MATCH STATS NORWICH CITY: Ward, Fleming, Doherty, Shackell, Drury, Hughes, Jarrett, Brennan, Henderson, Huckerby, Ryan Jarvis. Subs: Ashton (for Huckerby, 67), McVeigh (for Henderson, 61), Safri (for Jarrett, 67), Gallacher, Rossi Jarvis. NORTHAMPTON: Bunn, Chambers, Dyche, G Johnson, Doig, Low, Crowe, Rowson, Jess, Mikolanda, McGleish. Subs: Gilligan (for McGleish, 67), B Johnson (for G Johnson, 81), Galbraith (for Jess, 81), Harper, Hunt. SCORERS: Norwich: Huckerby (pen, 34), Ashton (78) TOP CANARY: EDP: Gary Doherty PinkUn Poll: Davenport (58%) ATTENDANCE: 16,766 REFEREE: Colin Webster (Tyne and Wear) YELLOW CARDS: Norwich: Hughes (55mins, dissent) Northampton: Crow (24, foul on Henderson); Bunn (33, dissent); G Johnson (49, foul on Huckerby); Mikolanda (52, foul on Shackell) RED CARDS: None SHOTS ON TARGET: Norwich 8, Northampton 5 SHOTS OFF TARGET: Norwich 2, Northampton 2 CORNERS: Norwich 3, Northampton 5 FOULS:  Norwich 15, Northampton 11 OFFSIDES:  Norwich 3, Northampton 3

Tuesday September 20, 2005
CHRIS WISE

Norwich City moved into the third round of the Carling Cup with the minimum of fuss at Carrow Road as they put League Two outfit Northampton firmly in their place.

The Canaries have made a nasty habit of slipping up against lower league opposition in this competition since Nigel Worthington took over as manager nearly five years ago.

But it was most definitely a case of 'job well done' this time around, with a late goal in each half giving a much-changed City side a comfortable and thoroughly deserved victory.

Darren Huckerby set the ball rolling when he won and converted a 34th minute penalty before Dean Ashton added a second 12 minutes from time when he cleverly deflected Jim Brennan's long-range shot into the top corner of the net.

The only area of concern for the Canaries afterwards was a knee injury sustained by Huckerby early in the second period, with the hero of Sunday's East Anglian Derby being forced off after a heavy challenge from former Ipswich man Gavin Johnson.

But overall it was the perfect way to follow up Sunday's memorable victory at Portman Road and now the Canaries will be looking for a third straight win when they play host to high-flying Reading in the Coca-Cola Championship on Saturday.

Nigel Worthington made no fewer than seven changes to his starting line-up for this tie. He had no choice but to leave out Kevin Lisbie under the terms of his loan move from Charlton, but it was largely a case of the manager playing safe with a number of derby heroes picking up knocks at the weekend.

Darren Huckerby is sent crashing to earn the penalty from which he put City in front.

The new-look Canaries took a little while to settle but it wasn't long before they were passing the ball around neatly and taking a firm grip on proceedings.

Ryan Jarvis took just eight minutes to mark his first appearance of the season with an effort on goal as he headed a Craig Fleming cross from the right narrowly off target.

Cobblers keeper Mark Bunn was then forced into two excellent saves after the home side tried their luck from rather longer range. Jim Brennan's low shot from a free-kick was heading in at the bottom corner until the youngster got his hands to it. Ian Henderson's 25-yard curler might also have found the back of the net had it not been for the slightest of touches.

One sensed a goal was coming and it firmly arrived in the 34th minute with Huckerby following up his winner against Town on Sunday by notching up his second goal of the season from the spot.

He won the penalty himself drawing a clumsy foul out of former Ipswich defender Gavin Johnson as he went for a high cross from the left from Brennan, and then dispatched the spot kick in some style despite Bunn guessing the right way.

Darren Huckerby is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring from the penalty spot to put his side 1-0 up.

The Canaries fully deserved their lead but Northampton continued to give a reasonable count of themselves and almost drew level with their first decent effort of the game on 41 minutes.

When Scott McGleish connected perfectly with a right-wing cross inside the box it looked to go all the way but, with Darren Ward beaten, Norwich skipper Andy Hughes popped up to head the ball off the line and preserve City's lead.

Ward was making his full debut for Norwich some 13 months after joining the club from Nottingham Forest with Worthington deciding to rest Robert Green after a long run of consecutive appearances stretching way back to the closing stages of the 2001/2 season.

Half-time: Norwich City 1, Northampton Town 0

City lost the services of their goal hero just five minutes into the second half following a heavy challenge from Gavin Johnson which earned the Northampton left back a yellow card.

Dean Ashton scored a confidence-boosting goal in the second half to seal the match for the Canaries.

Huckerby appeared to have hurt his left knee and when he left the field his side struggled to rediscover their rhythm in what became an increasingly scrappy encounter.

There was a brief moment of excitement on 63 minutes when Bunn produced his third good stop of the night to deny Hughes after a sublime flick from substitute Paul McVeigh had set up a crossing chance for Brennan.

But there was little for a good-sized crowd to get excited about until the 78th minute when an wonderful piece of opportunism from Ashton put City in the comfort zone.

Brennan's left-footed drive from all of 30 yards seemed to be heading wide when Norwich's top scorer stuck out a leg to deflect it past the wrong-footed keeper and end any hopes of a Northampton revival.

Dean Ashton is congratulated by Ian Henderson after the goal which completed City’s win.

The Cobblers appealed for offside, with some justification, but the referee allowed the goal to stand and the £3 million striker was able to celebrate his fifth goal in 10 appearances this season.

Northampton had battle away bravely in the second period but they never seriously troubled a Norwich team who kept possession well all evening and did everything that was asked of them.

Indeed Ward didn't have one save to make after the break with the visitors only conjuring up one noteworthy effort on goal a snapshot from David Rowson which was deflected wide by the excellent Gary Doherty,

It had been a highly competent, if less than exhilarating, display from the home side who will now be hoping for one of the Premiership big guns when the draw for the next round of the competition is made on Saturday.

Result: Norwich City 2, Northampton Town 0