Norwich City

Norwich line up Grant as new boss
Norwich are set to appoint Peter Grant as their new manager on Monday. Grant, 41, has been West Ham assistant boss since January 2004 and will watch Saturday's game at QPR from the stands. \"I can't wait to get started and I'm absolutely delighted at the opportunity to manage a great club like Norwich,\" Grant told the club website. \"I'm raring to go and looking forward to getting stuck into the challenge of getting the club back up the table and challenging for promotion.\" Grant made 75 appearances for the Canaries as a tough-tackling midfielder after moving south from Celtic in 1997. He won two Scotland caps during a 15-year-spell with the Bhoys. \"Norwich were the first club to bring me to England as a player and I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Carrow Road,\" Grant added. \"It's the fantastic people around the place as well as the massive potential of the club that's combined to tempt me away from the Premiership.\" After leaving Norwich in 1999, Grant spent a season with Reading before finishing his playing days at Bournemouth, where he was also a coach. His return to City is subject to a compensation agreement with the Hammers and caretaker manager Martin Hunter will remain in charge for the match at Loftus Road.

QPR 3-3 Norwich
Martin Rowlands struck in injury time to earn a point for QPR in a six-goal thriller at Loftus Road. Darren Huckerby's early strike put Norwich ahead before on-loan Chelsea midfielder Jimmy Smith and Rowlands netted to give Rangers hope. Substitute Dion Dublin's 71st-minute effort squared the game again before Robert Earnshaw put Norwich ahead again with a late penalty. But Rowlands then netted again from an acute angle to snatch a late QPR point. # QPR manager John Gregory: \"We gifted our three goals, which is something that was becoming a habit here. \"If everything had been perfect, they wouldn't have brought me here in the first place - but the players showed great spirit.\" # Norwich caretaker boss Martin Hunter on the decision to add five minutes of injury time: \"I asked the fourth official if he was counting the time on a sundial. \"The five minutes gave the home crowd a lift. But there are some proud players in that dressing room, and we showed more steel today. \"The division is very tight. No-one will run away with it this season.\" QPR: Paul Jones, Lomas (Rose 90), Rehman, Stewart, Bignot, Rowlands, Bircham, Smith, Cook, Ray Jones (Gallen 77), Blackstock. Subs Not Used: Royce, Ward, Bailey. Booked: Rehman, Smith, Lomas. Goals: Smith 24, Rowlands 45, 90. Norwich: Gallacher, Colin, Fleming, Shackell, Drury, Etuhu, Robinson (Dublin 67), Hughes (Safri 75), Croft (McVeigh 87), Earnshaw, Huckerby. Subs Not Used: Camp, Ryan Jarvis. Booked: Shackell. Goals: Huckerby 4, Dublin 72, Earnshaw 84 pen. Att: 14,793 Ref: A Marriner (W Midlands).

Birmingham v Norwich
On-loan Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner is in line for a recall for Birmingham following a knee injury. Midfielder Stephen Clemence is back after the ankle knock while David Dunne has returned after an ankle problem. New Norwich boss Peter Grant welcomes back Republic of Ireland defender Gary Doherty after suspension. But the Canaries could be without midfielder Andy Hughes (hamstring), Adam Drury (ankle) and striker Peter Thorne (rib).

Grant appointed as Norwich boss
Peter Grant has been confirmed as the new manager of Norwich City. The 41-year-old, who was unveiled at a news conference on Monday, has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal. The ex-Scotland international is a former player at Carrow Road and returns after spending almost three years as assistant manager at West Ham. \"It's great to be back home,\" said Grant, a replacement for Nigel Worthington, who was sacked at the beginning of the month. \"The challenge for me is to try to get a team ready to push for the Premiership. \"I know the expectations that are here and we all look forward to that challenge. \"Not only of getting Norwich back to the Premiership but also of keeping them there.\" A compensation agreement was quickly thrashed out with West Ham and Grant paid tribute to the Hammers' beleagured manager Alan Pardew. \"He's been a fantastic help to me and I can't thank him enough,\" said Grant. Grant made 75 appearances for Norwich as a tough-tackling midfielder after moving south from Celtic in 1997. He won two Scotland caps during a 15-year-spell with the Bhoys. \"Norwich were the first club to bring me to England as a player and I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Carrow Road,\" Grant added. \"It's the fantastic people around the place as well as the massive potential of the club that's combined to tempt me away from the Premiership.\" After leaving Norwich in 1999, Grant spent a season with Reading before finishing his playing days at Bournemouth, where he was also a coach.

