Norwich inched closer to safety with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against high-flying Birmingham.
Clingan cancels out Jerome opener
Norwich inched closer to safety with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against high-flying Birmingham.
The Canaries started brightly but fell behind when Cameron Jerome headed home seven minutes before half-time.
They equalised courtesy of a Sammy Clingan free-kick on 53 minutes but neither side was able to force a winner in an exciting finale.
Norwich started on top, and Alan Lee fired over from six yards following a corner.
The former Ipswich striker was then denied the opportunity to become an instant success in canary yellow.
Lee, on loan from Crystal Palace, breached Birmingham's defence early on - only to be frustrated by the assistant referee's flag.
Simon Lappin was then off target with a shot from the edge of the area. Lappin was making his first appearance of the season - he last appeared in a Canaries shirt in November 2007, 74 games ago - in place of suspended midfielder Darel Russell.
Jon Otsemobor and David Mooney, who has scored in the last two games, shot wide for Norwich - and Hameur Bouazza had a shot blocked for the hosts.
Garry O'Connor crossed for Bouazza to head straight at Marshall, as Blues finally had an effort on target.
Alan Gow dragged an effort wide, before Birmingham went ahead when Bouazza crossed from the left for Jerome to head in from six yards.
Pressure
Gow shot wide, and Lappin had an effort held by Maik Taylor as Norwich failed to make their pressure tell.
Taylor saved Gow's close-range attempt early in the second period before Bouazza headed Sebastian Larsson's cross wide.
Norwich were then rewarded for their endeavour with an equaliser after 53 minutes.
Lee Carsley fouled David Mooney, and Clingan whipped in a terrific free-kick beyond Taylor from 25 yards.
Jerome shot wide as Birmingham attempted to respond, before Alex McLeish introduced former England international striker Kevin Phillips.
Liam Ridgewell headed over from six yards, and Gow was again denied by Taylor at the other end.
Marshall saved a Phillips effort before blocking Jerome's close-range header, as Norwich held on for a deserved point.
