Borja Sainz celebrates scoring for Norwich CityGetty Images

Borja Sainz produced two magnificent goals for Norwich City against Middlesbrough

Norwich City maintained their 11-month unbeaten home record in the league as they came from 3-1 down to rescue a point in a breathless Championship encounter with Middlesbrough at Carrow Road.

Canaries hot-shot Borja Sainz put them in front but two Tommy Conway goals and another by Finn Azaz had Boro in the ascendancy at half-time and on course to mark boss Michael Carrick's upcoming second anniversary in charge in some style.

Conway missed a penalty following a foul by Jose Cordoba and Sainz conjured a brilliant second for Norwich - his 11th goal of the season - before an own-goal by Boro keeper Seny Dieng brought them level.

There was still time for Norwich captain Kenny McLean to receive a straight red card for a reckless tackle on Hayden Hackney.

Victory would have put the home side fifth in the table, but they remain eighth on the same number of points as ninth-placed Boro - both of them still one point adrift of the top six.

For the first time since 1996, Norwich began a game without Delia Smith as a member of the club board – though she was in the stands to watch, as usual - and there was also a change closer to pitchside with former England and Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere in place as first-team coach to help Johannes Hoff Thorup try to come up with the right tactical recipe.

Boro did the double over Norwich in the last two seasons, but were initially on the back foot as a cross by Sainz drifted inches wide after Anfernee Dijksteel gave away possession and Emiliano Marcondes was only just off target from 25 yards, having been given far too much time on the ball.

The opener soon arrived, though, as Sainz tried a one-two with Marcondes, who was beaten to the ball by Dijksteel, but it fell to the Spaniard again and he found the corner with a sublime effort.

Boro - who had beaten Sheffield United in midweek - were stung into action and after George Long saved well from Azaz, he was at fault as Conway’s sidefoot volley, from a Neto Borges cross beyond the far post, somehow squeezed in at the near post.

Generally eschewing anything resembling a long ball, Boro’s intricate passing was proving tough for the City defence to deal with and they also had Ben Doak running through his repertoire of step-overs and other tricks on the right, leading to Long having to go down at full stretch to deny Azaz.

Ante Crnac forced Dieng to push round the post at the other end but, from the resulting corner, a rapid breakaway left Boro with a three-on-one advantage and Dijksteel provided a birthday assist as Conway steered his second home off the inside of the post.

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Jack Wilshere joined Norwich as first-team coach from his previous role as Arsenal Under-18s boss

In a frantic finish to the half, Sainz clipped the outside of the woodwork and Long saved from Boro's Riley McGree and Hackney, but was powerless as Doak collected the loose ball from the second chance and squared for Azaz to make it three in added time.

Sainz should have reduced the deficit after 65 minutes when his volley shaved the top of the net before Cordoba brought down McGree as the Boro midfielder came from his blindside to try and win the ball in the box.

Conway’s spot-kick lacked the pace to beat Long, and he had only just taken his place on the bench after being substituted, before Sainz cut in from the left and beat Dieng with a glorious curling strike.

Norwich - who last lost at home to Blackburn Rovers on 5 November 2023 - sensed Middlesbrough were vulnerable but the manner of the equaliser was unexpected as full-back Kellen Fisher's near-post cross was only just kept out by Dieng but the ball rebounded into the net off his feet.

Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup told BBC Radio Norfolk:

"When a game is that hectic, with so many situations in it, then it's hard work for me from minute one to minute 90.

"We had to be very specific at half-time about what was important for us [to do], very specific with in-game communication to the players because there were so many details to put focus on.

"The moments we have when we are calm on the ball, especially in their half, the spaces we highlighted before the game opened up and we created chances, or at least got into some dangerous positions.

"It's fantastic for George [Long] that he's a vital part of the result [by saving the penalty]. I felt the second half was better for us and we had a better control and that save lifted the stadium - it was not just 11 against 11 at the end."

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick told BBC Tees:

"I thought we were fantastic for the most part, we showed what a good team we are and played some really good football.

"We conceded three goals, the third wasn't nice at all but the other two, he put them in the top corner from distance and if they’re going to score like that from there, there's only so much you can do [to stop it].

"I thought we were pretty much the better team throughout, [although] the momentum swung a little bit towards the end.

"That’s two games against really good, top opposition in this league and we’ve been the better team in both games.

"Today was a test in terms of going a goal down but the confidence we showed and togetherness to get through that was top-class."

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