Canaries swoop for Pompey keeper
Norwich have snapped up third choice Portsmouth goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown on a month-long loan deal. The 25-year-old becomes manager Peter Grant's first signing and will compete with Paul Gallacher and Lee Camp for the number one spot at Carrow Road. Grant said: \"He is an excellent keeper. This is about increasing the competitive edge and getting the keepers fighting for that jersey.\" He told the club website: \"We have got three quality and experienced keepers.\"

Norwich v Cardiff
Norwich captain and left-back Adam Drury is a major doubt and faces a late fitness test on his knee injury. On-loan youngster Paddy Boyle has returned to Everton, but Andy Hughes (hamstring) and Lee Camp (back) should recover to take places on the bench. Cardiff will be without leading scorer Michael Chopra as the striker serves a one-match suspension, Frenchman Luigi Glombard expected to deputise. Left-back Kevin McNaughton remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Norwich 1-0 Cardiff
Norwich City's revival under new boss Peter Grant continued as they beat Championship leaders Cardiff City. Dickson Etuhu was the match winner as he curled in a superb shot on seven minutes after Darren Huckerby had linked with Rob Earnshaw down the left. Earnshaw almost doubled the lead before the break as Norwich dominated play. Striker Kevin Campbell went close with a header for Cardiff late on, before Paul McVeigh and Kerrea Gilbert were sent off after a scuffle. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Norwich manager Peter Grant: \"For the first half I'd give them 10 out of 10, for the second half I'd give them two out of 10. \"In the first half we played at a good tempo and created lots of chances. \"But in the second half it was the complete opposite. We stood back and let a very good side dominate us which was very disappointing.\" Cardiff manager Dave Jones: \"We gave them enough chances in the first half for them to have wrapped it up but fortunately for us they didn't take them. \"In the second half we camped in their half without really hurting them but we didn't do ourselves justice. \"But if it's going to be one bad performance every 12 or 13 games then I'll take that but we have to be better than we were today.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Norwich: Ashdown, Colin, Shackell, Doherty, Drury, Safri (Dublin 90), Etuhu, Robinson, Croft, Earnshaw, Huckerby (McVeigh 68). Subs Not Used: Gallacher, Fleming, Ryan Jarvis. Sent Off: McVeigh (90). Booked: Drury, Croft. Goals: Etuhu 7. Cardiff: Alexander, Gilbert, Purse, Loovens, Chambers, Parry, McPhail, Scimeca, Ledley (Flood 82), Thompson (Campbell 72), Glombard (Kamara 46). Subs Not Used: Howard, Johnson. Sent Off: Gilbert (90). Booked: Loovens, Flood. Att: 25,014 Ref: A Bates (Staffordshire).

