MATCH STATS NORWICH CITY: Gallacher, Colin, Shackell, Doherty, Drury, Croft, Etuhu, Safri, Robinson, Huckerby, Earnshaw. Subs: Lewis, Fleming (for Colin, 86), Thorne, McKenzie (for Earnshaw, 89), McVeigh (for Croft, 72). LUTON TOWN: Beresford, Foley, Barnett, Heikkinen, Davis, Robinson, Langley, Edwards, Emanuel, Vine, Feeney. Subs: Brill, Coyne (for Heikkinen, 45), Perrett, Morgan (for Edwards, 48), Boyd (for Emanuel, 61). SCORERS: Norwich: Huckerby (57), Croft (67), Earnshaw (71) Luton: Vine (16), Morgan (52) TOP CANARY: PinkUn: Youssef Safri EDP: Darren Huckerby PinkUn Poll: Dickson Etuhu (55%) ATTENDANCE: 23,863 REFEREE: A Penn (W Midlands) ADDED TIME: First half: 2 mins Second half: 4 mins YELLOW CARDS: Norwich: Shackell (foul on Foley, 39), Croft (simulation, 45) Luton: Barnett (foul on Croft, 64) RED CARDS: None SHOTS ON TARGET: Norwich 6, Luton 3 SHOTS OFF TARGET: Norwich 4, Luton 6 CORNERS: Norwich 8, Luton 6 FOULS:  Norwich 12, Luton 11 OFFSIDES:  Norwich 9, Luton 3

Saturday August 12, 2006
DAVID CUFFLEY

The Canaries produced a stunning second half comeback with three goals in 14 minutes to secure a dramatic victory over Luton Town at Carrow Road.

The Canaries were looking for their second home win in the space of five days after Tuesday’s impressive 2-0 victory over Preston North End.

The Hatters, who had won their first two games of the season, led at the interval thanks to a superb goal from Rowan Vine.

And things looked bleak for City when substitute Dean Morgan made it 2-0 six minutes into the second half after more good work by Vine.

But, in wet and windy conditions which added to the drama, Nigel Worthington’s team stormed back

Worthington was able to name the same side for the third successive game. With Worthington able to select the same 11 and stick with the same five substitutes, there was no place for midfielder Andy Hughes, fit again after a groin injury.

Luton, defending their 100 per cent start to the season, were also unchanged. The began the campaign with a 2-0 home win over Leicester and followed it up with a 1-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday in midweek, so manager Mike Newell kept faith with the same 11.
It meant that striker Adam Boyd, a £500,000 signing from Hartlepool in the summer, had to settle for a place on the bench.

Wet and windy conditions gave the afternoon a very different feel from the heatwave that accompanied much of City’s pre-season schedule.

The rain was still falling as Luton kicked off, defending the Barclay End, but it was City who threatened first with Robinson setting up the first attack and Beresford had to dash off his line to foil Huckerby.

Luton conceded two free-kicks early on when first Earnshaw and then Drury were fouled. From the second, the ball was worked out to the left for Drury but as he attempted to find Earnshaw, the striker was flagged offside by the assistant referee. Luton attacked down the right through Edwards but his centre was cut out by Safri.

Rowan Vine's shot from 25 yards beats City goalkeeper Paul Gallacher to give Luton Town a 1-0 lead.

With seven minutes gone a slip by Drury let in Edwards but his centre was headed clear by Colin and Safri was on hand to tidy up and set City on the attack.

Robinson picked out Croft with a raking cross field pass and the winger was halted by Davis at the expense of a corner. Drury’s flag-kick was disappointing, however, and Beresford gathered it easily.

The Hatters won their first corner a minute later when Shackell headed out a cross from Edwards and the flag-kick posed a few moments of alarm for the Canaries when Vine turned the ball back across the face of the goal for skipper Steve Robinson to miss a good opportunity by firing over the top.

Heikkinen needed treatment following the corner and Luton carried on for a couple of minutes with 10 men before he hobbled back on to the field.

