City: Marshall; Otsemobor, Bertrand, Shackell, Doherty; Huckerby, Fotheringham, Russell, Pattison; Dublin, Cureton. Subs (from): Croft, Rigters, Pearce, Camara, Evans.
One look at today's starting line-up for this afternoon's crucial home clash with Colchester United and the stage was all set for his lordship to spare everyone's blushes.
With Matty Pattison ending a difficult week with a place in Glenn Roeder's thoughts, it all ensured that Darren Huckerby – presumeably handed the gig away on the right – was the one with the licence to thrill; the one to drive into the heart of the Us defence and put this game, and with it Norwich's season, out of its misery.
Not that one win is going to be enough; it may yet take at least another two to keep City's Championship status intact for another 12 months. But one of those wins has to happen today – which may explain wht Roeder had gone for broke on the bench.
For with ex-Us hitman Jamie Cureton partnering Dion Dublin up front, so Roeder slammed both Ched Evans and new loan signing Maceo Rigters on the bench.
With Huckerby stealing his right-wing thunder, Lee Croft was also named among the substitutes – as was both Alex Pearce and Mo Camara.
All of which ensured that there was no room at the inn for a substitute keeper as Matty Gilks headed for the stands.
It was all high risk stuff for a game of this magnitude; one slip from David Marshall and it could all be the stuff of every manager's worst nightmare.
According to ex-club skipper Craig Fleming, the smart money would be on Gary Doherty taking over between the sticks.
It was all shaping up to be one of those afternoons as the snow continued to swirl around Carrow Road. An afternoon for raw nerves and raw marrows.
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