Norwich City's youngsters fought back from two goals down, only to concede a third a minute from time in an eventful Barclays Under-21 Premier League encounter at Southampton's Staplewood training ground.

The hosts led 2-0 at the break thanks to James Ward-Prowse's 27th minute penalty and Sam Gallagher's fourth goal of the season.

Norwich however dug deep to get it back to 2-2 before Josh Sims popped up in stoppage time to turn home a corner as the Saints avenged their 7-2 defeat earlier in the campaign.

The Canaries were quickly put under pressure by a strong Southampton side and Ben Killip was finally beaten on 27 minutes when the hosts were awarded a penalty after defender Joe Crowe brought down Gallagher just inside the area. Regular first teamer Ward-Prowse stepped up to take the penalty and sent the keeper the wrong way.

Norwich fell further behind just before half-time following a composed finish from Gallagher.

The striker capitalised on a slip in defence from the visitors and kept his cool to advance into the area and fire into the bottom left corner.

It looked grim for the Canaries at that stage but they got back into the game on 66 minutes when a corner dropped at the far post for Michee Efete, whose back-flick cannoned into the net off the unfortunate Alfie Jones.

It was soon 2-2 with Efete again in the thick of the action as he bundled in another corner from close range with around 15 minutes remaining.

It seemed as though the visitors might go on and win the game at that stage – but it was the Saints who had the final say with time running out.

Norwich City U21s: Ben Killip, Louis Ramsey, Reece Hall-Johnson, Ray Grant (Ben Godfrey 46), Joe Crowe, Michee Efete, Jamal Lewis (Kieron Higgs 46), Ebou Adams, Benny Ashley-Seal, Louis McIntosh, Glenn Middleton. Unused: Aston Oxborough, Emmerson Sambu, Toby Syme,