Football: Norwich find form

Norwich City at last found the early season First Division form which has deserted them recently, as the former Everton defender, Matt Jackson, notched his first goal for his new club at home to Portsmouth yesterday.

Jackson, who surprisingly opted to join the Carrow Road side in a pounds 450,000 deal ahead of Birmingham, struck after 78 minutes to secure a valuable 1-0 win. A dreary game appeared to be heading towards an instantly forgettable goalless draw when Jackson took advantage of mistake by Fitzroy Simpson.

The Pompey player appeared ideally placed on the goal-line to clear Andy Johnson's header from a Darren Eadie corner but miskicked horribly and Jackson tapped home from a yard.

A superb double strike from the player-manager John Aldridge earned battling Tranmere Rovers their first win in six outings and brought West Bromwich Albion's unbeaten six-match run to a halt at The Hawthorns where supporters who turned up with shovels to remove snow from the pitch were rewarded with free tickets.

An even bigger Tranmere hero was the defender David Higgins, who took over in goal after 33 minutes from the injured Danny Coyne and made two fine saves to deny Albion.

Albion took the lead after only four minutes through a header by Daryl Burgess. Aldridge levelled with a marvellous first-time shot and then secured the win with a cracking angled drive.