Huckerby waits on Norwich offer
Norwich forward Darren Huckerby is still waiting to be offered a new contract at Carrow Road - but says he does not want to leave the Canaries. The 30-year-old, who is a free agent in the summer, told SSB: \"I cannot see the point in changing clubs just for the sake of earning more money. \"It is more about me enjoying my football somewhere I am appreciated. I love this place and who I work for. \"The grass is not always greener on the other side - I have learned that.\" Huckerby helped Norwich win promotion to the Premiership after joining from Manchester City in 2003. He would love a return to the top flight - and with Norwich - but not at any cost. \"That is the aim, but it is not the be all and end all,\" he explained. \"For me the most important thing is to be working for a team that wants me. \"I will give my all to this club and if we get to the Premiership - great. \"But if we don't then I am not going to be looking to move on. I just want to be enjoying my football.\" HUCKERBY HISTORY Norwich: 03- (£750k) Man City: 00-03 (£3m) Leeds: 99-00 (£4m) Coventry: 96-99 (£1m) Newcastle: 95-96 (£500k) Lincoln: 93-95 (trainee) The former Lincoln trainee has moved clubs five times for a total of £9.25m since starting out at Sincil Bank in 1993, enjoying mixed fortunes. He did not start a game at Newcastle, but was a big hit at Coventry before becoming a peripheral figure again at Leeds. Then came a move to Manchester City where he helped the club back into the top-flight before being overlooked in favour of bigger-money signings. Huckerby's time at Norwich - including a three-month loan spell before he joined permanently - has been the longest he has spent at any professional club. And it is clear he values stability higher now than he did earlier in his career, as well as regular first-team football. \"I have been at quite a few clubs now and I have had good spells at each one,\" Huckerby said. \"But if you look back at my Coventry days, I did not want to leave but the money they were offered by Leeds was too good for them to turn down. \"I left not for myself but for them to get the money and I regret that. \"I went to Leeds but I knew that I was not going to be first choice - whereas I was playing every week for Coventry in the top league. I was just coming on for the last 20 minutes for Leeds in every game and it is not the same. \"I don't see that as wasted time because I was still involved but I did not enjoy my spell at Leeds as much as I could if I had been playing. \"If you look at it one way I have missed something like 100 games in my career where I was fit and wished I was playing instead of being on the bench. \"That is no good to me now. As a footballer I want to play. \"I am pretty sure I could get in the squads of about 10 Premiership clubs without any problem - but it is not just about getting in the squad, it is about playing week in, week out.\" New Canaries boss Peter Grant has already said that agreeing a new deal with Huckerby is one of his priorities. And Huckerby is also keen to settle his future as soon as possible. \"I have been at a few places where I haven't been treated as well as I thought I should have been,\" Huckerby added. \"Now I am at a place where I am happy I don't want to jeopardise that for other gains. It is more important for me to be happy than it is for me to be making more money. \"I am very settled here. My kids are in a nice school here and I love where I live, so at the moment everything is the way I want it to be. \"The problem is that in six months it could all change, so hopefully things can be sorted out.\"

Stoke v Norwich
Stoke duo Luke Chadwick (dislocated shoulder) and Mamady Sidibe (ankle) have shaken off injury problems and are available for Norwich's visit. Marlon Broomes (Achilles) and Lewis Buxton (back) are still ruled out, along with Rory Delap (broken leg). Norwich are likely to be without top scorer Robert Earnshaw after he injured his ribs in their Carling Cup defeat at Notts County in midweek. Paul Gallacher, Youseef Safri and Andy Hughes are also injury doubts.

Stoke 5-0 Norwich
On-loan midfielder Lee Hendrie inspired Stoke to a stunning victory against Norwich, who finished with 10 men. Hendrie opened the scoring when he collected Mamady Sidibe's pass and rifled in a right-footed shot, before Ricardo Fuller fired in from six yards. Norwich's Dion Dublin headed wide and they then saw keeper Jamie Ashdown sent off for a foul on Luke Chadwick. Danny Higginbotham netted the penalty and Chadwick hammered home before Darel Russell scored superbly from 20 yards. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stoke manager Tony Pulis: \"He's a smashing kid and I would love to have him. We all know about his ability but his attitude and application has been brilliant. \"The way the players are all working for each other shows we are moving quite quickly in the right direction. \"There was a lot of running of the ball that certainly didn't go unnoticed.\" Norwich manager Peter Grant: \"The players let themselves down and we are all desperately disappointed, especially for the fans who came up here expecting a show. \"I want us to be a team who are on the front foot at all times, but we committed far too many mistakes and made too many wrong choices. \"To say this was a wake-up call would be an understatement.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stoke: Simonsen, Hoefkens, Duberry, Higginbotham, Griffin, Chadwick, Russell, Diao (Brammer 80), Hendrie (Sweeney 80), Sidibe, Fuller (Pericard 75). Subs Not Used: Bangoura, Hill. Goals: Hendrie 22, Fuller 38, Higginbotham 74 pen, Chadwick 79, Russell 90. Norwich: Ashdown, Shackell, Fleming (Thorne 55), Doherty, Colin, Etuhu, Hughes (Eagle 58), Robinson (Gallacher 73), Drury, Croft, Dublin. Subs Not Used: Ryan Jarvis, Rossi Jarvis. Sent Off: Ashdown (72). Att: 13,444. Ref: Paul Robinson (E Yorkshire).

