Manchester City booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup thanks to a 3-0 win away at Norwich City this afternoon.
First-half goals from strikers Sergio Aguero and Kelechi Iheanacho put the visitors in the ascendancy, before substitute Kevin de Bruyne made sure of the outcome 12 minutes from time.
Find out how the match unfolded with Sports Mole's text updates below.
It's one of the biggest afternoons in the English football calendar - the third round of the FA Cup. There will be some minnows hoping to make the headlines in David vs. Goliath encounters, while other ties involve two high profile clubs - like this one. Thanks for joining Sports Mole's coverage as Premier League sides Norwich City and Manchester City battle it out for a place in round four at Carrow Road.
First of all, though, let's take a look at the team news coming out of Norfolk, starting with the visitors from Manchester...
MAN CITY XI: Caballero; Zabaleta, Demichelis, Otamendi, Kolarov; Fernando, Delph, Navas, Sterling; Iheanacho, Aguero
MAN CITY SUBS: Hart, Sagna, Clichy, Humphreys, Horsfield, Celina, De Bruyne
The likes of Joe Hart, Yaya Toure and David Silva may all have been given the day off, yet manager Manuel Pellegrini has still included Nicolas Otamendi, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero in his starting lineup. There is a chance in goal for Willy Caballero, while young Nigerian Kelechi Iheanacho has been given an opportunity to impress up front alongside Aguero. It's by no means the strongest City side, but there is plenty of talent in there still.
And now for the hosting Canaries...
NORWICH XI: Ruddy; Bennett, Martin, Bassong; Wisdom, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Olsson; Howson, Odjidja; Jerome
NORWICH SUBS: Rudd, Whittaker, Mbokani, Lafferty, Andreu, Redmond, O'Neil
Just as he did when Norwich travelled to the Etihad Stadium in late October, Norwich boss Alex Neil has switched to a three-man defence with wing-backs. Ryan Bennett, Russell Martin and Sebastien Bassong are the men that have been given the nod, with Andre Wisdom and Martin Olsson playing out wide. In goal, there is a recall for the experienced John Ruddy, who recently lost his place to youngster Declan Rudd.
Staying with Ruddy, the 29-year-old has had a rough time of late. He's made a string of errors, one of which cost his side a point in that aforementioned game away at City. With the score level at one goal apiece, he come rushing off his line in stoppage time and when a penalty was eventually rewarded for handball against Martin, Toure made no mistake from 12 yards out. He then lost his place in the team and was recently accused of assaulting a man at Norwich taxi rank. No doubt he'll be looking forward to getting back to concentrating on his football today.
As for Ruddy's manager Neil, here is some of what he had to say to reporters ahead of this encounter:
"We want to try and build on the fact we are five unbeaten at home. Manchester City's away form isn't great so there is no reason we can't go and win it.
"Having this cup game now allows the players to enjoy it and really attack it. There is no pressure, in terms of fighting for three points, and that is pretty much what I will be telling them before the game.
"We want to advance in the cup but go and enjoy it, go and play, go and be aggressive and show them what you have got. There will be certainly less pressure than of late."
STAT! Neil is certainly right with what he says about City's away form. They may have won 2-1 at Watford last weekend, yet during the week they slumped to defeat against Everton at Goodison Park. In total, of City's last 10 games on the road in all competitions, they have tasted victory only twice.
The man that has overseen that rotten run is Pellegrini. During yesterday's press conference, he was asked if he intended to bolster his squad this month:
"I repeat we are going to be focused game by game. For the moment we continue with the same squad," said the Chilean.
"I trust in the players - in the first four months we could do it so we can again. The priority for my team is to try and win every game, it doesn't matter which competition you are in. That gives you an ambitious mind and a winning mind."
REMEMBER?! Will we see Delia Smith on the pitch today to rouse the Norwich fans? This is what happened when Man City made the trip to Carrow Road in 2005.
Back to the present day and here's the Man City players heading out to warm-up:
It will come as little surprise to read that Man City are among the favourites to win the competition this season. They've lifted the trophy five times before - the first in 1904 and the most recent five years ago. With it looking more and more likely that Pellegrini will be replaced by Pep Guardiola at the end of the season, it would be a good way for the current City boss to bow out by holding the FA Cup aloft at Wembley.
PREDICTION: With a little over 10 minutes to go until we are off and running in East Anglia, let's have a stab at guessing how this game is going to go. It's quite a strong City side that Pellegrini has picked and if they perform anywhere near their best level, you would have to back them to win through. Let's go for 2-1 to away side, with Aguero getting both goals.
He's not in the squad today, but the new Norwich signing is at the game:
Right, the players are in the tunnel and will be making their way out on to the pitch soon. Not long until now until we are off an running.
KICKOFF! Visiting City get this encounter underway - there's a decent atmosphere building inside Carrow Road.
It's been a positive start to the tie by the home side. They may not have worked Caballero in the away goal just yet, but they are controlling the possession. City are yet to show anything.
SAVES! And soon after I say that, Man City spring into life. Iheanacho and Kolarov both test Ruddy in quick succession, but the man that returns to the Norwich goal is equal to both efforts to keep the scoreline level.
It would be fair to say that Iheanacho has looked more lively than his strike partner Aguero so far. The youngster is harrying the Norwich defence at every given opportunity. The latest to come under pressure from the Nigerian is Bassong, who wildly hacks the ball into touch.
GOAL! NORWICH 0-1 MAN CITY (AGUERO)
Sorry Norwich fans, I fear I may have jinxed you by saying that Aguero had been relatively quiet! It's a neat flick from Sterling that releases the Argentine striker, who skips away from two challenges. That brings Ruddy racing off his line, but the Norwich keeper is helpless to prevent the clinical striker from finding the back of the net - trademark Aguero.
