Andy Marshall reckons the Norwich City boo boys are going soft on him. The former Canaries keeper, vilified ever since walking out of Carrow Road in the summer of 2001 bound for Ipswich, insists that coming back to the club which launched his career is actually becoming easier.

Andy Marshall reckons the Norwich City boo boys are going soft on him.

The former Canaries keeper, vilified ever since walking out of Carrow Road in the summer of 2001 bound for Ipswich, insists that coming back to the club which launched his career is actually becoming easier.

Marshall was greeted with boos before kick-off, and was jeered when Dickson Etuhu left him winded after a first-half challenge - but City fans clearly had more worrying things on their mind than Marshall.

“It actually seems to get a bit easier each year,” said the 31-year-old. “The first time I came back to Norwich it was much worse and when Norwich came to Coventry earlier this season I actually enjoyed a bit of banter with some of the fans.

“So there you go - it does get better. Give it another 15 or 20 years and I might be all right.

“I know I will always get a lot of stick when I come here, but to be honest I enjoy it. I have got a lot of affection for Norwich because I was here for 16 years, ever since I was a kid.

“It's disappointing to me how the fans are but I deal with it and I get on with it. In a funny way I even relish it. Maybe if the fans didn't boo me then Norwich might get a better result - you never know! Perhaps they should give it a go next time.

“I have no message to the supporters though. I had 16 great years here and that gave me a good start to my career. But I've had a fantastic time since then and I have moved on. It's a shame the Norwich fans and I still don't see eye to eye, but that's football.”

Marshall had a pre-match hug for Bryan Gunn, the man whose gloves he took over back in the 1994-5 season, and has a good relationship with current boss Peter Grant.

“I definitely don't want Norwich to go down for many reasons,” he said. “I played here with Peter Grant and he is a good friend and I would like to see him given the time to sort the club out and there are a lot of nice people working here, including Delia Smith who has put a lot of time and money into the club.

“Losing Earnshaw and his 17 goals was obviously a massive blow, but even without him I still think Norwich have got enough about them to stay up - at least I hope so.”

A home win over Coventry would have helped City's cause no end, but it was Marshall who did more than anyone to deny them the main prize with two stunning saves, one from Chris Martin and another from a Darren Huckerby effort which looped off a defender's toe.

“I always pull something special out against Norwich don't I?” he said. “I wouldn't say I put more into it than any other game, but something always seems to happen against them and I always come out on top.

“I saved a penalty here for Millwall last season so that was very pleasing.

“Huckerby's shot took a deflection off Andrew Whing and I was fortunate to be able to make a save. I also made another save from Martin and I felt that one was actually the better save because it skidded off the surface and came through a crowd of bodies. He also tried to do me with his eyes by looking in the other corner, so I thought that one was the better save.

“So overall I am disappointed that we didn't win - but pleased that we didn't get beat.”