JAMAAL LASCELLES has suffered some turbulent times during his 18-month spell at Newcastle United, but even by the rollercoaster standards of his employers, the Magpies skipper cannot have experienced too many nights like this.

Culpable for the concession of Norwich’s first goal, which was scored by Jacob Murphy, Lascelles watched on aghast as his attempts to shepherd the ball back to Karl Darlow resulted in a comical error that enabled Cameron Jerome to fire the Canaries into a first-half lead.

For long periods of a chaotic night at Carrow Road, Lascelles appeared dazed by what was going on around him. Yet when opportunity knocked with nine minutes left, he was not found wanting.

Displaying a level of composure not usually associated with an attacking centre-half, Lascelles volleyed home Ayoze Perez’s cross to secure a point.

Brighton’s draw with Ipswich means Newcastle remain on top of the table, but more important than their league position was confirmation that they retain the stomach for the promotion fight. At times brilliant, at others bedraggled, the Magpies ensured they were not beaten by a Norwich side who attacked with pace and purpose throughout. Having hit the woodwork twice, they might even have felt aggrieved that they only had one point to show for their efforts.

What is it about matches between Norwich and Newcastle? Prior to last night’s encounter, the previous three meetings between the two sides had produced 20 goals. In that context, three more inside the opening 17 minutes was merely par for the course.

Having restored Perez to his starting line-up ahead of Mo Diame, Rafael Benitez would have been hoping his fellow Spaniard produced a strong start. However, even he cannot have envisaged Perez opening the scoring without a Norwich player having even touched the ball.

A slick passing move that featured a typically well-judged long ball from Jonjo Shelvey ended with the ball at Matt Ritchie’s feet on the right-hand side.

Ritchie fed Jack Colback, he split the Norwich back four in two with a perfectly-weighted pass down the middle, and Perez raced clear before driving past John Ruddy’s left hand. At 23 seconds, it was Newcastle’s third first-minute goal this season – Perez also claimed one against Ipswich in October - and the Magpies’ quickest since Alan Shearer scored against Charlton some 12 years ago.

It should have been followed by a second just four minutes later, but despite finding himself in a position every bit as good as Perez’s, Aleksandar Mitrovic was unable to match his team-mate’s composure.

An errant defensive header from Timm Klose dropped invitingly for Mitrovic, who was able to advance into the area unopposed. He had plenty of time to pick a gap on either side of Ruddy, but only succeeded in rolling the ball at the goalkeeper’s legs. Even at five minutes in, it was to prove a crucial moment.

Norwich’s defending in the first half had to be seen to be believed; Newcastle’s was even worse. Having looked so accomplished for most of the season, this was a return to the Magpies of old.

Lascelles was especially vulnerable, and by the time he was rightly booked for a reckless challenge on Murphy three minutes into the second half, the Newcastle skipper looked completely shell-shocked. That he recovered to redeem himself with the Magpies’ late equaliser at least spoke volumes for the strength of his character.

It was his error that resulted in Norwich equalising in the 12th minute, with a combination of hesitancy and physical weakness enabling Jerome to brush him aside on the left-hand side of the penalty area.

Jerome rolled an intelligent square ball across the face of the six-yard box, and Murphy outsprinted Paul Dummett to convert at the far post.

Lascelles’ lack of decisiveness was unforgiveable, but it was nothing compared to the howler produced by Darlow five minutes later. Think Paul Robinson for England against Croatia, only ten times worse.

Lascelles shepherded a long ball from the Norwich defence back to his goalkeeper, but instead of clearing upfield, Darlow only managed to produce an extravagant air-kick that saw the ball deflect behind him. Jerome, half confused, half laughing, rolled the ball into an empty net.

Darlow’s crestfallen look confirmed his culpability, and with Newcastle’s defence lacking any semblance of organisation, the visiting goalkeeper was fortunate not to be beaten again before the break.

Steven Whittaker whistled a low shot past the far post, and Jonny Howson went even closer as he drove towards the area before unleashing a fierce shot that crept inches wide.

Newcastle looked vulnerable every time Norwich attacked, yet the same was true of the Canaries at the other end.

Mitrovic forced Ruddy into an excellent save with a close-range header, before going even closer when he struck the woodwork nine minutes before the break.

DeAndre Yedlin, who was a threat down the right-hand side throughout, delivered a dangerous low cross, and with Norwich’s defenders standing motionless, Mitrovic stabbed a first-time effort against the base of the post.

Norwich’s goal continued to lead a charmed life after the restart, with Newcastle hitting the woodwork for a second time eight minutes after the break.

Yedlin’s rampaging run took him down the right-hand side, but while Ritchie surged into the area to reach the full-back’s square ball, he could only crack a fierce rising drive against the underside of the crossbar. The ball rebounded behind Ruddy, but even with the Championship’s lack of goalline technology, there was no suggestion of it having entered the goal.

With the second half proving every bit as open as the first, Benitez bought into the free-flowing spirit by sacrificing Colback’s defensive mindset in order to introduce Mo Diame from the substitutes’ bench.

His players responded by continuing to pour forward, but when they forced their way into a goalscoring position late on, they initially lacked the composure required to make the most of it.

Mitrovic was particularly culpable, driving to the byline as he held off two opponents, but failing to pick out either Perez or Christian Atsu as he drilled a rash ball into the area.

It needed a higher degree of precision, and it arrived from the unlikeliest of quarters with nine minutes left. Lascelles had suffered a night to forget to that point, but he salvaged at least some of his reputation as he equalised.

With the Norwich defence having failed to deal with a free-kick, Perez crossed from the right-hand side and Lascelles made light of a tight angle as he volleyed home from the edge of the six-yard box.

The Magpies might even have gone on to claim a winner, but Ruddy produced excellent saves to deny both Perez and Shelvey in stoppage time.