A LAST minute goal from Georgias Samaras broke Norwich hearts at the City of Manchester Stadium, as the Canaries valiantly bowed out of the Carling Cup.
The tie had looked to be heading towards extra time after the Canaries had more than matched Sven Goran Eriksson's side throughout the game.
Indeed, they should arguably have had the game won long before Samaras pounced at the death, with Jon Otsemobor, Lee Croft and Jamie Cureton all going close for a Norwich side unrecognisable from the shambles which lost at Wolves on Saturday
But in the end one moment of quality did for the visitors, Samaras making no mistake from 12 yards out to punish the Canaries.
City boss Peter Grant was handed an injury blow yesterday when Darren Huckerby turned over on his ankle in the final session before heading to the north west.
Huckerby made the journey to the City of Manchester Stadium nevertheless, but failed to make the final squad. This meant Grant had to shuffle his plans somewhat, with teenagers Rossi Jarvis and Michael Spillane given their first starts of the season in midfield.
With usual skippers Jason Shackell and Dion Dublin both suspended, Gary Doherty was handed the captain's armband and was joined by Ian Murray in the heart of defence. With Adam Drury injured, Simon Lappin moved to left-back.
The home side named a strong-looking line-up as Sven Goran Eriksson looked to progress into the next round of a cup the Blues would strongly fancy their chances of winning this season.
Greek striker Georgias Samaras was given his first start of the season, with youngster Kelvin Etuhu - brother of former Canary Dickson - on the bench.
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With Norwich already down to the bare bones, they were handed another injury scare inside the first three minutes, when Jon Otemobor appeared to twist on his ankle away on the right touchline.
With Neal Reynolds called over to treat the right-back off the pitch, the Canaries were forced to continue with 10-men, with Spillane dropping back to fill the hole.
Fortunately, the former Crewe man was able to continue, much to Grant's relief.
But on seven minutes only a great save from David Marshall prevented the home side from taking the lead.
Spillane gave away a free kick just outside the box away on the right after taking down Samaras. Michael Ball bent an excellent free kick around the wall, but Marshall got across and managed to palm the ball behind with his fingertips to add to his growing collection of fine saves.
On the 10-minute mark Norwich had half-hearted shouts for a penalty waved away. Rossi Jarvis dropped a free kick in at the far post, and Doherty's downward header appeared to come off the top of the arm of home captain Richard Dunne. But referee Marriner was unmoved, with the Blues able to clear their lines.
Samaras, acting as a lone striker, was proving to be a threat in the air, and on 13 minutes Marshall showed good handling to gather his header from Ireland's corner as it threatened to sneak in the far post.
All the same, it had been far from one-way traffic inside the opening third of the half, with City defending resolutely and showing far more fight than they had at Molineux at the weekend.
Indeed, City were beginning to frustrate the Premiership side with some nice possession football, with the hardy bunch of travelling fans behind Marshall's goal launching into some ironic "ole" chants as each pass was completed.
And on the 20 minute mark Cureton should have put Norwich ahead. Croft made the chance down the right, sending in a low cross towards the near post. Brown produced an excellent flick with the outside of his boot to find Cureton hovering 10 yards out. But the striker could only lift the ball over the bar with 'keeper Hart left exposed.
It was a good chance for Norwich, and a sign of their growing confidence.
But Norwich were handed a warning on 23 minutes that they could ill afford to relax against their Premier League opponents.
A simple ball from the back by Dunne allowed Samaras to beat the offside trap, but fortunately Marshall had read the danger and was quick off his line to gather at the striker's feet.
But on 27 minutes it was Marshall's opposite number who had to be on his toes to keep the scoreline level.
The Canaries were awarded a free kick on the edge of the D after Cureton had been taken down by Logan as he tried to skip past the defender.
It looked made for Lappin, but Otsemobor took everyone - except Joe Hart - by surprise, bending a fierce shot round the wall with the England under 21 keep showing strong wrists to palm it away for a corner.
It was another bright moment for a relatively young City side, who had so far showed few signs of being overawed by their illustrious surroundings.
At the other end danger-man Samaras sent a half volley just over the angle of post and bar after Russell had gifted possession cheaply when in a promising position.
Most of City's dangerous attacks were coming down the right, and on 37 minutes Dunne came close to putting through his own net in clearing a Croft cross behind for a corner after nice build-up play between Cureton and Otsemobor.
