By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
At Carrow Road
Norwich City 3 (Klose 45, Mbokani 74, Olsson 90)
Newcastle United 2 (Mitrovic 71, 86pen)
Newcastle United conceded in injury-time to suffer a 3-2 defeat away at Norwich City in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday.
The Magpies twice came from behind to level at Carrow Road, thanks to a brace from substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic, but City full-back Martin Olsson struck with seconds remaining to deny United a share of the spoils.
Norwich dominated the first period and Karl Darlow made a number of fine saves before Timm Klose deservedly headed the hosts in front right on the stroke of half-time.
United were much improved after the break, however, and Mitrovic glanced home Andros Townsend's cross to level things up.
Three minutes later the Canaries were back in front through Dieumerci Mbokani's top-corner rocket, but once again Newcastle fought back and equalised again - this time Mitrovic stroking home a penalty following Gary O'Neil's handball.
However, there was still time for one final twist and Norwich left-back Olsson struck home an angled drive with time ticking away to ensure the Magpies would travel back to Tyneside empty-handed.
United made an encouraging start to proceedings and created the first opening of the afternoon with less than nine minutes on the clock.
Cisse, recalled for his first start since the middle of December, stooped to connect with Jonjo Shelvey's inswinging cross, and although his header looped over Canaries keeper John Ruddy, it landed on the roof of the net.
The hosts responded almost immediately but Steven Naismith's 25-yard effort was simple for Darlow to collect.
Darlow was picking the ball out of the back of the net in the 17th minute when Mbokani swept home Matt Jarvis' right-wing delivery from close range, but the big striker had needlessly crept into an offside position, and a raised flag curtailed his celebrations.
The home side were applying heavy pressure and on the half-hour mark Darlow was called into action again, this time getting down well to his right to block Robbie Brady's angled strike.
If that save was impressive, his next - just three minutes later - was even better.
Mbokani had the freedom of the six-yard box to tuck home Naismith's cut-back but Darlow had other ideas, flinging out his left leg to brilliantly divert the ball to safety.
With half-time approaching, Shelvey attempted to break the deadlock from distance but his drive flew harmlessly over the bar.
And it was Norwich who managed it right on the stroke of the interval, Klose rising highest in a clutch of Magpies' defenders to glance into the corner of the net.
Ayoze Perez was introduced at the break in place of Cheick Tiote, and the Spanish forward immediately set about trying to make a difference in the final third - embarking on a run that was halted right on the edge of the area.
And the visitors should have levelled things up in the 51st minute, only for Cisse to spurn a glorious opportunity.
Just minutes earlier he had lobbed a difficult 30-yard half-volley narrowly over but this time - reacting quickest to Ruddy's failure to hold an Andros Townsend effort - Cisse somehow blazed wide from a couple of yards with the goal at his mercy.
Aleksandar Mitrovic was soon to be United's second substitution of the afternoon, with the Serbian striker replacing stand-in full-back Vurnon Anita.
And he almost made an instant impact, controlling Moussa Sissoko's pass before drilling a fierce drive at Ruddy.
While that effort was pretty straightforward for Ruddy, the Canaries' custodian was unable to prevent Mitrovic a second time, as the big front man met Townsend's cross to plant a header into the top corner.
That sent more than 2,600 travelling fans inside Carrow Road into raptures, but parity was to last less than three minutes as Mbokani edged the hosts back in front with a stunner.
When the Congolese forward picked the ball up wide on the left there appeared little on, but he skipped past the challenge of Daryl Janmaat and arrowed an unstoppable effort into the far top corner.
There was to be another twist with four minutes remaining as Perez turned inside the area and the ball bounced up and struck O'Neil on the outstretched arm.
Mr Dean had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Mitrovic stepped up to cooly slot home the resulting penalty.
And with both sides throwing caution to the wind it was the Canaries who snatched all three points deep into stoppage time, as Olsson's low shot flew into the bottom corner.
Norwich City (4-4-1-1): John Ruddy; Andre Wisdom, Ryan Bennett, Timm Klose, Martin Olsson; Matt Jarvis, Jonny Howson, Gary O'Neil (c), Robbie Brady (Nathan Redmond 75); Steven Naismith (Wes Hoolahan 80); Dieumerci Mbokani (Cameron Jerome 85)
Subs not used: Declan Rudd, Sebastien Bassong, Youssouf Mulumbu, Patrick Bamford
Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Karl Darlow; Daryl Janmaat, Steven Taylor, Chancel Mbemba, Vurnon Anita (Aleksandar Mitrovic 62); Cheick Tiote (Ayoze Perez 46), Jonjo Shelvey (c); Andros Townsend, Georginio Wijnaldum, Moussa Sissoko; Papiss Cisse
Subs not used: Freddie Woodman, Jamie Sterry, Jamaal Lascelles, Siem de Jong, Emmanuel Riviere
Referee: Mike Dean (The Wirral)
Bookings: Norwich City - none; Newcastle United - none
Attendance: 27,317 (2,660 Newcastle)