City threatened again when Etuhu sent Earnshaw clear with a 40-yard pass. The flag stayed down this time, but the striker’s centre was too close to Beresford and Luton breathed again.

With 15 minutes gone the visitors took the lead with a stunning goal from Vine. It came pretty much out of the blue when the striker gained possession some 25-yards out and after a couple of strides let fly with a venomous right-foot drive which fairly flew inside Gallacher’s left-hand post.

City were momentarily rattled by the goal and Luton grew in confidence but the Canaries created another opening after 19 minutes when Huckerby broke on the left. His cross fell behind Earnshaw and with Carl Robinson closing in, Foley arrived just in time to hammer the ball clear.

Another Huckerby raid down the left forced Heikkinen to head clear after 24 minutes. Huckerby’s corner was played short to Safri, but his shot was charged down and Luton were able to clear their lines.

The rain was much heavier by now as the Canaries began warming up their three attacking substitutes while Robinson was being treated after slipping and banging his head on the ground.

It was Norwich’s turn to play on with 10 men while physio Neal Reynolds checked on Robinson’s condition on the touchline.

As City pushed forward again, Earnshaw was only just off target with a neat chip that narrowly cleared the bar.

A poorly judged back-header from Shackell almost landed City in trouble and it was left to Doherty to produce a timely clearance.

Huckerby beats Beresford with a neat side-foot finish to ignite City's comeback.

Croft was looking lively on the right and Barnett conceded a free-kick on the edge of the area when he barged the City winger to the ground. Earnshaw’s free-kick was deflected off the wall high in the air and Luton had trouble clearing their lines with first Etuhu floating a cross past the face of the goal and then Croft picking out Doherty, who’s header brought an excellent save out of Beresford.

Norwich had their tails up now and Etuhu made a timely interception before playing a one-two and hitting a low right-foot drive that Beresford, diving to his left, pushed round the post.

There was another escape for Luton moments later when the ball ricocheted off Earnshaw from close-range and went just the wrong side of the post.

Nearly every player was in the Luton half now as City dominated the play and when Shackell found Huckerby, he produced a brilliant turn before sliding a pass through to Drury. Alas, the flag went up as the City skipper struck a left-foot drive off the base of the post.

Both Etuhu and Safri were impressive in midfield and they combined to set up another attack which was spoiled by a poor pass from Carl Robinson. As Luton broke with speed, Edwards raced away on the right and his centre was met by a powerful left-foot shot from Emanuel which Gallacher did well to hold diving to his left.

Etuhu surged forward with another run into Luton territory but this time his long-range effort flew high into the crowd.

The first yellow card of the afternoon was shown to Shackell after 39 minutes when he brought down Foley 10-yards into the Norwich half.
City conceded another free-kick in dangerous territory when Safri fouled Edwards, but Emanuel’s dead-ball kick was easily gathered by Gallacher.

Huckerby produced a jinking run into the Luton area four minutes before the break, but Croft had come in just a yard too far and the cross fell behind him, so Luton were able to break again. But this time, Vine’s radar was a little awry and his right-foot shot flew well over the top.

Earnshaw spread the play wide with a pass to Croft as the Canaries went back on the attack but this time the winger’s attempted cross was blocked by Barnett.

There was some dismay in the home ranks when Croft appeared to be barged over by Langley but instead of earning a free-kick he was shown the yellow card because Mr Penn considered he had dived, though at worst he did no more than slip on the wet turf.

Langley earned a lecture himself along with Carl Robinson when the two men had a squabble just into the Norwich half but they went off side-by-side as the half-time whistle blew.

Half-time: Norwich City 0, Luton Town 1

City paraded their first piece of silverware of the season during the interval when the club's Academy Under-16s did a lap of honour with the University of Ulster Foyle Cup they won in Northern Ireland, getting a good reception from both sets of fans.

Huckerby celebrates his goal that put the Canaries on the road to another three points.

Luton made one change at half-time when Coyne replaced Heikkinen.
City won a free-kick in the first minute of the half when Croft was fouled but Drury's dead-ball kick was a poor one and Beresford collected it unchallenged.

