City Seek Double Delight

Today Norwich are looking to complete their first double of the season, when they travel to Brammal Lane to face Sheffield United, less than a month after Wes Hoolahan's hat-trick condemned the Blades to a 4-2 defeat at Carrow Road.

It has been a week of loan news for the Canaries, with Owain Tudor-Jones (Brentford), Matty Gill (Walsall) Luke Daley (Stevenage) and Jens Berthell Askou (Milwall) all seeking first team football elsewhere. However, the more pleasing piece of news was the confirmation on Friday that Henri Lansbury would be heading back to Colney until the end of the season - including (if needs be) the play-offs. The quality Lansbury brings could be that little bit of extra quality that City need to drag themselves over the finish line.

The on-loan Gunner, however, is not available for this weekend's trip to Brammal Lane. Therefore whoever steps into his place, be it Korey Smith or Simon Lappin will be well aware that the impressive Lansbury will be returning, so will be out to ensure that Paul Lambert has a difficult decision to make when it comes to bringing Lansbury back into the fold.

The other revelation this week was the confirmation from boss Paul Lambert that he has identified his final target of the transfer window- Brighton & Hove Albion winger Elliot Bennett. This is one target that won't come easy, but one that I feel would be a big coup. City's only wing option currently is Anthony McNamee, who in recent weeks has struggled to impress. In theory, Wes Hoolahan can also operate wide, but this is by no means his strongest position, and you need your biggest players in their strongest positions. Bennett would bring in a different dimension and give another option should our usual tactics fail to impress.

But back to Sheffield United. Since they last faced City, they have had a change in management, with former boss Gary Speed being poached by Wales. The man in charge now is Micky Adams, who has yet to record a victory since taking over at Brammal Lane. Whether this will see a different approach made by the Blades against City is yet to be seen, only time will tell. One thing is certain, United will feel fairly hard done by, after out-playing City at Carrow Road for large portions of the game, yet leaving with nothing. To cut a long story short, they will be out for revenge.

Following a strong performance against Cardiff, which probably should have fruited three points, Lambert will be unlikely to make too many changes, with Lansbury for either Korey Smith or Simon Lappin likely to be the only alteration. This season City's away form has been phenomenal, with City not actually having lost away from home since October. As per usual, the team I expect to run out at Brammal Lane is as below...

Prediction: City's strong away form, coupled with United's average form in general make this one look almost a foregone conclusion. United will have the onus placed on solely on them, with the monkey of having yet to win under Adams still firmly on their back. With Wes Hoolahan in electric form, this pressure should be too much for United, and I expect City to return to Norfolk with all three points. Just like they did at Carrow Road, United will make a fist of it, but City should be too high in confidence, especially on the road. United 1 City 3 (Holt x2, Wilbraham from the bench)

City Russell Up A Point

City 1 Cardiff City 1

A late, late equaliser from goal machine Russell Martin was enough to rescue a point for City against fellow promotion chasers Cardiff City this week; but it could have been so much more. In a match that was dominated for the most part by the home side, a thunderous finish from the in form full-back was all City could muster against a strong Cardiff side, who defended tenaciously throughout.

Paul Lambert dished out no surprises to start with, naming the exact eleven I had anticipated against a Cardiff side fielding an attacking trio that any Championship side would envy. Even without leading-scorer Jay Bothroyd, the combination Michael Chopra, John Parkin and a certain Mr Bellamy would always be a dangerous one. And it was the visitors that started off the better of the two sides.

The first ten minutes was all Cardiff, with City looking second best, and on 9 minutes they were caught napping. A long ball forward from the Cardiff keeper was met by Parkin, who after some strong hold up play, laid the ball off for Chopra. The one time Ipswich target then controlled the ball for Parkin, who unleashed an unstoppable drive past 'keeper John Ruddy. From where I was sitting, it looked as though Chopra had handled in controlling the ball for Parkin, however the replays showed I was merely victim to my yellow 'n' green tinted-glasses, and this was no such case. It was, in all fairness, a brilliant goal, and apt reward for Cardiff's start. However from there on in there was only one team in it, and they were wearing yellow and green.

The goal was clearly the wake-up call City needed,and it certainly appeared to give Wes Hoolahan a slight nudge, who from there on out was utterly electric. Every City move went through the Irishman, who showed the kind of form that earned him his spanking new contract: he was unplayable.

