Swansea City 1 - Norwich City 1

The Swansea ’keeper became the first to save a penalty from Neil Adams, who had never missed from the spot in a career with Stoke, Everton, Oldham and Norwich.

Freestone, who conceded the penalty by bringing down Darren Eadie on the edge of the penalty area, dived to his right to keep out the low shot from Adams.

His save inspired the Swans to contain their First Division opponents with a gritty display that deserved a share of the spoils.

They endeavoured to take the game to Norwich whenever possible, forcing eight corners while conceding only two.

Craig Bellamy and Eadie rarely had the scope to display the skills for which Tottenham Hotspur are reported to be ready to pay a combined £10m.

Cardiff-born Bellamy, who could become a key player for Wales in the European Championship campaign, received scant service and was closely shadowed by Matthew Bound and Jason Smith while Republic of Ireland international Keith O’Neill was also kept in check.

Eadie clipped the crossbar with a cross-shot but Freestone did not have another save to make until the 45th minute, a smart near-post stop from Bellamy when he at last created an opening to shoot from the edge of the penalty area.

Minutes earlier Swansea had stretched the visitors with a flowing seven-man move, Jason Price had a swinging free-kick tipped over and Dave O’Gorman went close after cleverly eluding two challenges.

Swansea had chances to take the lead during a forceful period in the second half. Andy Marshall collected a half-power shot from Steve Watkin, Julian Alsop went close with a looping header, then forced a superb save from Marshall.

Norwich took the lead against the run of play after 75 minutes. Bellamy shrugged off Smith’s challenge to control a deep pass from Shaun Carey. The big Swansea centre-half tried to block Bellamy’s shot but it deflected off his boot, wrong-footing Freestone.

Two minutes from time, however, Nick Cusack scored the equaliser, sweeping home a low cross from Stuart Roberts within 10 minutes of Swansea’s first-year professional (Roberts) leaving the subs’ bench.

Swansea: Freestone, Price, Howard, Cusack, Smith, Bound, O'Gorman (Casey 63), Thomas, Alsop, Watkin, Coates (Roberts 78). Unused: Clode, Jones, Jenkins.
Booked: Alsop, Howard, Thomas, Coates, Smith.
Goals: Cusack 88.

Norwich: A Marshall, L Marshall, Kenton, Grant, Fleming (Scott 70), Jackson, Adams (Llewellyn 90), Bellamy, Carey, Eadie (Roberts 89), O'Neill. Unused: Watt, Milligan.
Booked: O'Neill.
Goals: Bellamy 76.

Attendance: 3,803. Referee: M Fletcher (Warley).