Luton were forced into a second change after 48 minutes when Drury caught Edwards with a slightly high boot and the Trinidad international was taken to the touchline for treatment, where it soon became clear he was dazed and Morgan was quickly sent on in his place.

Drury was guilty of another poor dead-ball kick after Croft had earned a corner on the right.

City's wastefulness was punished just six minutes into the half when they went two goals up through substitute Morgan.

Vine did most of the hard work and produced an excellent diagonal pass to Morgan, who drilled a low right-foot shot inside the post from just inside the City area. He had only been on the field for three minutes and it was an impressive way to announce his arrival.

Referee Penn had to lecture Safri and Feeney after another spat, City gaining the free-kick that followed but Safri floating the dead-ball kick into touch.

A Luton corner had the Canaries flapping again and they were grateful to see Barnett's header drop the wrong side of the post. The Canaries were back in the match, however, after 56 minutes when Huckerby reduced the arrears. A back header by Barnett posed problems for Foley and as he made a hash of attempting to control the ball, Huckerby pounced and beat Beresford with a neat side-foot finish.

It was the first goal the Hatters had conceded this season.

City's new wing wonder Lee Croft, second from left, is congratulated by team-mates after scoring the Canaries' equaliser.

Safri distinguished himself again with some excellent tidying up as Feeney threatened and when City counter-attacked quickly, Huckerby's persistence earned a corner. He tried to play it short to Safri, however, and another opportunity was lost.

With just over an hour gone the Hatters made their final substitution when striker Boyd replaced Emanuel.

Colin got into the action in City's next attack but in attempting to find Croft his pass was just too strong and Beresford got there first.

Croft threatened again when he raced on to a pass from Robinson and was crudely bundled over by Barnett, who was shown the yellow card for the challenge. Again, Drury's dead-ball kick failed to reach the danger area and Luton breathed again.

Colin got City moving again with a timely interception as Vine dithered and he found Croft, whose low centre was met by Robinson's right-foot shot, which was blocked, but the Canaries did not have to wait long to get on terms when Croft opened his Norwich account after 66 minutes.

Credit must go to Robinson for an astute diagonal pass and Croft kept his head to tuck the ball home right-footed.

The place was really rocking now and City responded by taking the lead four minutes later. Etuhu found Huckerby and after a neat side-step he produced a left-foot shot which bounced back off the foot of the post where Etuhu, following up, was foiled by an excellent save by Beresford, only for Earnshaw to make it third time lucky by knocking the rebound into the net.

Worthington made his first change of the afternoon after 72 minutes when McVeigh came on in place of goalscorer Croft.

It had been a stunning comeback by Norwich with three goals in 14 minutes and one wondered how much more drama was to come in the final quarter of an hour.

Robert Earnshaw wheels away in celebration after scoring City's winner.

Another storming run by Huckerby was halted at the expense of a corner, but this time Beresford earned himself a few moments of calm with a straightforward catch from Huckerby’s flag-kick.

Luton must have been shell-shocked but they earned themselves one opportunity after 80 minutes when Langley tumbled five-yards outside the City area. Robinson’s free-kick was cleared by Shackell for a corner but the Hatters wasted that opportunity and City swept forward again.

Langley brought jeers from the home crowd with a long-range effort which was some way off target but the Hatters pushed forward again and Drury needed treatment after a reckless challenge from Vine.
It was the skipper’s right shin which appeared to be the problem and there was a few minutes delay while physio Reynolds inspected the damage.

Conditions now were very wet indeed but that was unlikely to bother most of those in a bumper crowd who had enjoyed a rip roaring afternoon’s entertainment.

With five minutes left Feeney earned Luton another corner when his right-foot shot was squeezed wide by Doherty. It was Robinson, who had enjoyed an excellent second half, who came to City’s rescue with a timely clearance at the near post.

With three minutes remaining City made another change when Fleming replaced Colin.

With four minutes of time added on, Gallacher broke Luton hearts with a stunning save to keep out a cracking shot from Vine.

Result: Norwich City 3, Luton Town 2