Source: FOOTYMAD
City salvage some pride
John Maiden reports from Carrow Road where the Canaries had to come from a goal down to beat League Two side, Gillingham in the Carling Cup. After the disappointing result against Watford, Norwich really needed to record a decisive cup win, but the game did not start well for the home side. The curse of referee Andy D'urso looked as if it could be a factor early on when he rather harshly booked David Fox for taking a free kick before he had been signalled to do so. Then, against the run of play, Gillingham took a twelfth minute lead through Chris Palmer's strike. Twelve minutes later, after more Norwich pressure, the visitors came close to doubling their advantage when Adebayo Akinfenwa's header came back off the underside of the bar. But two minutes later the scores were level when Holt's flick released Chris Martin and he shrugged off his marker before beating Julian with a cool finish City went ahead in the 36th minute when Holt got away from his marker to head home Russell Martin's well flighted right wing cross. Before half time a free kick from Chris Martin hit the bar, while at the other end John Ruddy did well to keep out a fierce shot from Jack Payne. Half time: Norwich 2 Gillingham 1 Ten minutes into the second half Wes Hoolahan played in Korey Smith on the right wing and his cross was met at the near post by Holt who brought the ball under control before planting it into the back of the net. Had he stayed on, Holt might have fancied himself for a hat-trick, but Paul Lambert quite sensibly replaced him with Oli Johnson in the 64th minute. In the 78th Minute Julian did well to save a free kick from Chris Martin after Hoolahan had been fouled some twenty-five yards from goal. However, Martin did get a second goal in stoppage time when he was put through by Johnson's flick. He then rounded the keeper before rolling the ball into the net to complete the scoring. Full time: Norwich 4 Gillingham 1 Attendance: 13,068