David Fox came within a whisker of levelling matters on the quarter hour mark. The midfielder, who has impressed since forcing his way into the starting lineup, firing a twenty-five yard effort onto the Cardiff crossbar. The effort would have been a spectacular goal, however it was always rising, and unfortunately rattled the wrong side of the crossbar and went over.

City skipper Grant Holt was in his usual boisterous mood, making a nuisance of himself at any opportunity, and on twenty minutes he could, and should have had himself a penalty. After linking up well with strike partner Chrissy Martin, he powered across the Cardiff penalty box before being brought down under a sloppy challenge from defender Paul Quinn. In my opinion, had anyone other than Grant Holt been brought down under this challenge, referee Keith Stroud would have made one decision, the right one. However the skipper's recent poor press appears to have given him a reputation, and for this reason, I feel the referee bottled it. In all fairness however, this should have been a non-issue, as the ball spilled to Hoolahan, who sent a tame shot into 'keeper Tom Heaton's arms. Had Wes done better, the denied penalty would have been the least of our worries.

Just after half an hour, Holt was again at the centre of things. After some great work cutting inside, Chrissy Martin fired a powerful, low shot at Heaton. The keeper made a good save, before Holt pounced on the rebound to turn home. The linesman flag went straight up however, and replays show that the City skipper was, in fact, offside. With very little protest from the big man, it was clear he knew this too. Overall, apart from the slow first half, it was near enough all City, and apart from the goal, and an effort from Bellamy that was well saved, Ruddy had very little to do.

The second half was much of the same, with City continuously knocking on the door looking for that elusive equaliser. Wes continued to play out of his socks, making sure he was at the centre of everything. David Fox looked equally impressive, working extremely hard at the bottom of the diamond. The one negative thing I will say about Hoolahan however, is that recently he appears to be dead set on providing assists, when sometimes you need him to be more selfish. We all know, when he wants to, Wes can hit a ball like nobody's business. There were several opportunities where he found himself in space, near the edge of the area, however he would always look for that extra pass. Sometimes, I just wish he would put his foot through the ball and hope for the best.

The opportunity of the second half fell against the run of play to Cardiff. With City pushing hard it looked as though they had been caught on the break, with Bellamy linked up with Chopra, putting the striker through on goal. Chopra took a touch, before looking to slide the ball past the oncoming John Ruddy. The ever-improving City keeper threw himself in from of the shot to make a spectacular save, on an afternoon where he looked in formidable form.

City had more than their fair share of the possession, and came close through substitute Aaron Wilbraham, who came within inches of opening his City account with a curling effort from just inside of the area, hit well on the turn. The recent signing also had a big part to play in the equaliser, which finally came just into stoppage time.

Some good work from Hoolahan saw Lappin slotted in behind the Cardiff back line. The Spani...I mean Scot sent a venomous ball across the penalty box which was flicked goalward by Wilbraham. The flick looked to be heading into the corner of the net, but went just wide, where it was met by Russell Martin, who sent an excellent strike into the net from an almost impossible angle.

In hindsight, this could prove a momentous point for City, which saw them lose little ground in the promotion race. However, it could have been more, as for the majority of the game, Norwich looked the better side. Cardiff, to their credit, defended excellently, closing down quickly, and well. When taking into account how well the visitors did defend, a draw seems a fair result, however City's attacking display deserved all three.

Man of the Match: Wes Hoolahan. The little Irishman was unplayable, at the centre of everything and is once again proving his worth. His game has improved so much under Lambert, with his flair and skill now being accompanied by an excellent work rate and great desire. This showed throughout, and I'm delighted he's committed to City for another three years.

City look to play leapfrog with Bluebirds

The term 'biggest game of the season so far' is one that City fans seem to be throwing around every week this season, but more often or not this can be considered true, and no more than today's home tie with Cardiff. A win (assuming Swansea don't plunder a cricket score at home to struggling Crystal Palace) would see City leap-frog Cardiff into second place, potentially just two points behind leaders QPR. To be sitting in the position we are in mid-way through January is remarkable in itself, to be in the top two would be better. And recent history has proven, that when City do climb into automatic promotion places, they tend to stay there. It was this sort of stage last season City clambered into the League One top two, and there was no turning back there.

