By CCFC Sid
November 30 2003

This was two points lost rather than a point gained against one of the better sides in D1, as CCFC continue their infuriating run of draws. Better than losing (No sh*t Sherlock!), but chances spurned means it could have been better.... McAllister, Morrell and Adebola replaced Suffo (Benched), Barrett (Dropped) and Staunton (Injured), and a vast improvement on last Saturday was the outcome. And, as if to prove Gary McAllister's blast after Gillingham might have hit home, even Safri managed to threaten the Norwich goal. Amongst his three efforts, which takes his fairly accurate shots tally upto six altogether in a CCFC shirt, was one effort that "allegedly" hit the post....

Huckerby's pace versus CCFC's snails-pace defence should have been a mis-match made in CCFC hell, but, after a fairly bright start, the former CCFC man faded, and was substituted later on (Making my opinion that CCFC should STILL try and re-sign him look like the ramblings of a mad man).

Davenport's height was a useful weapon against gangly Villa flop Peter Crouch, but injury forced him from the pitch after half an hour (With Dean Gordon coming on in his place), and only minutes later Henderson gave Norwich a 34th minute lead. Had the referee spotted what looked like a foul on McAllister, the goal might not have stood. But alas....

This was only Norwich's second attack worthy of note in this match, with a Drury cross providing the first after 20 minutes, a cross which managed to evade the entire CCFC defence, and, fortunately for CCFC, four Norwich players in advanved positions!

CCFC started the second half well, and were level within minutes of the re-start. McAllister equalised for CCFC from the penalty spot after a dubious decision finally went in our favour! Well, it is almost Christmas....

With just over ten minutes left, NC's Malkay Mackay was sent off for a foul on Mo Konjic as he threatened to go on one of his famous runs (Though they would become far more famous if a goal actually came from one!). Most supporters would be hoping their team would exploit the extra man advantage, but, it seemed the majority of CCFC saw this as a disadvantage!

They were wrong, as CCFC piled on the pressure (With Joachim and Suffo, amongst other, missing chances), but failed to show any sort of composure in front of goal, and another match looked to be heading for a draw.

A terrible Adebola miss right at the death denied CCFC the victory their performance just about deserved. It seemed far easier to score, but he somehow managed to miss an open goal from only yards out. Hardly likely to endear him to CCFC fans that are beginning to doubt the logic behind signing him....

While CCFC had missed chance after chance, Arsenal gave a watching TV audience a master-class in the art of what CCFC just cannot do - finish! If only our scouts could find us anything like a Thierry Henry. Even only a Dennis Bergkamp would do....

A point away at both Sunderland and Norwich should be viewed as decent results, but, with chances to take all three points being spurned, both matches have to be viewed as two points lost.

Massive respect to those CCFC fans that went to Carrow Road, and suffered in the rain! Stars, every sodden one of them....