Norwich v Colchester
Norwich could be missing a host of key figures as Rob Earnshaw (rib) and Darren Huckerby (back) are doubtful. Lee Croft (ankle) is out while Jamie Ashdown and Paul McVeigh must both serve suspensions. Colchester will hand late fitness checks to winger Richard Garcia (ankle) and midfielder Kevin Watson (calf). The pair may be on the bench even if fit as they will have to dislodge in-form duo Kevin McLeod and Johnnie Jackson if they are to play.

Norwich 1-1 Colchester
A sweetly-struck goal from Dickson Etuhu gave Norwich a share of the spoils against industrious Colchester. Jamie Cureton opened the scoring for the visitors after 53 minutes, steering Karl Duguid's cross past Canaries' keeper Paul Gallacher from six yards. But Norwich levelled on 72 minutes as Darren Huckerby ran down the left and Etuhu picked up the ball and curled a smart shot past Aidan Davison. Norwich's Rob Earnshaw went close to finding a winner in the closing stages. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Norwich boss Peter Grant: \"We are very disappointed because it was a home game and you have got to be looking to win those. \"What disappointed me most was the way we kept giving the ball away. We wasted a lot of energy chasing poor passes and that shouldn't be happening. \"It certainly shouldn't happen with the quality of players we have got here.\" Colchester manager Geraint Williams: \"I don't think anyone could deny we were worth a draw and with a little bit of luck we could have come away with all three points. \"We started very well, created good chances and I don't think it was much of a surprise when we went in front. \"It was only when they brought on Dion Dublin at the end of the game that they put us under any sort of pressure.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Norwich: Gallacher, Colin, Shackell, Doherty (Fleming 46), Drury, Etuhu, Safri (Hughes 70), Robinson, Huckerby, Earnshaw, Eagle (Dublin 60). Subs Not Used: Camp, Thorne. Goals: Etuhu 72. Colchester: Davison, Halford, Brown, Baldwin, Barker, Duguid, Jackson, Izzet, McLeod (Jones 68), Cureton (Guy 80), Iwelumo. Subs Not Used: Gerken, White, Richards. Booked: Iwelumo, Baldwin. Goals: Cureton 53. Att: 25,065 Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).

Norwich v Sunderland
Norwich defensive duo Gary Doherty (back) and Craig Fleming (hamstring) are both doubtful so Dion Dublin or Michael Spillane could cover. Lee Croft (ankle) is definitely out but Paul McVeigh and Jamie Ashdown are available after bans. Sunderland striker David Connolly hopes to shake off a hamstring injury while Nyron Nosworthy should also return after a similar problem. Steve Caldwell (knee) is set to be in the squad but Ross Wallace is banned.

Norwich 1-0 Sunderland
Robert Earnshaw's second-half goal was enough to settle a scrappy affair at Carrow Road. Norwich keeper Paul Gallacher stopped Sunderland opening the scoring as he got down well to parry David Connolly and Tobias Hysen's efforts. Despite Sunderland's dominance, Norwich took the lead on 51 minutes when Earnshaw drove in Paul McVeigh's cross. Sunderland appealed for a penalty late on when Dion Dublin appeared to foul Daryl Murphy but were waved away. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Norwich boss Peter Grant on Dion Dublin: \"It was a good job Dion was playing, because if he was not, we would have lost the game. \"There is no doubt in my mind about that - especially in the second half when he defended the box with his life. \"He was colossal for us in everything he did, his organisation, guiding people about him. I am delighted to have him about the squad.\" Sunderland boss Roy Keane: \"We deserved something out of the game - but that is the beauty of football I suppose, that you do not always get what you deserve. \"We just have to lick our wounds and get ready for next week.\" \"The determination and the effort was there, and at half-time I thought we were comfortable. But that is a dangerous word to use in football.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Norwich: Gallacher, Colin (Eagle 84), Shackell, Dublin, Drury, Etuhu, Safri, Robinson, McVeigh (Hughes 74), Earnshaw, Huckerby. Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Thorne, Spillane. Booked: Gallacher, Huckerby. Goals: Earnshaw 51. Sunderland: Ward, Whitehead, Danny Collins, Caldwell, Nyatanga, Lawrence, Kavanagh (Leadbitter 72), Yorke, Hysen (Murphy 68), Brown, Connolly (Stephen Elliott 77). Subs Not Used: Alnwick, Nosworthy. Booked: Caldwell, Kavanagh. Att: 24,652. Ref: M Riley (W Yorkshire).

View Full Version: Norwich City