Today's opposition, Cardiff City, are one of the more daunting challenges to visit Carrow Road this season. They are laden with attacking flair and quality, and have one particularly familiar face in their front line, one that needs no introduction (so won't get one, the picture on your right should give enough away!) However, Cardiff are no one man team, not by a long shot. Having Mr. Bellamy grace your team is certainly a luxury, but when he lines up alongside the likes of Jay Bothroyd and Michael Chopra, at this level it looks purely terrifying! This should, in theory, be one of the most difficult tests Paul Lambert has faced to date, however if there's one thing that can be said about Lambert's City team, it is that when the opposition looks most testing, they rise to the challenge with dividends.

Last week's FA Cup disappointment to Leyton Orient is now a distant memory, the least of City's worries, and they have the perfect opportunity to bounce back in this mouth-watering clash. Lambert can, and will have some big players to recall, with skipper Grant Holt, John Ruddy and Andrew Crofts all rested against Orient. These three will certainly be back in the starting lineup, and there is also the possibility of on-loan Henri Lansbury returning to the fold, for what could be the last game of his spell at City; and we all know what happened last time somebody ended a loan spell at City against Cardiff. This could prove to be Lansbury's chance to go out with a bang -assuming Arsene Wenger doesn't give the green light for Lansbury to extend his stay until the end of the season.

Lambert also has a new face in the dressing room, in former Colchester left-back Marc Tierney. This is a player Lambert has worked with before at Colchester, so clearly somebody he knows and trusts. The last two players Lambert brought in on the back of previous tenures under him have both proved to be astute buys -Russell Martin and David Fox- so if Lambert's old pals act works again, we could be onto a winner with Tierney. However, I doubt anything other than a place on the bench will be Tierney's welcome, with Adam Drury fit and in his usual consistent form. One glitch aside with the goal, Barnett and Whitbread looked solid together, so I expect them to continue their partnership in defence, with Elliot Ward presumably still out injured. With Wes Hoolahan back on form and having just signed a new contract, I would continue his run in midfield, with Crofts, Korey Smith and the returning Lansbury completing the quartet. Up front, the tried and tested Grant Holt and Chris Martin should continue, with Aaron Wilbraham failing to impress on his first few appearances in a City shirt. The team I would pick is below..

Prediction: A tough, tough test for City. Games like this either go one way or the other, they are either wide open, high scoring affairs, or very tight. I think this one, despite the attacking flair both teams possess, will be the latter. However, when City are faced with this kind of an ask, they usually do the business. 2-0 City, Holt and Lansbury the scorers.

Why I have faith our man is going nowhere- for now

Well, well, well...the last 24 hours have been fairly eventful, and the next 24 promise to be just as nervy. Yesterday evening Burnley announced that they have made an official approach for Paul Lambert. Swiftly afterwards the City board released a statement, giving Burnley a swift, and passionate 'no', stating that they will be fighting "tooth and nail" to keep hold of our man.

That phrase -tooth and nail- is a phrase I feel that sums up the City board since its re-shuffle last year, particularly the addition of Chief Executive David McNally (left) . It's particularly difficult to envision his predecessor Neil Doncaster fighting tooth and nail for anything, but McNally is a different kettle of fish altogether. A friend of mine summed up McNally in two short words: pure evil, and this is exactly what the football club needed when he was brought in, and still needs today. McNally has backbone, huge experience running football clubs, and the grit that the board was crying out for. It is this that fills me with confidence that manager Paul Lambert is going nowhere - McNally wouldn't allow it.

The statement issued by the club is the perfect statement to have made for a number of reasons. First of all, it firmly puts Burnley in their place- for now. It is blatant, it is firm, and it re-assures City fans as to where the board stands on the issue. But secondly, and most crucially, it will surely have an effect on Mr Lambert himself. He will see these comments - that somebody is willing to fight 'tooth and nail' for his services - and surely it will fill him with pride.

The one worrying development this morning however, came from this morning's Colney press conference, in which Lambert refused to comment. The City boss had previously given straight forward, blunt answers when it came to discussing his future, in the past constantly hammering home that he was happy at Norwich, that he was committed to Norwich, and that he would leave when he was sacked - and not before. This morning was different, as the City boss stubbornly refusing to comment, adding that he did not wish to be "pushed on anything." Local journos would already be used to Lambert's often brash exterior, but not necessarily on issues such as this.

