For those who have made a vague living out of following the Canaries up and down the land for the last 16 years, you could watch the game on Teletext and work out the story-line.
That, inevitably, there would be an early injury. Usually to some reasonably central to the managerial thinking – and on this occasion there would be two; that Norwich wouldn't score; that the game would be decided by some God-awful sucker-punch of a goal.
In this case Jamie McCombe 15 minutes from time. All six-foot five inches of him. Easy to spot, you would have thought. Clearly not to anyone in a Canary shirt as he tucked away the game's only goal. Unmarked. From a deep and hopeful punt deep into the City box.
“It was a horrible goal,” Roeder admitted to the club's official website after this afternoon's latest reverse.
“A straight ball down the middle of the pitch from their own half.
“It was a particularly poor goal to concede – probably reminiscent of a few goals we've conceded this year – apart from the wonder goal at Southampton.
Tick, tick, tick…
That it would leave the Canaries almost right back where they started under Glenn Roeder's management 12 long months ago; that the sum of their many improved parts stoutly refuses to add up to anything remotely consistent; that next weekend's home clash with Doncaster Rovers – let alone the Tuesday night home clash with Wolves – is already a six-point fixture.
A distinctly depressing thought for the third week in October.
Clearly there's much more to 'cheer' the long-suffering Canary soul. Roeder tonight revealed that John Kennedy's manful decision to play on after Adam Drury's exit ensured that he looks to have aggravated his ankle injury again.
He may now struggle to make the Wolves game on Tuesday night; ditto Drury. Therefore, expect Gary Doherty – who made his first truly competitive appearance for five months this afternoon – to partner the returning Dejan Stefanovic at the centre of that Canary rearguard.
“John Kennedy magnificently managed to stay on for 90 minutes, his ankle is very sore,” admitted Roeder, his defensive options for Tuesday night's game slimming as he spoke.
“Again it shows his commitment as a loan player – he's a real man and a real player.
“Not many people would be able to carry on with the injury that John sustained in the first-half, but he did.”
At what cost is the next question. And with the games now flying in thick and fast, aggravating that ankle injury again could see him miss two or three games.
And then there's that goal-shy forward line. Once again big chances came and went; once again Roeder will be forced into changes for Tuesday night.
Neither Jamie Cureton nor Omar Koroma made it as far as the bench today; both might have to be brought in from the cold as Antoine Sibierski's flat-lining Canary career came to an early end at Ashton Gate as the big Frenchman likewise disappeared before the interval, then jack-of-all-trades Darel Russell may yet be asked to try and master that central striker's role again for the Wolves game and, potentially, beyond.
In, out, chop, change… Roeder's very best intentions are being dogged at nigh-on every turn by knock and niggle, bump and suspension.
And with no consistent starting line-up it is – as various Canary managers past will willing attest – next to nigh-on impossible to then deliver any real consistency on either the performance or result front. Other than that City have now lost three games on the spin and will need Crystal Palace to do them a favour tonight if they are to be spared a place back in the drop zone.
“All in all, I don't believe Bristol City deserved to win but they have – and we should have got something out of this game,” added Roeder, a phrase that is something of a tradition for Norwich managers.
“We have to pick ourselves up and carry on working hard.”
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