FOLLOWING Saturday's humiliating 7-1 defeat at the hands of Colchester United at Carrow Road on Saturday, City will look to bounce back with a positive performance and result in the Carling Cup at Yeovil Town tomorrow night (7.45pm).

Manager Bryan Gunn had his players reported to the Colney training ground on Sunday morning for training and an opportunity to sit down and relive Saturday's opening day disaster on DVD.

"It was a long day," was the City boss' immediate reaction to the time he spent with his shell-shocked squad on Sunday.

"We watched the DVD and trained. It reiterated what went on out on the pitch on Saturday."

Gunn felt it had been a painful but ultimately necessary way to spend the day.

"I think it was important to do it. I've done it as a player, sat down among your team-mates and seen where you've made mistakes both individually and as a team. With each and every goal you can spot mistakes throughout the whole move.

"Hopefully it will prove helpful and now the lads can get out on the training pitch and try and get it out of their system."

Such a heavy and unexpected defeat has certainly left Gunn and his management team looking for players to come to the fore and stand up to be counted ahead of Tuesday's tricky trip to Yeovil Town.

"This is a test of character for players now. It (Saturday) was a big kick in the nuts for players, management and coaching staff who have prepared in the week and built up ready to get a result against Colchester."

With City enjoying an impressive pre-season programme that saw them win six and draw once ahead of their League One campaign, confidence and expectancy was buoyant among the squad, media and fans. With the benefit of hindsight the City manager admitted that perhaps the level of expectancy had been raised too far.

"Obviously there was a lot of hype before the game, which I myself took part in," confirmed Gunn.

"We probably had too much praise for the work that was going on throughout the summer. So maybe I should have taken a little bit of the blame for that and should have dampened some of the enthusiasm.

"We certainly got knocked straight down to the ground on Saturday and we've got to pick ourselves now."

Opportunity knocks for Gunn and his City squad to begin righting the wrongs from Saturday in the Carling Cup tomorrow. And the City boss said Tuesday's first round tie at Huish Park can't come quick enough.

"It's a cup competition and we want to be in the next round of the competition but we got to overcome a confident Yeovil after their weekend win over Tranmere.

"I'm sure the players are hurting and embarrassed by individual contributions and also the team contribution. This is the first chance to put it right."

Goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos suffered a particularly difficult afternoon against the U's after having to pick the ball of his net on seven occasions during the most forgettable of Canary debuts. A big, big decision on who plays in goal on Tuesday night clearly needs to be made.

"Character comes into this," said Gunn. "Michael is an Aussie - they are renowned for their fightbacks and comebacks. We've started to find out a bit more about individuals having only been together for a short while but this week will be a time to find out a lot more about the people we've brought to the Club."

Having suffered a 7-1 defeat in his own Norwich playing career when City crashed at Blackburn's Ewood Park in October 1992, Gunn knows a major reaction from his players is needed come 7.45pm tomorrow night and for the remainder of the season.

"When I got beat 7-1 we reacted right after it, we came back in the next games and that's what our players have got to do now. We have to get focussed on tomorrow night because that is our first opportunity."

Gunn has no fresh injury worries ahead of the trip to the West Country but will be without midfielder Owain Tudur Jones who is away with Wales for their international friendly fixture in Montenegro. The City boss confirmed no decisions had yet been made on his line-up for tomorrow's game.

"I haven't made the decision yet, there is a long bus journey to Yeovil for me to sit there and mull over that.

"We're a group of people who are hurting but hopefully the wounded animal will make a recovery."