So let's take a moment to assess the reasons Lambert may be tempted to swap the yellow 'n' green of City for the claret 'n' blue of Burnley. Firstly, with the club having just been relegated to the Premier League, they will certainly have more money to play with in January, supported by parachute payments. The second -and arguably most significant - incentive is location. Lambert's family still reside in Scotland, and with Burnley falling significantly further North on the map than Norwich, this could be a factor. However, although Burnley is not as ostracized as our fine City, silly as it sounds, it could possibly take just as long to travel North of the border from there, as it does from Norwich, when you consider Norwich has direct plane links to both Edinburgh and Glasgow.

And so we come onto the reasons to stay, and the list is considerably longer. First of all, this is his club. His players, his project, and his biggest managerial achievement to date. When he first came in, the club were in dire straights. In just 18 months he has turned an ailing club, stick licking the wounds of a relegation to League One and a humiliating defeat at home to local rivals, and turned them into genuine promotion contenders in the Championship. Stick around for another six months, and there is the potential that he could have turned this club into a bonafide Premier League club. Surely he would not turn his back in so much hard work - he must surely see it as unfinished business.

Secondly, he is adored here. His players respect him, his board admire him, and crucially, his fans worship him. Week in and week out, at Carrow Road or on the road, you hear 'there's only one Paul Lambert' echoing across the stadiums. In idle conversation with a fellow City fan recently, I asked what he would do if he ever met the great man, his answer was to perform a lewd and unmentionable act upon the man. Such is the hero-worship Lambert commands, and receives in Norwich. Is this something he would turn his back on for a club that arguably are less likely to deliver him Premiership football than his current club. Were City fighting a relegation battle, perhaps, but they are not, quite the opposite in fact.

Another crucial factor that comes into play are the respective facilities of the clubs. In a game of 'Top Trumps' this is another category that Norwich clearly trump Burnley, in both footballing terms, and in terms of the actual place. With Colney, Norwich have a state of the art training facilities- Premiership quality in fact, and in Carrow Road they have a tidy stadium that sees 26,000 people flock in every week. Not to mention the fact that Norwich is a beautiful city, in a beautiful part of the world, filled with people who adore the Scot. By contrast, Burnley's Turf Moore has only broken the 20,000 mark once this season, and the club's facilities do not offer even close to the comfort City's do. And finally, with all due respect, when compared to our Norfolk haven, the North-West simply isn't a nice place to be.

From where I'm standing, and if were in Paul Lambert's shoes, it's quite simply a no-brainer. So -for now- I am fairly confident we will keep hold of our man. For now, being the key statement. However, were one of the other two claret 'n' blue sides that are sitting in precarious positions at the minute to come knocking, I would break a sweat.

This being said, were Paul Lambert to decide to get up and go, I'd have utmost faith on McNally to once again bring in the right man to make sure the City promotion train continues to steam ahead.

As soon as more developments on this issue come to light, I will be rabbiting on again, so until then...

FA Cup Preview- Time to ring the changes?

It's the second weekend on the New Year this weekend, which means only one thing- it's FA Cup Third Round weekend! Now, usually this would be something many teams relish - the chance to pit themselves up against unfamiliar opposition and have a crack at some silverware. However; this year is different. With the form City are in, personally I'd much rather not take a break from the league, instead I'd much rather see City take on next league opponents Cardiff - who a midweek victory against Leeds aside are in relatively poor form. Unfortunately, I do not set the fixtures (if I did, we would be playing Ipswich every week!) so it's Leyton Orient at home.


Now, one question that everyone -Paul Lambert included- will be mulling over, is whether to 'do a Fergie' and use the tournament to rest some of the 'big players' - your Wes Hoolahans, Leon Barnetts, Jesus Holts etc - and give some of the fringe players a run out: damage limitation? This is the question I'm going to attempt to answer this afternoon. My diagnosis? Yes, and no.

With the squad almost down to the bare bones, it appears the question is being effectively answered for Mr. Lambert; however, there is still a slight room for maneuver, with the likes of Antony McNamee, Oli Johnson and Simeon Jackson (right) all presumably banging on the boss' door at any given opportunity. The three aforementioned names are certainly a trio I can see featuring, in the area of the pitch one would consider most flexible.


