The Canaries were today handed a tricky start to this year's Carling Cup campaign with a trip to Paul Ince's MK Dons in round one.
Out of the pick of teams in Leagues One and Two, MK Dons (a) ranks among the toughest of ties and Glenn Roeder's men will have their work cut out if they are to make it through to the second round.
They will travel to Buckinghamshire on the week commencing August 11 and with the Championship fixtures being announced on Monday, City fans will be able to start preparing their road trips for the coming campaign.
The two teams last met in the 2005/06 season and it took an extra-time goal from Leon McKenzie to separate them. Put your money on it being as tight this time round with the big-spending Dons expected to be challenging for a place in the Championship this time out.
The Canaries will certainly be hoping to improve on their recent dismal record in the competition and the tie represents a good chance to progress through to round two ? which is where the Premier League boys enter the mix.
Teams in the Champions League and UEFA Cup, of course, don't come into play until the third round, but a win for City at Stadium MK could mean a money spinning encounter against an Aston Villa or West Ham.
You have to go back to the 1995/96 season to find a Norwich side that has progressed further than the third round. On that occasion, a two-legged defeat to Birmingham City came between them and a spot in the semi-finals.
Last year's Carling Cup campaign was no change from the norm and after a 5-2 success over Barnet and an uncomfortable night out in Rochdale ? in which Peter Grant's men only scraped through on penalties ? they went down 1-0 to Manchester City at Eastlands.
Ironically, the League Cup has provided the Canaries with their only two pieces of major silverware but whilst the idea of a trip to Wembley this year may be a tad fanciful, Roeder and Co will be hoping to fare better than Norwich teams of recent years.
Tom Haylett
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