City Reserves were held to a goalless draw at Southend on Tuesday. While it is a reversal in fortunes following their recent defeats at the hands of Northampton [twice] and Peterborough, the result at Roots Hall came against a side that have lost all three of their opening games and conceded 10 goals on the way. There were one or two plus points to come out of the game, not least the return to action of Mark Rivers. The Canaries' leading scorer has been sidelined since picking up an ankle injury at Nottingham Forest back in August, and Tuesday's 60 minute run out will come as a massive boost to Nigel Worthington ahead of the trips to Upton Park and The Hawthorns.

Shane Herbert rises to the occasion on his reserve team debut

Tuesday's game against the Shrimpers also marked the first Reserve Team appearance for first year trainee Shane Herbert, who will have been delighted in keeping a clean sheet in his first game for Keith Webb. Goalscoring opportunities were few and far between although Tesfaye Bramble went close on a couple of occasions for the home side. He did however blot his copybook when he was dismissed midway through the second half for a second bookable offence after a clash with Jason Shackell. For Norwich their best scoring opportunities came both in the second-half when Greg Crane saw a header cleared off the line and then late in the game Ryan Jarvis had a thumping shot well saved, this coming after the City striker had beaten off two defenders. City Line-Up: Herbert, Briggs, Chick[Crow 73], Sinclair, Shackell, Crane, Rivers [Batt 61], Henderson, Jarvis, Blackburn, Easton [Smith 65]

Further Action From The Match
Mark Rivers, on his return to action, and Jason Shackell go for goal	Lee Blackburn
Greg Crane keeps his eye on the ball	Dean Sinclair
Report and Pictures courtesy of John Landamore.