DAVID CUFFLEY Goalkeeper Paul Gallacher admitted that there were nerves jangling in the Norwich City ranks before they got their noses in front in their FA Cup victory over non-League Tamworth.

DAVID CUFFLEY

Goalkeeper Paul Gallacher admitted that there were nerves jangling in the Norwich City ranks before they got their noses in front in their FA Cup victory over non-League Tamworth.

It took the Canaries until six minutes before half-time to break the deadlock - then two goals in the space of three minutes, from Dion Dublin and Darren Huckerby, effectively settled the televised third round tie at The Lamb.

Gallacher was delighted that City spiked dozens of potential back page stories of a famous giant-killing, wrapping up a 4-1 win over the Conference strugglers with Huckerby and Dublin on the scoresheet again after the break before Tamworth's Kyle Storer scored a spendid consolation goal.

But the Scotland international said it had taken that double whammy late in the first half to ease the tension for the visitors.

He said: “It settles your nerves. We were nervous, there's no doubt about it. You've got to be nervous, coming into a fixture like this.

“Everyone's expecting an upset. It didn't happen. We were professional, did our job and got the goals before half-time that settled everyone down. We even got to pass it around a little bit on the dodgy surface.”

Conditions, though not as wet as at many of Saturday's FA Cup games, meant there were accidents waiting to happen on a heavy pitch.

Gallacher, who made one important early save from John McGrath, managed to avoid any mishaps but had sympathy for Tamworth 'keeper Jose Veiga.

“One mistake and it's in the back of the net, that's it,” said Gallacher. “Unfortunately, their goalkeeper had a mistake but I thought he did well other than that, so it just shows you that as goalkeepers we're one mistake away and you can get punished for that.

“It's not the best of parks but there would be no excuses. We had to come here and do a job and we did that.

“I think we were under a lot of pressure. The cameras were here, looking for an upset but we stayed professional, did professional job and ultimately I thought we dominated most of the match.

“We had a sticky part at the start. You have to get your feet into the surface and the surroundings and they were up for it. They were hoping to cause a major upset but I felt we got the result we thoroughly deserved.

“The first 20 minutes or so, you're going to be under a bit of pressure. We just had to maintain our professionalism and it shone throughout the game.”

Gallacher got his fingertips to Storer's swerving 20-yard shot but couldn't keep it out.

He said: “It was a good effort. Probably the best of the goals today. We're disappointed to lose a goal, but when somebody scores a goal like that you've got to hold your hands up and say well done to the boy.”

With a place in today's fourth round draw, Gallacher said: “We'll take whoever we get and try to do a professional job and get ourselves through the competition.”

t Tamworth suffered a further blow after their FA Cup exit when an armed robbery was staged at the clubhouse on Saturday night. A small amount of cash was taken, plus personal effects of staff and volunteers.