Where's Paulton?

Norwich City 1-0 Swindon Town

How can it be possible after all these years that there are still English teams I have never heard of?

We knew relegation to League One would mean Norwich turning out on FA Cup first round day for the first time in half a century and we knew there would be a good chance of facing non-league opposition, maybe even local side Lowestoft Town.

I joined the draw late as it was being made on TV and saw on the screen that Norwich had drawn Paulton Rovers away. Now that's a proper cup draw! Early inspection of the internet suggests they may switch the tie thus denying us a taste of the Southern League on first round day. I am already wondering what the (if there are any) broadcasting facilities will be like.

As for the Swindon game, well it wasn't the most memorable of all time but Chris Martin's goal was enough to send Norwich up to fifth. My personal triumph came from covering a game featuring a player called Kevin Amankwaah without any unsavoury on air incidents.

You're Not Laughing Anymore

Leeds United 2-1 Norwich City

Recent games against Charlton and Gillingham and reminded Norwich fans of what a great thrill a last minute goal can be. Here was a proof that letting one in can have you cursing your luck long into the night.

It was 1-1, deep into stoppage time when Fraser Forster scuffed a goal kick straight at the feet of Jermaine Beckford. He scored, Norwich lost but won a fair few admirers for the way they played.

It is always interesting watching your own team on television and there is always that fear that if they lose or play badly it will be somehow worse because it is in front of everybody else. Norwich's reputation for chopping and changing managers clearly goes before them. At one point on Sky Paul Lambert was captioned as 'Norwich caretaker manager'.

Forster need not worry - he joins a good list of Norwich goalkeepers who have made these blunders and most of them appear to have happened on live television. Bryan Gunn's famous air kick at Portman Road in 1996 for example. Robert Green may now be an England 'keeper but he was embarrassed himself on live TV by rolling the ball out in front of him, not realising Nottingham Forest's David Johnson was standing behind him, to this day Green does the full 360 before letting a ball go.

Ipswich Town still haven't won this season. A few Town fans were keen to celebrate Forster's mistake almost 24 hours later when Look East presented their sports news from a Suffolk pub. One fan made a gesture not seen on TV since those Nescafe adverts with Gareth Hunt in and others chanted 'scum, scum, scum' as the reporter tried to link to the goals footage from the Leeds game.

If only the cameras had been trained on those same fans later that evening when Ipswich, yes you've guessed it, let in a last minute goal. Their faces would have been a picture as Nathan Ellington netted for Malky Mackay's Watford at Portman Road to make it 1-1.

The Drury's Out

Carlisle United 0-1 Norwich City

This was the badge of honour fixture for Norwich City fans. The trip to Carlisle had become the one often used to sum up what relegation to League One actually meant. The best part of six hours each way - but worth it because Wes Hoolahan scored the only goal.

Not everybody undertook the full 12-hour round trip though. The lengths some people will go for a more comfortable journey is remarkable.

Adam Drury's wife gave birth to baby Isla the night before the game. He was then flown up to Carlisle, along with Delia Smith, on the morning of the match. The fixture list only came out in June and even with my limited scientific and mathematical abilities I can tell there is no way Drury can be accused of going through all this just to avoid a coach trip to Cumbria. He played very well.

The whole trip got off to a bizarre start when I realised I had managed to book a hotel for the Friday night which was hosting a line dancing convention. It meant Neil Adams and I significantly reduced the average age of the guests but also that we were reluctant to join the queue at breakfast for fear of having to do a Billy Ray Cyrus dance.

Our commentary position was in the back row of the stand, always a slightly worrying moment when you know you have to be critical of the home side within ear shot of some of their fans. The only tense moment was after the game when a red-faced Cumbrian man asked whether we 'got referees like that every week.' I actually did not think the ref had had a bad game but I was too cowardly to take that up with the angry man.

Norwich City are now in the play-off places. I cannot remember the last time we were in the top six of anything.

You Missed a Bit

Giilingham 0-1 Norwich City

Norwich City's Johnstone's Paint Trophy adventure continues thanks to Cody McDonald's second half winner.

That's all I can tell you because I wasn't there. It was the first Norwich game I had missed since March 2007 due to my new commitment presenting BBC Radio Norfolk's breakfast show. Midweek away games are going to be a step too far for me.

I had always been a little uncomfortable with covering games in the JPT. Not because of any lofty opinions of following a team too good to be playing in such a twee competition, mainly my lack of DIY abilities means I break out into a cold sweat at the sheer mention of any product you might find in B&Q.

I did listen to BBC Radio Norfolk's coverage, with the excellent Phil Parry standing in for me. It was actually quite refreshing to take on the roll of supporter for the night once again with my ear pressed up against the nearest radio willing City to score.

Some Picture Perfect Goals

Norwich City 5-1 Bristol Rovers

What a week. At one point there Norwich City had scored a total of 8 goals in an hour's football. First half strikes from Chris Martin, Wes Hoolahan (pen) and Grant Holt (2), the second of which was a very special individual effort, had the match won by half-time. Jamie Cureton then added a last minute strike for good measure.

We were joined in the BBC Radio Norfolk commentary box by a nice man called Norman.

He had won the chance to sit next to myself and Neil Adams by bidding for the prize in an auction. His day job is to illustrate bird books. I shuffled in my seat all afternoon and just about managed to get through it without asking him what he was like at drawing canaries.

Commentators tend to make dreadful hosts. What would you think if you had paid good money to spend an afternoon with someone who then did not talk to you for the best part of two hours? Thankfully Norwich City stepped in and entertained Norman with five very good goals so I don't think he was that bothered that he had to spend most of his afternoon sitting quietly.