Palace at home - then City face big guns

[Huckerbys right foot]

NORWICH CITY were today handed a daunting start to life in the Premiership – after they kick off their 2004-05 campaign at home to one of their fellow promoted teams.

A match against Crystal Palace at Carrow Road on the opening day of the season, Saturday, August 14, will be followed by trips to Manchester United and Newcastle United in the space of five days before City return to Carrow Road to face champions Arsenal.

A visit to Liverpool in September means that City will face five of the last season's top six Premiership clubs in their first seven matches, but Player of the Season Craig Fleming refused to be intimidated by the fixture list and cannot wait for the start of the season.

"I think it's quite a good thing to have that sort of a start," said Fleming. "Any home game is good to start the season with and to play the big boys early on when a lot of their players have played in Euro 2004 could mean that some are rested.

"The thing is with that league is there won't be any easy games and we know that. It is a step up in class.

"The fixtures don't really count for a lot because you have to play all of the teams at some point, but I'm pleased we've got a home game to begin with because we've shown we're a hard team to beat at Carrow Road.

"Palace will be difficult opponents because they've come up like we have and will be wanting to make a good start and I would have thought they'll bring a few new faces in before the new season.

"The matches at Manchester United and Newcastle are the sort of games we have got to go and really enjoy. They are great places to play, massive crowds and I am sure we won't embarrass ourselves because we will be up for the challenges.

"We won't be going to those places to make up the numbers and I think we have proved that in the past couple of seasons when we have played away at Premiership clubs in the FA Cup – we outplayed Everton in the second half last year and were better than Southampton for much of the game the season before."

City start pre-season training on Monday, and Fleming said the team would be aiming to improve in all areas.

He said: "You never look forward to pre-season training, but it has got to be done.

"It is hard work but we know we have got to step up in all departments, and fitness is one of them. We were one of the fittest teams in the first division last season and we have got to try and do that again."

Darren Huckerby, the man fans will look to most to fire City's Premiership campaign, said they had nothing to fear.

"We've got nothing to be afraid of, even though we will be playing against some of the best players in the world," said Huckerby, who admits he's champing at the bit to get back to pre-season training.

"We'll be going into those games looking to enjoy ourselves and maybe nick a point against some of the top teams, maybe even a win. It's good to get them out of the way early, to be honest.

"What we have got to look to do is to beat the teams around the bottom of the table.

"Playing Palace in the first game of the season is a chance for us to gets some points on the board, but that's the way they'll be looking at it, too. They'll have probably spent more money than us, but we're ready for the challenge.

"I'm really looking forward to playing. We all are, but it's going to be tough.

"We've got a really good team spirit here and work ethic," added Huckerby, who has tasted life in the Premiership with Coventry, Leeds and Manchester City.

"I'm looking forward to testing myself one-on-one with defenders rather than being marked by two or three because there are obviously better defenders in the Premiership."

its not gonna do the team any good if they are shit scared of the prospect....go and enjoy yourself in the premiership, have a good season and all the very best of luck