Norwich City Football Club News

• Nickname:Canaries
• Founded:1902
• Manager:Paul Lambert

• Ground:Carrow Road
• Capacity:21,468

Grant gutted to be out

25 Oct 2006 - 12:20:03

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Norwich City manager Peter Grant admitted he was "gutted" to suffer his first defeat at the helm of the Canaries in the Carling Cup.

The Championship side were held to a goalless stalemate in 120 minutes of action against Port Vale then lost in the penalty shootout.

And Grant's woe was compounded after City lost key striker Robert Earnshaw to a second-half rib injury leaving the Wales international a major doubt for Saturday's clash with Stoke.

"It's never nice to lose on penalty kicks," Grant told the club's official website.

"I have won penalty shoot-outs and lost them before. But great credit to Port Vale. They made us change formation in the first half and it meant I had to sacrifice a quality player in Youssef Safri.

"Overall Port Vale deserve credit and I hope they do well, but I'm gutted to be out."