Half time report from Official site

HALF TIME LATEST FROM CARROW ROAD

NORWICH CITY 2 (Earnshaw 13 P, 27)
BARNSLEY 1 (Hayes 38)

BARNSLEY were left shellshocked as Robert Earnshaw's controversially won penalty set Norwich on their way and saw a harsh red card for defender Antony Kay although Paul Hayes gave the Reds hope with a late first half strike.

After Tuesday night's Carling Cup exploits at Blackpool, Reds boss Andy Ritchie reverted to the side that started against Southampton last weekend with Hayes, Kay, Nick Colgan, Martin Devaney, Sam Togwell, Brian Howard, Michael McIndoe and Marc Richards all returning. New boys Colin Healy and Vito Mannone had to be content with places on the bench despite impressing at Bloomfield Road.

The Canaries fired a warning shot inside the first ten seconds as Carl Robinson picked out Earnshaw in space behind Hassell and the striker managed to dig out a shot but Colgan was in the right place to save. At the other end Richards managed to get up above Jason Shackell to meet Howard's cross two minutes later but could only head straight at Paul Gallacher under pressure.

Hayes almost got in behind Norwich on ten minutes as he outpaced Gary Doherty to reach Howard's through ball but the bounce beat the striker and the City defence were able to clear. A minute later McIndoe flash a difficult volley well wide of the target after the Canaries had failed to deal with Togwell's long throw.

The game erupted into controversy on 12 minutes as Earnshaw threw himself to the floor under Kay's light challenge as the pair raced towards Huckerby's pass in the area. Referee Iain Williamson pointed to the spot much to Kay's disgust and then compounded the defender's misery by brandishing a harsh red card.

Earnshaw brushed himself down to stroke home the penalty, placing the ball past Colgan and into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Earnshaw almost got in again on 15 minutes as he capitalised on a slip by Paul Reid to race towards the area but curled his shot well over. Huckerby was next to try his luck when he tested Colgan with a rasping drive a minute later after cutting in from the left before Dickson Etuhu hammered the rebound straight at the Reds keeper from 18 yards.

The Reds rallied and forced a succession of corners before Robbie Williams let fly from all of 30 yards but his 20th minute drive flew high over the top.

Barnsley finally forced Gallacher into a save on 25 minutes as Williams rose highest to meet Togwell's deep free kick but could not get enough on his header to trouble the Canaries keeper.

Norwich ended the Reds resistance on 27 minutes as Robinson was given time and space to pick his spot from distance and the Welsh midfielder found the top corner to give Colgan no chance whatsoever.

McIndoe saw a rising shot deflect over the top on 33 minutes after neat build up play down the right before Howard flashed an effort high into the stand after the Canaries defence had failed to deal with Hayes' corner.

The Reds pulled one back on 38 minutes and it was all because of the strength and persistence of Richards as the striker chased down a lost cause before brushing off Shackell and racing into the area. Richards picked out a great pull back to find Hayes in the area and the hitman, who was dumped by Norwich as a teenager, saw his deflected effort end up in the back of the net.

NORWICH CITY: Gallacher, Drury, Shackell, Huckerby, Croft, Earnshaw, Safri, Etuhu, Colin, Doherty, Robinson.
Subs: Lewis, Fleming, McKenzie, Hughes, McVeigh.

BARNSLEY: Colgan, Hassell, Reid, Togwell, Hayes, McIndoe, Howard, Kay, Williams, Richards, Devaney.
Subs: Manonne, Healy, Tonge, Wright, Atkinson.