To be fair to Norwich, they've not let the goal affect them. They are doing most of the attacking and just now Martin had a chance from 30 yards, but his drilled effort struck the City wall.
It's fair to say that former City defender Danny Mills - working for BBC Sport - was impressed by that Aguero goal:
"Aguero's goal for Man City was incredible - if Messi scores that goal it would be eulogised for months. He picks it up about 35 yards out and goes past so many defenders and finished with a magnificent strike."
SAVE! The first major bit of work for Caballero comes after Fernando is caught in possession deep in City territory. The shot comes in from Norwich midfielder Dorrans, but City's South American goalkeeper shows good hands.
SAVE! It's end to end stuff at Carrow Road, that's for sure. City move swiftly up the pitch and when the ball finds Iheanacho, he quickly plays in Aguero. The number 10 is seeking a second goal, only for Ruddy to deny him with a smart stop.
GOAL! NORWICH 0-2 MAN CITY (IHEANACHO)
Game over already? It may just be. Aguero turns provider on this occasion as he slots a pass through for Iheanacho and he makes no mistake with a finish that leaves Ruddy no chance. For someone that is only 19, he has supreme confidence. You have to feel sorry for Norwich because they've played well.
A bit more from Mills after that goal, again on BBC Sport:
"It's brilliant play again from Sergio Aguero, he takes it down brilliantly and just rolls it across the face for Kelechi Iheanacho to convert, though it may have taken a deflection.
"Aguero has been fantastic but I'm not sure about him being the best striker we've ever seen in the Premier League yet."
The first goal may not have done, but the second one has really knocked the stuffing out of Norwich. There is less zip about their play, while the crowd is also quiet now. It's a big five minutes or so before they break - they cannot afford to concede again.
HALF-TIME: NORWICH 0-2 MAN CITY
Norwich perhaps don't deserve to be trailing by a two-goal margin, but that is the situation that they find themselves as the players head back to the dressing rooms. Time for Delia?!
It's tough to be critical of Norwich, despite their losing position. They may not have created many chances, but they've been good in possession and looked to take the game to City. As cliche as it may sound, the next goal is crucial - Norwich have to score it if they are to stand any chance of getting through.
Clinical - that's the best word to use when it comes to describing City's first-half showing. Norwich have struggled to cope with the pace and movement of Aguero and Iheanacho, both of whom have found the net. You get the feeling that if Norwich commit more men forward after the restart, City are going to pick them off with ease.
STATS! A quick look at the statistics from that opening 45 minutes shows just why City are in front. They've had 63% of the ball and of their eight shots, five have landed on target. As for Norwich, they have mustered four goals attempts, with only one of those forcing Caballero into action.
RESTART! Norwich, who trail 2-0, get proceedings back underway at Carrow Road.
BOOKING! Norwich haven't been able to handle him all afternoon, so it's little surprise that a foul on Iheanacho by Martin ends with the Norwich skipper receiving a booking.
No footballer should commit a foul throw, surely?! Norwich midfielder Odjidja has just been penalised for a such an offence, much to the disappointment of the home faithful. Schoolboy stuff.
SAVE! How good have Aguero and Iheanacho been this afternoon? Very, is the answer! The pair link up once again, before the latter curls a shot straight at Ruddy. There's more goals in this for City, no doubt about that.
DISALLOWED GOAL! The Norwich fans celebrate, only to be cut short by the linesman's flag. Howson plays in Jerome, who races through and then beats Caballero with a smartly-taken dinked effort. The Norwich frontman is adjudged to have been offside, though, and replays show that it was indeed the correct decision from the referee's assistant. Who needs technology?!
MAN CITY SUB: Man City replace £49m Sterling with De Bruyne, who cost £55m - talk about rubbing it in!
NORWICH SUB: Norwich boss Neil reacts by making a double change that sees Howson and Mulumbu and trudge off, with O'Neil and Redmond entering the action.
MAN CITY SUB: The substitutions are the most exciting thing about this tie right now! The Norwich defenders will be pleased to see Aguero head off the pitch, with Gael Clichy taking his place.
NORWICH SUB: And now the final roll of the dice from Neil as he takes off defender Bassong and throws on striker Lafferty, who has recently been linked with a switch to Championship side Leeds United. If he is to leave, there would be no better way to sign off than scoring a couple of goals here!
WOODWORK! So close to a third goal for City as Navas tries his luck. Ruddy is beaten all ends up, only to be saved by his goal-frame. The rebound falls for De Bruyne, but on this occasion that Norwich keeper has time to react and make a save.
GOAL! NORWICH 0-3 MAN CITY (DE BRUYNE)
If it wasn't already over, it is now! Substitute De Bruyne weaves his way into the Norwich penalty area, having gotten the better of Martin and Bennett along the way. He then fires a low shot that beats Ruddy and nestles in the bottom corner - that's the Belgian's 11th goal of the campaign in a City shirt.
SAVE! Almost a consolation for Norwich and you wouldn't have begrudged them it. Lafferty is the man that loops a header goalwards, but Caballero shows good footwork and then equally impressive reflexes to tip the ball away from danger.
MAN CITY SUB: Final switch for City as Celina replaces the impressive Iheanacho.
SAVE! Celina is quickly involved as he is picked out inside the area by De Bruyne. His shot is powerful, but it's straight at Ruddy, who holds with relative ease.
There will be three minutes of stoppage time at the end of this tie.
FULL TIME: NORWICH 0-3 MAN CITY
There goes the final whistle to confirm what we've known for some time - Man City will be in the hat for Monday's fourth-round draw.
That is all we have time for from Carrow Road. Thanks for joining Sports Mole on an afternoon where Norwich were dismantled by their visitors. Until next time, goodbye.
