Friday, November 1, 2013

A TALE OF TWO CITIES

NORWICH and City have had some memorable encounters in the past. Here are a few memories from the last 40 years of action between the two sides

96-97: 19th Oct 1996: Steve Coppell's first home game and a flood of relief and optimism rolls over a noisy and excited Maine Road. After a 2-2 draw at QPR and defeat at Reading, Coppell is off the mark with a win in his third game in charge. Little are we to know, he was already passing the 50% mark in his City managerial career. Happily, Coppell had just enough time to leave the lasting legacy of Simon Rodger before he decided to quit, though. 

1980-81: 24th Jan 1981: A packed Kippax watches Tony Powell and Kevin Bond clash with Phil Boyer in this FA Cup 4th round tie won 6-0 by City, pitching new manager John Bond against his old club and his centre back son. In the 3rd round City had beaten ex-boss Malcolm Allison's Crystal Palace side, making people think this strange run of coincidences might mean City were destined for big things. City got all the way to the final before losing out to Tottenham after a replay.  

1992-93: 26th Aug 1992: Terry Phelan makes his Blues debut in a 3-1 early season game in the Premier league's inaugural season. Only 23,000 are present, owing to major redevelopment work on the Platt Lane end.  

1980-81: 4th Apr 1981: With the Cup Semi Final with Ipswich approaching, City are beaten 2-0 at Carrow Road. With a race for places in the big game, John Bond is furious with his charges for a lax display, claiming nobody wants to get injured before the Villa park showdown the following weekend. Everyone survives the game unscathed, but Bond still removed Tommy Booth and replaces him with Tommy Caton for the semi.


2001-02: 13th Jan 2002: Kevin Keegan looks on impassively as Danny Tiatto's temper gets the better of him once again. Tiatto's launches the Norwich physio's water bottles into the Main Stand at Maine Road after being sent off for an innocuous offence against Steen Nedergaard, who gos down like a ton of bricks clasping his face, as if attacked by a madman with an axe. Tiatto, in no way resembling a madman with an axe, is escorted down the tunnel. 

1977-78: 3rd Sept 1977: Mike Channon makes a stunning home debut for the Blues in an impressive 4-0 win over Norwich at Maine Road. It is possibly his best game in a City shirt and the Monday papers begin a campaign to have the ex-England international restored to the national squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

1993-94: 20th Nov 1993: Niall Quinn's goal gives City a  draw at Carrow Road to halt a run of two consecutive defeats to West Ham and Man United.here Alan Kernaghan showcases his delicate centre half skills, as he lumps the ball away from the advancing legs of Chris Sutton.
1982-83: 15th Jan 1983: City smack four past Norwich as the race against time begins. A dreadful slump will take them down the table soon after this game, culminating in defeat and relegation against Luton at Maine Road on the last day of the season. After this game, decorated by two goals from David Cross, City sit 11th in the table.

1999-2000: 12th Feb 2000: Brilliant goals from Mark Kennedy seal a 3-1 win and keep the momentum going, as City charge through the first division on their way back from the depths of the old third tier. The Irishman's goals come in the 82nd and 83rd minutes of a hard fought game and keep City up with the pace setters.

1975-76. 17th Sept 1975: Dennis Tueart converts a penalty in the 2-2 draw in the League Cup replay at Maine Road, during a tie that went to a second replay, won 6-1 by City at Stamford Bridge. City would go on to lift the Cup that season, beating Newcastle 2-1 in the Wembley final.

1973-74: 8th Sept 1973: Frank Carrodus skips a Norwich tackle in the sun-drenched 2-1 victory over the Canaries at Maine Road. Francis Lee, seen in the background, scores one of the goals to seal the home win. More on this game here


2001-02: 18th Aug 2001: After a stunning start to Kevin Keegan's reign at Maine Road, which had delivered a 3-0 win over Watford, City travel to East Anglia and come a complete cropper. Here Paolo Wachope attempts to accelerate away from a Norwich defender in the 2-0 defeat.


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