I do; however, feel that chopping and changing defenses around can be a dangerous thing- certainly without good cause. With all due respect to Leyton Orient, City should have too much for them, and the City defence should on paper be looking at a rare opportunity to keep a clean sheet. This would breed confidence in the defense ahead of the visit of Cardiff next week, but too much tinkering could put this at risk. On the other hand, I feel the game could also be the opportunity to give another untried central defensive partnership a chance to establish itself, using the lesser threat of Orient (again, with all due respect) to breed confidence. The partnership I am of course referring to is that of Leon Barnett and the returning Zak Whitbread, who gave a gargantuan performance against leaders QPR. I also feel that having played two games in the space of three days having just returned from injury, the ever-reliable Adam Drury may have earned himself a well deserved break, with 'Spaniard' Simon Lappin dropping back into the left-back position. Russell Martin - arguably City's most consistent player this season - will, naturally, complete the back four. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Declan Rudd lining up in goal behind him, giving him some much needed game time.



Midfield, Paul Lambert really doesn't have a great amount of breathing space, with Andrew Surman, David Fox, Stephen Hughes and Henri Lansbury all unavailable (the latter on whom is both injured and ineligible.) With Wes Hoolahan also doubtful having sat out Monday's draw with Middlesborough with a groin strain, and Simon Lappin presumably standing in at left-back, the midfield almost picks itself. I expect, Matty Gill to get a rare start, along side the usual pairing of Andrew Crofts and Korey Smith. I also wouldn't be surprised to see McNamee loosely joining them in his usual wide/free role.


Up-front is the one position Lambert does have options in abundance. Chris Martin was rested on Monday at Boro, so will be itching to get back into the thick of things - having squandered a number of golden opportunities against QPR, he will be dying to have the opportunity to get his name back on the scoresheet. Likewise, Simeon Jackson and Oli Johnson will be looking for the chance to give the gaffer a headache, whereas latest signing Aaron Wilbraham will also be desperate to show City fans just what he can do. Usually skipper Grant Holt picks himself, however manager Paul Lambert may be tempted to give his Captain Fantastic a break- although I wouldn't be surprised to see the big man make a 30-second cameo to put a dampener on any rumours of a January exit to the Premier League, cup-tying the man I call Jesus!


So this is the team I wouldn't be surprised to see step out onto the hallowed Carrow Road turf on Saturday...



Prediction: On paper the result should be a foregone conclusion, but as we all know, football is played on grass - not paper. Orient will make a fight of it, and perhaps go in level at the half, but I feel City will have just that little bit too much quality and stamina in the second half. 3-0 City. C. Martin x2 (and first goal for any gamblers out there!) and McNamee the scorers.

2010: The Year That Was

Ahead of his side's New Year's Day clash with Manchester City, Blackpool boss and all round legend Ian Holloway stated that 2010 was so prosperous for his club that he was refusing to accept its climax; claiming that instead of welcoming 2011, he planned just to repeat 2010. This is a sentiment that all City fans can relate to, as 2010 really did turn out to be a year to remember. In fact, it was a year that saw our beloved Canaries win more Football League matches than any other club, pick up a trophy, begin what looks to be a threatening promotion challenge and, of course, stick four past the old enemy! So, like Mr. Holloway, I for one was particularly sad to see the curtain come down on what has been one of the easiest years to be a City fan for quite some time.

Now, although 2011 is already two (unbeaten might I add) games old, as this is the debut blog posted on 'Splendid Rush', I would like to take the opportunity to present my 'Top 5' moments of 2010 (with no prizes offered for guessing what number 1 could be...)

#5: September 28th 2010: City 4 Leicester City 3

Probably not necessarily a game that many would consider to be of the highest significance, but for sheer thrills and spills, this one had it all. Twists, turns, seven goals, a red card and a goal of the season contender. The quality of football on this freezingTuesday evening may also not necessarily have been the highest, but this was pure entertainment.

City's opponents had not enjoyed the brightest of starts to the season, but they took a shock lead early on through Martin Waghorn, who drifted past Adam Drury, sending a shot wriggling through the hands of John Ruddy. City then equalised through Andrew Crofts on the half hour mark, with the scores level after a relatively dross first half.

However, what followed was one of the most astonishing 45 minutes of football, with City dominating against a Leicester side who just did not appear to know when to throw in the towel. On 52 minutes City took the lead through a Wes Hoolahan penalty, before Stephen Fry parachuted in, dressed as a pink flamingo to volley in a Grant Holt cross...OK perhaps not quite, but a sight almost as rare and unbelievable: an Adam Drury goal! His first in over 4 years, putting City 3-1 up, with a delightful finish that his good mate Darren Huckerby himself would have been proud of!

