Lukaku continues scoring streak in Everton draw at Norwich
Everton striker Romelu Lukaku scored for a seventh straight game but Norwich responded to earn a deserved 1-1 draw in the Premier League clash at Carrow Road.
Lukaku became the first Everton player to score in seven successive games in 40 years, since Bob Latchford in December 1975, when heading in Gerard Deulofeu's cross after 15 minutes.
The Belgium striker will bid to close in on Jamie Vardy's record of scoring in 11 straight games against Vardy's club Leicester next Saturday.
He has 28 Everton goals this calendar year, but might have had three more in a first half the visitors dominated to such an extent they could have been coasting at half-time.
Fit-again Leighton Baines hit a post and Arouna Kone was twice denied by Declan Rudd, yet Norwich responded little more than a minute after the restart through Wes Hoolahan.
Cameron Jerome might have won it for the Canaries, but fired over from Hoolahan's flick.
Norwich gave the ball away too freely in the first half and the best of their few forays forward came when Nathan Redmond sliced wide after running on to Gary O'Neil's fine pass.
The 2,600 visiting fans - wearing blue santa hats, with one of them in his swimming trunks - had a prime first-half view of Deulofeu's trickery on the right wing.
Lukaku dragged a shot wide across goal before Barcelona youth team graduate Deulofeu, who sparkled at times, laid on the opener.
Baines' corner was half cleared by Martin Olsson and O'Neil, allowing the Spaniard to cross for Lukaku to head in at the far post.
Lukaku tried to lay on a second, but Rudd was out quickly to thwart Kone, who soon afterwards was again denied in similar circumstances.
Another cross from the Everton right, this time from Tom Cleverley, could also have resulted in a goal for Lukaku but Russell Martin managed to get a touch to put him off.
Next Seamus Coleman crossed from the same flank. Lukaku swiped at mid-air but Baines was behind him, settled himself and rifled a shot against the post.
With Sebastien Bassong backing off, Lukaku made space for a shot which he dragged wide and he did so again before the interval.
The visitors' one moment of alarm came when John Stones landed awkwardly in challenging at Norwich's near post, but the England defender continued in the second half.
The muted half-time boos from the home faithful turned to delighted cheers when Ryan Bennett, on for Andre Wisdom, headed Robbie Brady's corner goalwards and Hoolahan forced it in despite the presence of Ross Barkley on the post.
It was not pretty, but the Canaries cared not a jot as it was just their fourth goal in seven Premier League games.
Norwich's need for a goal was highlighted by their supporters serenading Everton substitute Steven Naismith as he warmed up. A bid from Norwich was rejected for the Scot in the summer.
And it was magnified further when Martin and Hoolahan combined on the right to craft a chance for Jerome, who could only lift the ball over when it appeared easier to score.
