Everton vs Norwich City match report: Heartache for Canaries as hosts clinch penalty shoot-out thriller in League Cup

Everton 1 Norwich City 1 (aet; Everton win 4-3 on pens): Wes Hoolahan and Nathan Redmond both missed their kicks from eight yards

Leon Osman celebrates his equaliser in the second half (Getty Images)

Everton won a thrilling penalty shoot-out 4-3 after Wes Hoolahan and Nathan Redmond both missed their kicks for Norwich.

For Merseyside, Howard Kendall’s funeral at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral on Thursday will be a state occasion. Outside Goodison Park, every available advertising hoarding had been bought up to display images of Kendall as player or manager. From the Main Stand a vast portrait looked down on Goodison Road like a Greek icon.

Norwich can be said to sum up Kendall’s various stints at Everton’s helm. His second championship in 1987 was secured at Carrow Road. He was manager the last time Norwich won here, a 5-1 humiliation in September 1993 that saw Efan Ekoku score four – a sign that Kendall’s powers were waning.

Alex Neil’s side were slightly more reminiscent of the Norwich of 1993. Given they face Manchester City on Saturday, there were changes. There was also a good deal of invention and hunger, with Nathan Redmond, who made his debut for Birmingham in a League Cup tie at the age of 16, looking especially threatening.

It was Everton’s failure to deal with Redmond’s cross that lead to Norwich’s breakthrough five minutes after an interval that began with the home team being booed off. It was eventually played back in by Gary O’Neil and Sebastien Bassong struck it home on the volley with his instep.

Hitherto, for all the pretty play against a defence that with Phil Jagielka’s injury featured only one regular, Norwich had managed only a single, worthwhile shot, from Vadis Odjidja that Joel Robles had tipped into the Gwladys End.

Everton, needing to steady themselves after successive defeats by Manchester United and Arsenal, threatened only fitfully for the bulk of the contest. They had made heavy weather of their passage to the fourth round, having gone behind at Barnsley and Reading, and this threatened to be no different. The only chance of the opening hour came when Romelu Lukaku was put through by Tylas Browning and his shot tamely struck Norwich keeper Declan Rudd.

A double substitution by Roberto Martinez seemed to galvanise his team, although it was two men who had started the night - Kevin Mirallas and Leon Osman - who combined to drag Everton level.

During the interval, the big screens played excerpts from Sylvester Stallone’s latest Rocky film, parts of which were filmed at Goodison Park. From a distance, Creed might just be as bad as some of the football that clogged up much of the evening.

The first Rocky film ended up with Apollo Creed bellowing: “I don’t want a rematch”. The League Cup has long dispensed with replays but a substantial crowd got the next best thing – extra time.

After Bassong had given Norwich the lead, Everton composed themselves, equalised through Leon Osman and might have snatched a place in the quarter-finals but for a fine save from a Kevin Mirallas free-kick.

Joel Robles’ gloves pushed away Lewis Grabban’s header at the death and Romelu Lukaku headed over.

Man of the match Osman.

Match rating 6/10.

Referee R East (Wiltshire).