Seconds later though, Leicester pulled one back through substitute Matty Fryatt, before Hoolahan restored City's two goal cushion with an unstoppable belter from 25 yards, after some cunning work to make himself space for the shot.

Fryatt then pulled another back, before kicking out at Leon Barnett to earn himself a red card.

An astonishingly entertaining affair, leaving the crowd firmly on the edge of their seats, and possibly the most remarkable 45 minutes of football since the famous 4-4 draw with Boro in the 04/05 Premiership campaign (incidentally, the last time Adam Drury scored!)

#4 March 27th 2010: City 1 Leeds United 0

At number 4 is City's home triumph against Leeds United. In the reverse of this fixture in October 2009, a last-gasp Jermaine Beckford goal clinched Leeds the victory, putting the Yorkshire side 11-points ahead of City in the League One title chase. Come March, this fact proved what a funny old game football really can be, as ironically, Chris Martin's last-gasp winner increased City's advantage over their nearest rivals to exactly 11-points!

Now, top of the table clashes, as a rule, tend to go either one way or the other. They can be open, free flowing affairs, with both sides expressing the kind of football that put them where they were in the first place; or they can be cagey affairs, with both sides appearing unwilling to risk playing into the hands of their opposition. This, was the latter.

A game of few chances, fairly scarce attacking plays, and one that was always going to be won by the odd goal. Fortunately, that goal fell to the league leaders and boys in yellow- right at the death. Deep into stoppage time, Stephen Hughes bombed down the right hand side, whipping in an inch-perfect ball for Chrissy Martin, who rose like a salmon to glance the ball into the far corner of the net. A stunning finish to what had been a relatively unremarkable game, however the Fortress erupted with noise, as City made a hugely significant step towards the League One title. In fact, some might say this was the result that effectively brought the trophy home to Carrow Road.

As a spectacle, it was not the best. In terms of significance, it was huge.

#3 April 17th 2010: Charlton Athletic 0 City 1

This is another example of the little ironies the beautiful game offers. A little under 12 months prior, the worst day of my (and I assume, many other City fans) happened- the day City's relegation to League One was sealed- away at Charlton. That day it was the Valley of Death, however, roll the clocks forward almost exactly one year, and it was the Valley of Dreams, as City finally clinched their promotion back to the Championship at first time of asking- away at Charlton!

On the fateful day in May 2009, it was goals galore, as City eventually lost 4-2. This time round, it was a solitary goal that won the day, from the ever-present Admiral Lord (Michael) Nelson. On this particular day I was nowhere to be found, and nowhere near either the ground, or Chris Goreham's always-entertaining commentary. Instead, my means of contact with the Valley was consistently nagging a friend to check his Blackberry/iPhone for score updates. Agonising. For the thousands of City fans piled into the Valley, and the hundreds that flocking to Carrow Road for the live beam back, the pain must have been equally excruciating.

City took the lead on 34 minutes, with Nelson nodding home the only goal of the game, ensuring the Canaries sealed their promotion back to the Championship. However, it was at the other end of the pitch that the boys in yellow really excellent, absorbing copious amounts of pressure from the home side- heroically defending the one goal lead they had gain in the first period.

The match was an incredible tense affair, even just through iPhone updates- however the significance of the result is the reason for its inclusion in this rundown. The result perfectly displayed just how far City have come under the guidance of Paul Lambert. It shows how much steel, how much grit, and how much belief the City boss had installed in his squad in such a small period of time. And this is something that does not look to be deteriorating in the slightest, as City have built strong foundations for yet another promotion push - and long may it continue!

#2 January 17th 2010: Colchester United 0 City 5

There is an old cliche in life - Revenge is Sweet - and this could not possibly have been any more true for the yellow army on a wet January afternoon. On the opening day of the 2009/10 season, Norwich City's home match with Colchester United was cancelled, due to U's chairman Robbie Cowling forgetting to book a team coach for his team to travel the journey down the A12 for the League One opener against the Canaries. As a good will gesture, City agreed to award the U's with a 7-1 default victory, on the condition that the U's allow City to appoint manager Paul Lambert. Or something like that...

