Three strikes in four minutes – and the 33-year-old’s first goal for nine years

Three strikes in four minutes – and the 33-year-old’s first goal for nine years.Goals Yakubu (37) 0-1; Huckerby (63) 1-1; Berger (65) 1-2; Charlton (67) 2-2.Norwich City (4-4-2): Green; Edworthy, Charlton, Fleming, Drury; Jonson (McVeigh, 72), Holt, Francis, Bentley; Huckerby, McKenzie (Svensson, 79). Substitutes not used Ward (gk), Doherty, Helveg.Portsmouth (4-4-2): Hislop; Griffin, Primus, Unsworth, Taylor; Cisse (LuaLua, 69), Faye (Hughes 78), Quashie, Berger; Kamara (Fuller 60), Yakubu. “But if we keep playing like that and creating chances like that then hopefully it will turn for us.”Norwich’s hopes lie in midfielder David Bentley and Darren Huckerby. Unfortunately for Norwich both were at the top of their game against the sort of side they need to beat at home to stay up – and they still did not win.

That’s the truth Worthington faces this morning.Portsmouth took the lead through an error by the Norwich goalkeeper, Robert Green. Nigel Quashie’s shot was powerful but Green pushed it to Aiyegbeni Yakubu who beat two defenders before scoring. The rest of the first hour was about cataloguing the misses of Leon McKenzie – making his debut for Norwich – and Portsmouth’s Diomansy Kamara, also a debutant. Each could have had a hat-trick.Instead it was Matthew Taylor’s clumsy challenge on Huckerby which allowed Norwich back in The penalty was saved but Huckerby tucked in the rebound. Substitutes not used McManaman, B Wright-Phillips, Sommeil, Flood, Waterreus.Referee U Rennie (South Yorkshire).Man of the match Anelka.Attendance 28,605.. Portsmouth may renew their interest in Martin Keown to solve their defensive crisis but Norwich City’s problems run a little deeper.

“I need somebody if the other two [Dejan Stefanovic and Arjen De Zeeuw] are going to be out long-term.”It was Portsmouth’s defensive frailties that allowed Norwich back into the match and they were left hanging on at the end. Norwich will draw much from their ability to twice come from behind and then to almost gain their first win. However, they remain rooted in the bottom three.”We could have won this game, but we could have lost it too,” Norwich’s manager Nigel Worthington admitted. Substitues not used Blayney, Kenton.Manchester City (4-4-2): James; Mills, Distin, Dunne, Thatcher; S Wright-Phillips, Barton, Bosvelt, Jihai; Anelka, Macken. His problems are exacerbated by the fact that, according to an agreement between the Premier League and the League Managers’ Association, he needs to have a coaching licence by 14 December.

As it was, Southampton had to be satisfied with only their second point from six games under Wigley.”If I only get two points from the next six games, we all know what football is like – I would not expect to be sat here,” he admitted. It was awful to watch, without even the saving grace of being effective. Despite this, the home supporters responded to Wigley’s request to get behind their team. But the boos at half-time, and full-time, showed how many of them really feel.As for City – they dominated the first half, and much of the second, without ever suggesting they could actually profit from it. Nicolas Anelka looked like an elegant misfit within the action, but his contribution, significant as it was, still had an element of detachment. Alongside him – when he caught up – John Macken operated at a pace which, if you were being charitable, you might call leisurely.Had it been the absent Robbie Fowler, freed for a shot on goal by Joey Barton’s 35th-minute through-ball, he would surely have given City the lead they deserved. As it was, the chance fell to Sun Jihai, who produced a shot so pathetic that he briefly covered his face with his shirt in shame.It was Southampton, so bereft of initiative, who might have claimed the points in the final seven minutes of the match.