Holt leveller is cruellest blow for Kean

Kicking a man when he is down is not a pleasant sight. And Steve Kean, the Blackburn Rovers manager, has had many kickings this season, mostly from his own club's fans, as his side plummeted to the foot of the Premier League. That he has survived so far is miraculous.

Of all the beatings, though, Norwich's 90th-minute equaliser yesterday must be the worst. Blackburn had led 1-0 and 3-1, appeared comfortable and just needed to see out stoppage time to secure their second League win of the season.

But Bradley Johnson swung over a last-ditch free-kick in the fourth added minute, Steven Nzonzi flapped out an inadvertent arm to ball, Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot and Grant Holt slammed in the penalty. Kean stood grim-faced on the touchline, thwacked yet again.

"That was tough to take, very tough," Kean said. "Steven was fouled at the back post and was appealing for a free-kick and not looking at where the ball was. Yes, it did hit his arm, but there was no intent. Coming as that did, it feels like a defeat."

However, Blackburn did move up to 18th place. That was the least they deserved. "We will reflect on it in a couple of days and know that we did enough to win," Kean said. "And we've gone up two places as well. If we can keep performing like that, we can keep picking up places."

Blackburn's displays of late have improved, with a gallant 2-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur followed by a valiant 4-3 win over Newcastle United, after extra time, in their Carling Cup fourth-round tie at Ewood Park on Wednesday. The reward – a quarter-final away to Cardiff City – may deflect attention from Kean, especially if they continue to strugglein the League.

Not that they struggled yesterday. The momentum gained from the win against Newcastle carried over into the Norfolk sunshine and, to judgeby their first-half showing, there was no crisis of confidence. Norwich appeared the more nervous, almost scared to try anything too flash in front of an increasingly anxious home crowd.

Blackburn were compact and composed, with Yakubu and the spring-heeled Junior Hoilett providing a lively combination up front. Yakubu should have done better than spoon a weak shot, from an incisive Ruben Rochina pass, high over the crossbar. Perhaps ditto Anthony Pilkington, for Norwich, when he drove wide.

Apart from a David Fox rocket, brilliantly parried away by Paul Robinson, and a fluffed far-post effort from Elliott Bennett, Norwich lacked inspiration. Blackburn upped the ante shortly before half-time and, in the third minute of stoppage time, made the breakthrough.

John Ruddy had been warned. Moments earlier, he had almost carried the ball over his own goalline from Morten Gamst Pedersen's looping free-kick. This time, the ball was hit with more force, by Hoilett, and it flew past the goalkeeper beforehe had time to think.

For the 11th time in 11 League and cup matches Norwich had failed to keep a clean sheet. Blackburn have suffered similar leakage problems at the back, and in the 53rd minute they also succumbed again, for the 13th time in 13 games. Wes Hoolahan kept the ball alive on the left and crossed for Leon Barnett to nod down. Steve Morison juggled a bit and then sent a searing volley past Robinson.

Just past the hour Blackburn were back in front with two goals in as many minutes. First, Yakubu thundered in an attempt that Ruddy should have stopped at his near post. "Feed the Yak and he will score," chanted the Blackburn fans. Then Pedersen delivered a free-kick that Christopher Samba stooped to head home.

Blackburn again caused Kean to fret. Johnson's deflected effort arced over Robinson into the empty net and Holt's cruel spot-kick secured the draw. "It's been a never-give-up attitude here ever since my first day," said the Norwich manager, Paul Lambert. "We have that great spirit and desire."

Norwich (4-4-2): Ruddy; Naughton, Barnett, R Martin, Tierney; Bennett (Holt, 68), Fox (Crofts, 75), Johnson, Pilkington (Jackson, 75); Hoolahan, Morison.

Blackburn (4-3-1-2): Robinson; Lowe, Samba, Givet, Olsson; Rochina (Dunn, 70), Nzonzi, Pedersen; Formica; Yakubu (Goodwillie, 70), Petrovic (Hoilett, 81).

Referee Anthony Taylor.

Man of the match Hoilett (Blackburn).

Match rating 7/10.