Following months of bitter disputes between the board of both clubs - including U's chairman Cowling comparing member of the City board to the Third Reich (no less) it was finally time for differences to be settled on the field. Or in fact, on the swamp.

Conditions were absolutely dire, on a pitch more akin to a Glastonbury Festival field, however, the match remarkably went ahead. However with City in the form, and the mood they were in, this was never going to be a factor.

The first 45 minutes were completely dominated by City, and Colchester were lucky to go in just two goals down, with Chrissy Martin netting a brace for the Canaries.

The second half was a similarly one-sided affair, with Gary Doherty smashing home City's third, shortly after the restart. City looked to have made it four shortly after, as Wes Hoolahan slammed a penalty against the bar, before slotting home the rebound. However, due to a technicality in the FA rules, stating that if a penalty hits the frame of the goal, the taker cannot then touch the ball, as it would qualify as a double-shot from the penalty- an illegal maneuver (who knew!)

City did make it four eventually however, after some clever work from Oli Johnson, taking two defenders out of the picture, before slotting the ball home. Captain Grant 'Jesus' Holt then added a fifth, rounding the U's keeper before slotting home and gleefully launching himself into a big puddle of mud, much to the joy of the watching City faithful.

Overall, a complete performance, in difficult conditions and the perfect way to build further momentum up in what turned out to be a championship winning season.

#1 April 10th 2010: City 1 MK Dons 1

A stunning performance, a stunning result, a bitter rivalry and a bumper Carrow Road crowd. This, for all City fans, was quite simply, a perfect day...Hang on, something's not right here....

#1 November 28th 2010: City 4 (FOUR) Ipswich Town 1

Now that's more like it. There really could only be one winner in this countdown, and why on Earth not? November 28th, 2010, really is a date that will stick long in the minds of City fans across the globe, as Paul Lambert's side convincingly brushed aside the old enemy; live on the BBC!

This really was it, exactly what it means to be a football fan, to trounce your local rivals in front of a national television audience, and in front of a record Carrow Road all-seater crowd. It was the day City and Ipswich fans had been waiting for, the first local derby in 18 months, and it couldn't have gone any better. A hat-trick for skipper Grant Holt (hereinafter known as Jesus) and a fourth from sub Wes Hoolahan, were easily enough to vanquish a disillusioned Ipswich side, in what I personally consider to be the greatest 90 minutes of football I have ever watched. Forget the 2-0 humbling of Manchester United and forget England's 5-1 demolition of Germany in their own back yards, this was it for me.

After a high octane start, which could easily have seen Jesus dismissed for a fairly audacious lunge, City took the lead on 12 minutes, with Captain Jesus once again in the thick of things. Following a long clearance from Simon Lappin, defender Darren O'Dea looked to have things covered, however he did not account for the tenacity of the one I call Jesus. Holt hassled O'Dea of the ball before charging through on goal to finish delightfully (in true Alan Partridge 'Yes, yes, yes YEEES' fashion).

Town pulled one back later on, before Jesus once again struck, pouncing on a perfect through ball from debutant Henri Lansbury. Seconds after, the messiah once again made a nuisance of himself, dispossessing last defender Damien Delaney, before being pulled down by the Town player, resulting in a straight red card.

The second half, Town were looking to drag themselves back in to the game, before possibly the greatest 2 and a half minutes of football played in history. Jesus completed his hat-trick in astonishing fashion, completing a move in which every City player touched the ball (check the footage, it's true!) slotting home from a Chris Martin lay-off, after some great work by Hoolahan from another Lansbury pass. City's lead was further extended almost directly from the kick-off, as substitute Wes Hoolahan lofted a delightful finish over the head of an ailing Fulop, who fell hook-line-and-sinker for a dummy thrown by the Irish Wizard prior to his shot.

An utterly perfect day, one that will forever hold a place in my memory - assisted greatly by the DVD footage that holds a prized place in my DVD collection!

So that was 2010, I'm sure you can all see why I hated to see it end, but who is to say that 2011 could not shape up to be an even better year! Paul Lambert has built a side that is both strong in depth, and in spirit. A side that never knows when to quit, that can play both stunningly attractive football and battle with the best of them, and one that doesn't appear to have the word 'failure' in their vocabularies. And with the side in the form we currently are, who is to say that 2011 will not end with Carrow Road hosting Premier League football. Certainly not me! Onwards and Upwards!

ON THE BALL CITY!