Mulryne strikes to ease Norwich nerves

Norwich City 3 Brighton & Hove Albion 1

Success at the third round stage has been uncommon for both of these sides recently and although Norwich were comfortable winners to book a home game with Dagenham & Redbridge, for a large share of the game they were forced to live on their nerves.

Brighton took the lead early in the second half before substitute goalkeeper Will Packham was submerged in a serious Norwich response. Phil Mulryne scored the equaliser and after an eye-catching goal from Paul McVeigh it was Mulryne who made sure that a wait of six years for a fourth round place was at an end.

After floodlight failure forced the postponement of the first arranged tie, the delay this time was due to congestion at the turnstiles. Both teams were eager to get things underway and that was personified by Paul McVeigh, restored to the Norwich line-up after spending nearly an hour on the bench against Rotherham. He required three minutes before registering the equaliser on that occasion and with his side struggling for goals it was clear manager Nigel Worthington could not afford to leave him out.

The diminutive Irishman popped up everywhere in a lively opening. Zema Abbey eased a bouncing ball on to the roof of the net and Adam Drury struck out for goal following a clever McVeigh back-heel as Norwich looked for an early kill.

Brighton were without Steven Sidwell, the midfielder on loan from Arsenal. He has had a queue of suitors including last night's opponents. Nevertheless, the visitors knocked the ball around with some purpose and no shortage of confidence though they were unable to trouble Robert Green for sometime. In the other goalmouth Michel Kuipers stayed down after an early clearance. He hobbled off with Packham coming on in his place. He should have been beaten three minutes before the break, but David Nielsen, standing just a few feet from goal, was unable to finish.

It meant Norwich had failed to notch a first half goal for the ninth successive fixture and Worthington brought on Iwan Roberts in an attempt to rectify matters.

The Canaries were still cursing their luck when they granted Brighton a soft goal. Green failed to gather a Richard Carpenter free kick and Tethick netted the fumble.

Norwich were back on terms eight minutes later. Darel Russell had been a rare glimpse of inspiration and after a weaving run and Drury had crossed, Roberts was thwarted by Packham once more but this time Mulryne was at hand to put away the rebound. McVeigh made it two after 71 minutes before Mulryne sealed it with nine minutes to play.

Norwich City (4-4-2): Green; Russell, Fleming, Mackay, Drury; Rivers (Henderson, 86), Mulryne, Holt, McVeigh; Neilsen, Abbey (Roberts, h-t). Substitutes not used: Lee-Barrett (gk), Llewellyn, Kenton.

Brighton & Hove Albion (3-5-2): Kuipers (Packham, 24), Pephick, Cullip, Mayo; Watson (Blackwell, 79), Carpenter, Brooker, Oatway, Jones (Piercy, 79); Barrett, Zamora. Substitutes not used: Rogers, Hinshelwood.

Referee: A Kaye (Wakefield).