Martin Jol retained the same starting eleven that earned a point against Chelsea on Boxing Day for Fulham’s New Year’s Eve clash against Norwich City at Carrow Road.

Fulham made a blistering start to their New Year’s Eve encounter in East Anglia, taking the lead through Orlando Sa after just six minutes play.

Saturday’s match was played at a frenetic pace from the first whistle but Sa’s 20-yard thunderbolt silenced the boisterous home crowd. Collecting the ball on the left hand side of Norwich’s area after some neat work by Dembele, Sa beat his marker before unleashing an unstoppable shot past Ruddy.

Two minutes later Sa almost grabbed his second with a strike from the left hand side of the area that had Ruddy beaten. As the ball rolled towards the far corner of the net Naughton intercepted to clear the ball off the line.

The early drama continued with Norwich returning the pressure on Fulham’s goal after 12 minutes. The home side’s strong phase of play commenced with a long range strike from Hoolahan than whistled past Stockdale’s far post.

Fulham’s goalkeeper was then forced to pull off two instinctive saves in the space of a minute as Fulham were pegged back in their area. Norwich’s pressure soon subsided and Fulham looked to calm proceedings by retaining possession.

John Arne Riise was the next to try his luck for Fulham with a 35-yard direct free-kick. It was a worthy effort from the Norwegian international, who fired a low drive towards the far corner of the net but his strike just lacked the accuracy to find the target.

As the half hour mark approached Fulham looked more than comfortable as the home crowd grew increasingly frustrated. In fact, Fulham earned a glorious chance to double their lead after 32 minutes when Bryan Ruiz set Stephen Kelly free down the right wing with a cheeky back heel. The defender delivered an in-swinging cross that Dempsey headed against the cross bar.

Fulham played with real confidence in the final 15 minutes of the first half and Kerim Frei came within inches of scoring a quite incredible solo goal before the break. Frei picked the ball up on the halfway line before racing goalwards. The youngster ran a full 40 yards before unleashing a vicious low drive that Ruddy was forced to parry away to safety.

Fulham went into the break unfortunate not to have extended their lead on more than one occasion during the final stages of the first half, in what was a highly impressive first 45 minutes from Martin Jol’s team.

Norwich made one change for the second half, introducing Grant Holt for Fox. Holt was immediately in the thick of the action, forcing Riise off the pitch for treatment after a clash in Fulham’s half seconds after the restart.

Kerim Frei was once again causing problems within minutes of the restart with his direct approach to goal but it was Orlando Sa who produced a glorious cross from the left by-line after 54 minutes. Ruddy parried Sa’s cross to safety but the striker was enjoying a fine performance on New Year’s Eve.

Norwich's attacking threat was less potent than in the first half but Pilkington caused a real moment of concern when he was released for a strike on goal on the right hand side of the area. Fortunately his shot was blocked but as the hour mark approached Norwich went on the offensive with Naughton next to go close with a drive across goal.

Martin Jol made his first change of the game after 64 minutes, replacing Captain Danny Murphy with Dickson Etuhu in central midfield. Four minutes after his introduction Etuhu raced back a full forty yards to cover his defence in a super piece of defensive midfield play.

There was a second change for Norwich just before the 70 minute mark, as Morison made way for Simeon Jackson. The home side almost drew level moments later when Surman’s drive from the edge of the area whistled just past Stockdale’s far post with the keeper beaten.

With ten minutes remaining Martin Jol made two changes in the space of a minute. First Steve Sidwell replaced Orlando Sa before Kerim Frei made way for Damien Duff.

Eight minutes from time Stockdale produced a fantastic diving save to deny Jackson, whose shot across goal appeared destined for the top corner of the net. Moments later the goalkeeper was there again to claim a high ball into the area with real authority.

Grant Holt almost pulled Norwich level before five minutes of added time with a header from four yards out but the striker could only send his effort over the cross bar. The home side got their equaliser in the fourth minute of added time when substitute Simeon Jackson headed home from a deep cross from the right flank.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for Martin Jol's team who were unfortunate to leave Carrow Road with just a point after a fine away performance on New Year's Eve.

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