Norwich V Huddersfield Town; The ACN Preview

Having spent our early years in the pre-1959 regionalised lower leagues and rarely venturing too far in the FA Cup, Huddersfield are one of a few northern clubs we didn’t meet until the 1960-61 season.

Having not become acquaintedfor so long, the clubs became regular attendees at one another’s ground, going on to meet 21 times during the 60s. Our first encounter came at Carrow Road in October 1960 with City claiming a rare 2-0 win. As the decade swung along the Terriers grabbed themselves the upper hand with 7 wins compared to Norwich’s 3. A draw was the best bet for those who like a flutter, coming in 11 times.

Fate would tear the clubs apart for a time again during the 70s and early 80s, before we came back together in Norwich’s Division Two Championship winning season of 1985/86. A 0-0 draw at Leeds Road preceded a 4-1 Canary victory in March, which was our first home league game for two months following a particularly chilly winter.

City’s promotion back to the top-flight would not stop the clubs meeting again the following season, as the FA Cup brought us together for the first time. Now a division below us, Huddersfield earned themselves a replay and us a final trip to the Terriers old Leeds Road home. City won the replay 4-2.

Possibly still bitter from that FA Cup shock (yes we were higher, but we don’t win in the FA Cup do we?) it would be 10 years before we were finally invited back, for our first nose around their new Sir Alfred McAlpine home. This time we were better houseguests and duly lost 3-2. We’re nothing if not polite.

Another top-flight relegation would follow for City, who would achieve a new feat the next time the clubs met. A seemingly routine 2-0 City win, entered the record books as the first league game in which we would have 2 players sent off. Having scored both goals Darren Eadie clearly didn’t fancy the match ball getting himself dismissed and joined in his early bath by Keith Scott.

Two years later City would win 5-0 at Carrow Road twice in a row, having not won so handsomely in 16 years. Huddersfield were our first victims, before we followed that up by destroying Swindon.

As we followed Huddersfield into League One, City would do the double over the Terriers with 3-0 and 3-1 wins as under Paul Lambert we romped our way to the title.

Having departed City for pastures new, Huddersfield would return a City cult hero to Carrow Road for his first appearance in the fine City since his departure. Appreciation for a Mr Grant Holt, warmed the cockles of a cold December game, but the welcome only extended until kick off, before Norwich would again beat the Terriers 5-0.

The return fixture in March was a much closer contest and saw a strange end to the game at Huddersfield. The match was poised at 1-1 in the 4th minute of 5 minutes of injury time when it all kicked off. First James Vaughan got himself booked, before a minute later, putting Huddersfield 2-1 ahead. Having developed a taste for the dramatic, Vaughan continued to be the centre of attention by earning himself a 2nd booking in 90 seconds and being sent off. All this drama led to more stoppage time being added, enough for Jamar Loza to find himself unmarked at the back post to prod City level at 2-2, before whipping off his shirt and earning a booking of his own.

• 5-0 – Biggest Norwich win 5-0 (twice); 13 April 1998 and 13 December 2014
• 2-0 – Biggest Huddersfield win (four times); 3 April 1965, 13 April 1968, 7 December 1996 and 3 March 2001