Hurrah! We've Scored a GOAL!

City boss Paul Lambert has bemoaned his sides lethargic start to both halves as they failed to make the third round of the FA Cup for the first time since the 1959-60 season, following their 3-1 defeat at Carlisle at the weekend

The Canaries fell well below the standard of performance seen for most of Lambert’s three months in charge, and Grant Holt made no excuses for City’s early Cup exit, and admitted: “We got what we deserved.”

Holt’s 16th goal of the season was of little consolation as Lambert’s side crashed out of the competition,  but City could have no complaints after a below par display brought only their second defeat in 15 matches in all competitions.

Whilst City’s skipper was lamenting on City’s no show, defender Adam Drury believes none of City’s regulars would have room to complain if they were left out for tomorrow night’s League One game at Southend.

Had City made it through the second round they would of been handed a third round trip to Goodison Park, but instead City’s early exit means they will play a League One fixture at Wycombe on 2 January 2010. 

Whilst it is unfortunate that City won’t be in the Third Round of the FA Cup for the first time in half a century, surely our league performances and results are of much more importance this season.

There is no excuse for the poor showing in Cumbria, but I would much prefer that City encounter their blips in matches that are less important, than to start slipping up and dropping points in the league.

City travel to Brunton Park this Saturday to take on Carlisle United in the Third Round of The FA Cup, with the match being streamed live on The FA website.

The League One rivals enter the tie on the back of excellent midweek results as Norwich beat Brighton 4-1 at Carrow Road and Carlisle battled to a 4-3 victory away to MK Dons.

The two teams have already met once this season and it was Paul Lambert’s side who came out on top, when a first half goal from Wes Hoolahan was enough to give the Canaries all three points at Greg Abbot’s Carlisle.

The City boss seems intent on seeing his side through to the next round in the hope of being drawn against one of the bigger sides, when teams from The Premiership and Championship join the competition, and also picking up the £67500 for the progression.

Lambert is likely to name an unchanged side for the match, which will see defender Gary Doherty make his 200^th appearance for Norwich, having joined the Canaries from Tottenham Hotspur in August 2004.

Only one of the two new loan signings is eligible to figure in the game, so whilst Russell Martin could be named on the subs bench, supporters will have to wait a little while longer before they get to run their eye over Anthony McNamee.

Whilst the Canaries have no new injury problems, Greg Abbot’s side are without defender David Raven who remains absent with a hip injury, whilst Captain Paul Thirlwell is out with an achilles injury.

The duo are joined by Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, who has a knee injury, and striker Richard Offiong, who jarred his knee in training during the week, whilst Andy Cook will miss the rest of the season with a broken foot.

Norwich City - FA Cup 2009-10

City fans face their second long trek to Carlisle in less than two months after the Cumbrians secured their place in the second round last evening, following a tough test at the hands of League Two Morecambe.

The Canaries will travel to Brunton Park on Saturday 28 November, with the match kicking off at 1715, allowing for live coverage on the FA’s official website.

City will be announcing ticket details for the tie soon, but the 16981 capacity Brunton Park should be able to comfortably accommodate all those who want to travel.