Premier League: Norwich 1 QPR 1

Norwich dominated proceedings at Carrow Road on Saturday but Queens Park Rangers held on for a 1-1 draw.

Simeon Jackson gave the hosts the lead after just 10 minutes, meeting a cross from Robert Snodgrass with a header to hand Norwich an early lead.

Their advantage was cut short, however, when QPR equalised in controversial circumstances just seven minutes later, with Norwich debutant Sebastian Bassong bringing down Djibril Cisse in the penalty area despite replays showing minimal contact.

Keeper John Ruddy then saved Cisse’s weak effort, but Bobby Zamora knocked in the rebound.

Norwich had several chances to go back in front, with the best coming from Russell Martin after the right-back met Anthony Pilkington’s cross, but saw his header loop onto the crossbar. But they could not find the winner against a QPR side who were largely on the back foot for the majority of the game.

After a slow start, the deadlock was broken after a delightful team move from the home side. Jonny Howson played the ball into Jackson, who then flicked it on to his strike partner Grant Holt.

A neat exchange between Bradley Johnson and Pilkington saw the former Huddersfield winger cross to the far post, with Jackson there to head home.

Norwich began to enjoy some comfortable possession, however they soon found themselves picking the ball out of the net after a dubious decision from referee Mark Clattenburg.

Junior Hoilett ran at Snodgrass down the left, twisting and turning before cutting inside and rolling a pass into Cisse. The Frenchman didn’t seem to have the ball under control and went down under pressure from Bassong, and despite not appealing for a penalty, Clattenburg pointed to the spot, much to Norwich’s dismay.

However, when Cisse stepped up, Ruddy did brilliantly to tip his penalty onto the post, but unfortunately for the England international, Zamora was alert to pounce on the rebound, although replays showed the former Fulham striker was in the penalty area when Cisse made contact with the ball.

After half-time, the lively Jackson looked to double his tally after receiving the ball in the QPR penalty area, but couldn’t steer his effort on target as Norwich came out of the blocks quickly.

However, the home side had to be careful on the counterattack as Cisse also looked dangerous, with the former Sunderland forward coming close to connecting with Zamora’s chipped through ball.

Norwich were happy to keep possession and Jackson again mustered a decent chance for the hosts. The 25-year-old received the ball on the edge of the box before unleashing a left-footed effort, but saw it whistle over the bar to keep the scores level.

The contest was slowly turning into an end-to-end spectacle and QPR were lucky not to concede when Nedum Onuoha and Green were caught in two minds attempting to clear a long ball.

Bassong then had a golden chance to put Norwich in front again. Snodgrass won a free-kick on the right after being tugged by Ji-Sung Park, and the Scot’s whipped delivery found the Cameroonian, but he somehow headed wide from 10 yards out.

A frantic phase of play late in the half saw Norwich muster a brilliant chance from a short corner. Pilkington was once again at the heart, with a superb cross from the left finding Martin, who aimed his header back to the far post but was unlucky to see it bounce off the top of the crossbar.

With three minutes added on, the game slowed as Hoilett went down after a clash of heads.

Cisse, not for the first time in the match, was then caught offside as QPR looked for an unlikely winner, but it would be the Norwich manager who will be unhappy that his side could not find a goal to steal all three points.