A minute later and Marshall was back in action, this time blocking a low bouncing effort from Samaras from just inside the area.
As the first half entered stoppage time, it was Man City who wasted the best chance of the game so far. Geovanni produced an excellent cross from the right touchline, and it was perfect for Samaras arriving in the six yard box. But he could not make a firm enough connection, with the ball running to safety.
It had been a good first half from City's perspective - no goals conceded and at least two good chances created. Grant and his team would be hoping for more of the same in the second half.
Half time: Man City 0-0 Norwich City
There were no changes for either side at the break, with Eriksson presumably asking his side to step things up after a first half which had been relatively comfortable for the Canaries.
And Norwich were quickly into their stride once again, Croft winning a corner off the legs of Onuoha after a positive run down the right.
Moments later and City were again on the attack, this time Croft unable to pick out Cureton with a low cross after being found by Otsemobor in space.
At the other end City's first threat came on 47 minutes, Samaras showing a heavy touch in the area as he shaped to shoot, allowing Doherty to produce an excellent block.
On 51 minutes Cureton looked to be in on goal for a free shot after being found by an incisive pass by striker partner Brown, but after he pulled his effort across goal, the assistant's flag saved his blushes.
Murray was looking much more comfortable in a central defensive position, and on 53 minutes he had to be sharp to turn a cross from Geovanni over his own bar at the near post with Bianchi on the prowl behind him.
Two minutes later thought and Norwich should have taken the lead. A low pass down the touchline seemed to find Croft in an offside position. But there was no flag from the assistant, allowing the former Man City man a free run into the box.
Croft's run took him into the Blues' area at an angle, and as he attempted a square pass to the unmarked Cureton, Dunne charged in to avert the danger.
Both Rossi Jarvis and Michael Spillane were looking more than at home in midfield, unafraid to pick a pass or put a boot in when needed. And both must surely have been making good cases for a start against Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship on Saturday.
Croft too was proving a menace to his former employers, and on the hour mark his cross-come shot flashed across the penalty spot with neither Brown or Cureton able to get a head to the ball.
Norwich were certainly looking the better side in the second period, with the home fans growing more than restless as the visitors began to see more and more of the ball in dangerous areas.
Crucially though the Canaries had yet to score, and on 63 minutes another chance went begging when Spillane's header from Lappin's cross was punched to safety by Hart in the increasingly pressurised Man City goal.
City's rearguard was proving equally strong, and on 67 minutes Doherty did well to cut out a Samaras cross from the left touchline with blue shirts queuing up for the killer touch in the six yard box.
Spillane's physical approach to the game was more than welcome, but it got him in trouble on 70 minutes, earning a booking for taking down Geovanni on the halfway line.
Norwich still looked good value for the scoreline, and arguably looked the better team as the game entered the final 10 minutes of normal time.
Etuhu had entered the fray as a second half substitute, and on 81 minutes he almost broke the deadlock, firing a dipping shot a yard over the bar after being allowed to turn 25 yards out.
With less than five minutes remaining, the Canaries were awarded a free kick on the corner of the box after Russell was pulled to the ground by Logan.
Lappin swung the ball into the box, and while Brown rose the highest, his glancing header was well off target.
Extra time was now looking a real possibility - something arguably neither team wanted but the very least Norwich deserved for their efforts so far.
But with less than a minute of normal time remaining, Man City produced a moment of quality to win the tie.
For once, the City defence was caught out as Kelvin Etuhu produced an excellent ball into the feet of Samaras 20 yards from goal. His first touch was perfect, laying the ball into his path, and his second was deadly - finishing low past Marshall into the back of the net.
It was hard luck on a Norwich side which had more than matched the millionaires from Manchester, but plenty of positives could be taken from the display ahead of the arguably more important visit of Sheffield Wednesday this weekend.
Full time: Manchester City 1-0 Norwich City
Manchester City: Hart, Ball, Onuoha, Ireland, Geovanni (Evans 79), Bianchi, Sun, Samaras, Dunne (c), Fernandes (Etuhu 66), Logan. Subs: Isaksson, Dabo, Evans, Williamson.
Norwich City: Marshall, Otsemobor, Croft, Cureton, Brown, Lappin, Russell, Rossi Jarvis, Murray, Spillane, Doherty (c). Subs: Gilks, Strihavka, Martin, Eagle, Cave-Brown.
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