Norwich 0-4 MK Dons

As with many other clubs, it has become a tradition over the past fifteen years or so that Norwich get beaten by a team from a lower league in the early rounds of the Carling Cup, everyone heaves a collective sigh of indifference and carries on as normal. With Premier League survival currently listed as priority number one to number 150, it was always a tradition that was going to be respected this year. But even so...

I can only imagine that the Norwich players were hypnotised by the all-new all singing and dancing animated electronic advertising hoardings. That or they were in a collective sulk at being selected for this game. Either way, while some of the 13,000 crowd made an effort to express disapproval by walking out before the end, most remained glued to their seats by a grim fascination, wondering what comedic blunder would befall the hapless Norwich side next.

Oooh! What a Carry On!

Off the ball:

* It wasn't only that Norwich got thumped, it was the ridiculous way they did it: disappointment turned to bewilderment turned to bemused laughter among the crowd. And, looking at this Eastern Daily Press photo, it appears that it wasn't just the supporters who felt that way.

* The new electronic advertising hoardings were in action for the first time at Carrow Road last night. Seen from high camera angles on TV these boards are hardly noticeable, but from near pitch level the effect is mesmeric: minutes of the game go past and you realise that you haven't been watching the football at all. And that's when you can even see the ball among the technicolour blur.

* MK Dons turned out for the second half minus two players. Had they played on with nine, it might have been a more even match - though the fact that they did end up playing the last fifteen minutes or so with ten men due to injury and still looked the stronger side suggests it might just as well not have.

* Man of the Match award has to go to Captain Canary, on the grounds he was the only one in a Norwich shirt on the pitch last night who didn't embarrass himself.