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I wasn’t going to attend this one, but at the last minute decided to take Micah as it was a “kids for a quid” match.  When I decided to go, so did Keith so I picked up some last minute tickets in the snakepit.

It was a surprise, as the team came out, to see Holt leading them and as more came out it became clearer and clearer that this was a strong team.  Although, to be fair, Norwich’s squad now does have depth so Lambert could pretty much have changed all 11 and remained strong.  The reality, though, as previous years have shown is that it doesn’t matter how strong the 11 on the pitch are – it matters whether they are taking it seriously.  And if faced with a choice between FA Cup success and league survival there would not be a soul in the ground who would choose the former.

So I was sceptical about how things might play out.  I was therefore incredibly surprised when two pinpoint left wing crosses of the like we haven’t seen since Tierney was injured led to two early goals within the first ten minutes.  With Norwich already enjoying a healthy advantage, a slightly suspect penalty was awarded which Holt contrived to miss.  I was then expecting the rest of the match to be played out rather dully – only for Burnley to score a goal from an unchallenged header in the penalty box (facing the Barclay).  Perhaps Declan Rudd, in goal, could have done better but the reality that the defence could have prevented the chance was evident.

However, Norwich are made of strong stuff psychologically these days and quickly resumed control of procedings.  What I particularly enjoyed was the fact that they played a different style of football than they do in the premiership.  This was football full of passing, cute layoffs, and clever runs.  The way that Norwich can play – and I wish they did more often.  Two more late goals followed as Burnley wilted and the man of the match award was given to Surman who scored the third.  Personally I thought Drury had an excellent game as did Simeon Jackson (who got the second).

Make no mistake about it, Burnley are a good championship side and this was easily a potential banana skin – so an excellent result all round.  Shame the fourth round tie is away to West Brom .

Norwich City: Rudd, Martin, Drury, Whitbread, Crofts, Holt (c) (Wilbraham 70), Jackson (Morison 70), Surman, Hoolahan (Bennett 77), Fox, Ayala. Subs not used: Steer, Johnson, Lappin, Barnett.

Burnley: Grant, McCann (c), Wallace (Bartley 52), Marney, Rodriguez, Paterson, Edgar, Amougou (Macdonald 75), Austin (Stanislas 70), Easton, Mee. Subs not used: Stewart, Hines, Treacy, Jackson.

Attendance: 22,898

Referee: Mike Jones