Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesIt was hardly a vintage Norwich performance, but Chris Hughton will be pleased at his side's resolve to score a late equalizer.

Norwich needed cavernous reserves of character to dig out a stoppage time 1-1 Premier League point at Goodison Park.

The script looked to have been penned: A miserable trip to Merseyside on a cold, icy winter's afternoon with nothing to show for their efforts but the worrying sight of England international keeper John Ruddy withdrawn with eight minutes left, nursing a suspected injury to his right leg.

Steven Naismith's first-half slot was the bare minimum the Toffees had deserved at the interval. Steven Pienaar produced the best 45 minutes from an individual opponent Norwich have faced this season, a sublime exhibition of technique, spatial awareness and guile. Leon Osman and Leighton Baines were able deputies in an opening period when Chris Hughton's men should have been thankful for the nil.

City perked up after the interval but only tested Tim Howard once, the American flying to his left to beat away Anthony Pilkington's goalbound free kick just before the hour mark.

Hence why there was more an air of hope rather than expectation as Sebastien Bassong ambled forward in the first of four stoppage time minutes after Steve Morison had been hauled to the ground by Baines.

Javier Garrido's free kick arced to the far post from wide on the left touchline where Bassong reacted with all the predatory instinct of a top class striker to head down and against the underside of Howard's bar from point-blank range.

City's technical area erupted in unison either side of Hughton as did the travelling support, all celebrating a point that kept the Canaries' seven-match unbeaten run going against a genuine European contender.

Norwich have beaten the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal at Carrow Road but to come to Goodison and dig in when the fates appeared to have conspired against them from virtually the first minute spoke volumes for the character under Hughton's command.

The Canaries were non-existent for long spells as a genuine attacking force. Sylvain Distin dominated Grant Holt and Wes Hoolahan was again only a sporadic presence. It bore a canny echo to Norwich's previous away day at Reading, another frustrating, bitty display that ultimately earned a second consecutive away point. The draw is all Hughton will care about in the final analysis. Another step closer to the end game come next May.

City certainly do not lack for belief. That much was true even before their trip to the north-west, and a point in these circumstances at such a tough outpost like Everton will only reinforce the feeling that City are up for the fight of Premier League survival.

Yet they will need to address visible offensive deficiencies along the way. When Hoolahan and Holt are unable to scale the heights, Norwich look one-dimensional. Hughton withdrew the impish Dubliner for the more muscular presence of Morison in the final stages. It was a move that paid dividends but also illustrated the necessity for Hughton to seek some serious alternatives to plan A in the upcoming January window.

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