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Football Diary
by Patrick O'Connor
THE Norwich City manager Paul Lambert must have had mixed feelings about the phrase 'revenge is sweet' last weekend. He took his side to Colchester for their crucial League One promotion clash and had a relaxing afternoon as Norwich coasted to a 5-0 win.
Victory was even more enjoyable for the Norwich fans for their season began in calamitous fashion. Relegated from the Championship last year, they were at home to Colchester on the opening day of the 2009/10 term and were humiliated by a 7-1 thrashing. The Colchester manager on that occasion was none other than the current Norwich boss Paul Lambert. Days after being humbled by Colchester, the Norwich board turfed out Bryan Gunn and recruited Lambert!
The move caused plenty of friction between the two clubs so Saturday's clash was keenly awaited. And once again it was Lambert who had the last laugh!
Colchester are the only real 'small' club trying to muscle in on the big 'buys' trying to get back to the Championship: The top three, Leeds, Norwich and Charlton have all performed in the Premiership and the other two teams in the top six, Swindon and Huddersfield have enjoyed considerable time in football's second tier.
Whether Colchester, on their much smaller resources, can remain in the promotion chase, remains to be seen but they are certainly giving it a good go.
Back amongst the 'big boys' Chelsea handed out an ominous warning to the rest of the chasing pack in their home game against Sunderland. Chelsea were without some of their main stars, away on African Nations Cup duty, but they rolled over Sunderland with an easy 7-2 win.
"We have had our backsides well and truly kicked, "said the Sunderland boss Steve Bruce.
The vultures continue to hover around beleaguered Rafa Benitiz as his Liverpool side were held to a 1-1 draw at Stoke. The Liverpool fans, some of the most devoted and loyal in the land, are starting to turn against him which is a bad sign.
But every now and again the predictable unpredictability of football shines through to remind us what an enjoyable sport it can be. Liverpool were knocked out of the FA Cup last week, losing at home to Championship strugglers Reading. Reading must have been full of confidence and renewed hope when they went to Nottingham Forest. Their fans must have thought 'if we can win at Liverpool, Forest should pose us no problems.' But no, they lost 2-1 and continue to perch dangerously just outside the bottom three.
This weekend sees the fourth round of the FA Cup, a competition already deprived of Manchester United and Liverpool.
Could this be a year when a 'minnow' embarks on a fairytale cup run?
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