Norwich City hit back twice to earn a draw at St. Mary's.

An enthralling second half in rainswept conditions saw Saints have to settle for a point against the Canaries despite leading twice in the match, thanks to goals from Adam Lallana and a sublime effort from David Connolly.

Saints took an early lead through Lallana but were pegged back shortly after half time as the visitors followed up a penalty save from Kelvin Davis to equalise. Connolly's top corner strike with 25 minutes to go opened the game out further and Stephen Hughes's goal secured a point for the Canaries in a game which could have gone either way.

Saints: Davis, James, Jaidi, Trotman, Harding, Antonio (Murty 57), Schneiderlin, Hammond, Lallana (Mellis 88), Lambert (Papa Waigo 84), Connolly. Subs (not used): Bialkowski, Thomas, Perry, Mills.

Norwich: Forster, Otsemobor, Drury, Doherty, Berthel Askou, Hoolahan (McDonald 72), Russell, Smith, Lappin (Hughes 72), Martin, Holt. Subs (not used): Theoklitos, Nelson, Adeyemi, McVeigh, Dawkin.

Referee: Mr. A. Penn

Attendance: 21,362 (including 2,205 away)

High winds and rain greeted the two teams as the Canaries kicked off towards the Chapel End at St. Mary's.

Clear chances were few and far between in the opening exchanges with Adam Lallana shaping up for Saints' first shot of the game which went wide.

That all changed on 11 minutes as David Connolly intercepted a pass on halfway and carried the ball forward before supplying a clever short pass to Lallana. The 21 year-old broke through the middle of defence before striking a strong shot into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0.

Simon Lappins' shot squirmed its way through from the left but Kelvin Davis was down smartly to keep the shot out at his near post.

Dean Hammond's header forced a fingertip save from Forster after Lloyd James' quickly taken corner in the 18th minute, with Saints' attacking play gathering momentum.

Five minutes later, Morgan Schneiderlin's long range shot deflected off Darel Russell, and agonizingly trickled wide off Forster's left post for what would surely have gone down as an own goal. The resulting corner almost yielded a goal too as Lambert and Jaidi attacked the ball inside the six yard box only to see the ball go wide and out of play.

A series of strong challenges brought the game further to life but City remained unable to penetrate Saints' backline. In the 34th minute Grant Holt struck a firm shot from the right which Davis pushed away Russell blazed the follow up over from the edge of the area.

The last ten minutes of the half was an altogether more scrappy period as neither side were able to register any further attempts on goal.

Half Time: Saints 1-0 Norwich

The visitors made a bright start in the second half but couldn't work an opening until Lloyd James brought down City forward Chris Martin inside the area near the byline. The Welshman booked as he conceded a penalty.

Wes Hoolahan stepped up and saw his spot kick pushed on to the post by a strong hand from Davis, but the rebound fell kindly for the Irishman who tapped home from close range to level the score.

Graeme Murty made his return to the action at right back after two months on the sidelines just short of the hour mark. He replaced Michail Antonio, a move which saw Lloyd James move into a midfield role.

The swirling wind and rain returned to hamper much of the pla,y but Saints re-took the lead with a fine individual effort from Connolly.

The striker cut in from the right and unleashed a sublime curling shot into the top right hand corner to make it 2-1 sending St. Mary's into raptures.

Russell went close for the Canaries with a drive, but it was the hosts who nearly extended their lead on 70 minutes. Lambert, Connolly and Lallana combining on the edge of the area before the latter fired narrowly wide.

The visitors forced their way back into the game with a quarter of an hour left to play. Chris Martin's strong shot drew a block from Davis and substitute Stephen Hughes was on hand to turn the ball home from six yards out for City's second equaliser of the game.

The match had become a frantic affair as both sides went in search of a winner. Saints' skipper Dean Hammond arrowed a rising shot from the edge of the area toward the bottom corner of Forster's goal, which the Newcastle loanee pushed away for a corner.

Jaidi's foul on Holt earned the Tunisian a booking with ten minutes to play. Moments later Holt almost turned in Hughes' cross on the volley as the game swung from end to end.

Connolly shot wide before Papa Waigo replaced Rickie Lambert with just over five minutes left on the clock.

Lallana made way for Jacob Mellis late on as a lively end to the game ensued as four minutes of stoppage time were added on with Papa Waigo going closest after rounding the 'keeper, but he had been flagged offside long before the ball was cleared off the line.

Full Time: Saints 2-2 Norwich