NORWICH CITY 1 CITY 3
League Cup 4th Round
8th November 1978
attendance 19,413
scorers
City Barnes(55), Channon(80 & 85)
Norwich Peters(31)
ref Mr R Toseland
City Corrigan, Clements, Donachie, Viloen, Booth, Watson, Channon, Owen, Kidd, Hartfoed, Barnes – sub P Futcher(78)
Norwich Keelan. Bond, Davies, Ryan, Hoadley, Powell, Neighbour, Reeves, Symonds, Mendham, Peters
MARTIN PETERS SCORES FOR NORWICH
RAY RANSON MAKES HIS DEBUT
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 9TH NOVEMBER 1978
Mike Channon is the “villain” who became a League Cup hero.
Manchester City’s former England marksman struck at the double to land the Blues a quarter final place for the second successive year.
However a nightmare miss by Channon three minutes before half time at Carrow Road last night looked as though it might prove disastrous for te then pressed City.
He mis-hit the best chance of the night so carelessly that the ball bobbled into touch on the far side when he attempted to hit in an angled drive from a pass sweetly laid on by Brian Kidd.
But Channon the cannon flattened Norwich, blasting two goals in a sizzling six minutes to leave the Blues 3-1 winners of a tingling fourth round tie.
The turning point came in the 71st minute.
Joe Corrigan, superbly returning to form after two uncertain League games, bravely raced out to block a Kevin Reeves effort when the Norwich striker was clear.
A goal to the home side at that stage would almost certainty have proved curtains for City. They had struggled to contain lively Norwich for half an hour of the first half, and were again rocking when Reeves raced through.
But Corrigan, whose handling and positional sense had been immaculate throughout, saved the night with his most important save of all.
Said manager Tony Book: “It was the turning point. Had Norwich scored then we could have been in trouble.”
Yet City revealed a steely character as they attempted to control a tie that looked to be slipping away from them after Martin Peters had given Norwich the lead after half an hour.
Their composure unruffled, City regained control with Asa Hartford turning in a world class performance to grasp midfield command.
The substitution of the tiring Colin Viljoen for Paul Futcher was a master stroke that swung the balance.
Futcher’s first major contribution was to lay on the pass from which Channon cut in on a right flanking move to beat the unsighted Kevin Keelan with a superbly struck left foot shot.
Then Channon switched to his right foot to beat Keelan with an even better effort after majesically turning two defenders in the right hand corner.
Dave Watson and Tommy Booth were the defensive pillars, although Kenny Clements had one of his most uncertain games of the season. And Willie Donachie also had his hands full coping with Jimmy Neighbour, Norwich’s most effective player.
Peter Barnes was never able to be as effective on either flank for City simply because he was constantly shadowed by the pacey Richard Symonds.
“I was sure he was going to follow me into the shower after the game,” smiled City’s England winger.
He added: “But he was nowhere near me when I headed that equaliser.”