tim Howard restarts play with the free kick.

74:13 Substitution

Substitution (Norwich) makes a substitution, with Steve Morison coming on for Wesley Hoolahan.