CITY skipper Grant Holt says he is looking forward to going back to his hometown when the Canaries travel to face Carlisle tomorrow (5.15pm) - even though he expects some good-natured stick from his fellow Cumbrians in the crowd.
Carlisle fans gave Holt a bit of a rough ride when City played at Brunton Park in a league match back in October - but the Norwich captain and his team-mates had the last laugh as Wes Hoolahan's solitary strike gave the visitors all three points.
This time it's a second round FA Cup clash - and Holt is hoping for a repeat performance from the on-song Canaries, who booked their passage to this round with a 7-0 win over non-league minnows Paulton Rovers.
He told First News: "It's always good, the FA Cup. Obviously we know what happened last time, it's nice to have a distraction away from the league and focus on something else for a little bit and it should be a good game."
As for the reception he can expect from the Brunton Park crowd, Holt said: "When you're from there and things have gone on in the past you always get a little bit of stick. It's just tongue in cheek, there's no malice in it so you just get on and enjoy the game and hopefully we'll win again."
With family and friends still based in Cumbria, Holt was asked if he was the only member of the Canary squad pleased to be handed the 570-mile round trip when the draw was made.
"No there's a few of us," he replied. "For Stephen Hughes, Simon Lappin and myself it's the only time a lot of our families get to come and watch the game."
The squad might under normal circumstances hope for a rest after yet another long away haul, but with a return to league action against Southend at Roots Hall on Tuesday, it will be back to business as usual at Colney straight away.
"It would be a lot better if we were off on Sunday but we're not, we're in," said Holt. "Obviously you'd have prefered to get someone at home but we haven't, we've got another long away trip, but hopefully we can go up there and get the job done like we have been doing.
"We've got a good squad here and I'm sure one or two of the lads who haven't been involved will if needs be come and get involved and do a good job, as we've seen the other week when Hughsie came in (at Southampton) and I thought he was fantastic. That's what we've got at the moment, we've got a squad, a team who are performing well and everyone's happy to be here."
With City boss Paul Lambert having added two new players to the squad in the shape of loanees Russell Martin and Anthony McNamee, the skipper said he welcomed the signings:
"It's always good to bring new players in, even more competition for places which is good," he commented. "Everyone knows what a fantastic squad we've got already, to bring two players in, which he's done, is fantastic for the Football Club and the players. Keeps us on our toes and if they add extra to the squad, which I'm sure they will, then it will be good to help us get promoted."
With Holt (15), Wes Hoolahan (10) and Chris Martin (10) all scoring in Tuesday night's 4-1 win over Brighton, to ensure all three have now reached double figures in league and cup goals this season, the striker was asked if there was any money riding on who would finish top of the goal chart at the end of the season.
He answered: "No, we haven't had a bet. We're just trying to do the best we can and at the moment the goals are going in from all directions and hopefully we'll now go on to get double figures in the league, we'll keep scoring, and we'll do well."
Meanwhile the game could mark a milestone for experienced defender Gary Doherty, who will chalk up his 200th game for the Canaries if he plays at Carlisle.
Asked if it was potentially a proud moment for him, Doherty told reporters: "Yeah it is. It's my 200th game and it's something that I've been maybe looking at for the last couple of weeks and something I'm looking forward to."
Doherty added he was expecting a tough match tomorrow, with the in-form City squad up against a United side fresh from an excellent 4-3 league win away to MK Dons on Tuesday:
"They have been in decent form of late, they went to Milton Keynes and got a great result. But we've been in great form and we're looking forward to it. We're in good form, we're passing it well, we're scoring goals, we're defending really well and it's a good time to be at the Club at the minute."
Tickets are on sale to Canary fans on the day at Brunton Park for the FA Cup tie with Carlisle.
Seats are also on general sale for City's next home match with Oldham Athletic at Carrow Road on Saturday, December 5 (3pm). Tickets are available by logging on to online ticketing, by calling 0844 826 1902, or in person at Carrow Road ticket office or the Canary Store in the Mall, Norwich.
