Tamworth manager Mark Cooper believes his side can cause a major upset when they face Norwich City in the FA Cup third round.

Tamworth manager Mark Cooper believes his side can cause a major upset when they face Norwich City in the FA Cup third round.

The Lambs boss has tipped his players to cause one of the upsets of the round when the Canaries face the Conference side with home advantage.

Cooper almost masterminded one of the shocks of last year's third round when they took Stoke to a replay before eventually going out on penalties.

He believes this year they can go one better and condemn Peter Grant's side to yet another FA Cup exit at the first hurdle.

The fact that City have never played at the Lamb Ground before will leave them at a disadvantage, says Cooper.

“We are at home and there will be a good atmosphere and it's a draw that gives us a chance,” he said.

“I'm sure that, although the Norwich players are used to intimidating atmospheres, they won't be too sure of the surroundings.”

Around 4,000 fans will be packed into the Lamb Ground for the tie, with Norwich expected to be allocated 850 tickets for the match, although exact details are still to be confirmed.

The semi-professional outfit have struggled in the Conference so far this season - winning just five of their 20 league games so far.

But the cup run has provided relief for Tamworth this season as they have disposed of Harrogate Town, Burton Albion and Rushden & Diamonds to reach the third round.

“Norwich are a good club with some great players such as Robert Earnshaw, Dion Dublin and Darren Huckerby,” added Cooper.

“But we showed in two games against Stoke last season that if we apply ourselves properly, we can cause problems for Championship sides.

“With a little bit of luck in the penalty shoot out last season, we would have been in the fourth round of the FA Cup.”

Russell Moore, general manager of the club, said the club is very pleased with the draw.

“There were clubs we would have preferred to get, but to get a Championship side is very pleasing for us,” he said.

“I think we are a lot happier with the draw than Norwich are and it promises to be quite a tie.”

TAMWORTH'S CUP RECORD

This is only the 11th season that Tamworth have qualified for the FA Cup proper, with the following results:

1966-67

t 1st round: Gillingham (A)1-4

1969-70

t 1st round: Torquay (H)2-1

t 2nd round: Gillingham (A)0-6

1970-71

t 1st round: York (H)0-0

t replay: York (A)0-5

1987-88

t 1st round: Colchester (A)0-3

1990-91

t 1st round: Whitley Bay (H)4-6

1998-99

t 1st round: Exeter (H)2-2

t replay: Exeter (A)1-4

1999-00

t 1st round: Bury (H)2-2

t replay: Bury (A)1-2

2001-02

t 1st round: Rochdale (H)1-1

t replay: Rochdale (A)0-1

2004-05

t 1st round: Blackpool (A)0-3

2005-06

t 1st round: Bournemouth (A)2-1

t 2nd round: Hartlepool (A)2-1

t 3rd round: Stoke (A)0-0

t replay: Stoke (H)1-1 (4-5 on pens)

2006-07

t 1st round: Burton (A)2-1

t 2nd round: Rushden & D (A)2-1