The Norwich side was unchanged from that which started against Coventry a week ago, except that fit-again Iwan Roberts and the impressive David Nielsen replaced Notman and Libbra up-front.After Wimbledon had wasted a header, City had their first chance on ten minutes when Nielsen had a good run up the right and crossed it into the box for Mark Rivers who unfortuately lost control. A minute later a Steen Nedergaard right-wing cross was headed up by a defender and although Rivers was the first to it, his cross was too close to Kelvin Davis in the Wimbledon goal.
Norwich took the lead in the 17th minute when a great run and cross by Mark Rivers from the right was met by David Nielsen, and he planted a lovely angled header past Dons keeper Kelvin Davis to make it 1-0. The Dons fans voiced their upset with "stand up if you hate Nielsen", the Barlcay swiftly replying with "there's only one David Nielsen". If Norwich don't buy Nielsen then he's a bit stuffed really, I think that somehow the Dons fans, and players, might not be too happy with him now! :)
Rob Green then had to be alert to push Shipperley's low shot around the post, and then failed to make anything of the two corners that followed. For Norwich David Nielsen was running rampant - on 26 mins he made a powerful run from the half-way line, but found no-one there to help him when he reached the Wimbledon box. Nielsen was obviously fired up for this encounter with his own club, producing another chance for City 2 mins later, but Rivers was offside as he ran onto Nielsen's pass.
There were no more chances of note for either side for the rest of the half, but drama in the second half was to make up for that.
Half-Time: Norwich City 1 Wimbledon 0
Norwich were first out of the blocks with lots of good passing resulting in Nielsen being found offside. Holloway then watched his long range effort for Wimbledon sail over the bar. The weather then turned nasty, hail starting to fall rather heavily.
In the 59th minute things hotted up a bit when a brilliant run from Nielsen resulted in him being felled in the area and Norwich being awarded a penalty. The Dons' keeper was understandably peeved at Nielsen, still officially a Dons player, and was promptly sent off for throwing the ball at him in his anger. The ref allowed Terry Burton to make a substitution, bringing on his reseve goalkeeper for one of his outfield players before the penalty was taken, a bit of a cheat I feel. 
Although the penalty was won single-handedly by Nielsen, resident penalty-taker Iwan Roberts stepped up and, of course, slotted the ball home with no trouble to send the Norwich fans wild.
Five minutes later however and Wimbledon had pulled a goal back, Connolley scoring from a rather undeserved penalty, the referee adjudging Adam Drury to have brought down Kevin Cooper. Two minutes later Nielsen needed some lengthy treatment from Physio Neal Reynolds, after the Dane was heavily challenged by Hughes. Nedergaards freekick perfectly found Roberts at the far post but his header was straight into the arms of Feuer.
To the utter joy of the Norwich fans Wimbledon were reduced to nine men on 70 minutes after the referee said Darlington had lashed out at Nedergaard as he shepherded the ball out for a goal-kick.On 74 minutes the Canaries should really have killed off nine-man Wimbledon. From Mulryne's corner, Mackay had the goal at his mercy, yet to his dispair the Scottish defender put his header wide of the right upright.
Moments later both managers made a substitution with the tiring and slightly injured Nielsen being replaced by Marc Libbra for City and Peter Hawkins replacing Cooper. Libbra almost made an immediate impact, for after taking control of the ball in midfield he set McVeigh away down the left wing. From an acute angle McVeigh put his shot over.
The offside flag came to Wimbledon's rescue again on 76 minutes for after Roberts had exquisitely chested the ball down, Libbra had made his run to collect the ball just a second too soon.
On 77 minutes Notman should have done better. Mulryne had played him into space, but he could only shoot against a visiting defender.
By now nine-man Wimbledon were frustrating City and were actually having the better of the play - looking the more likely to score. It wasn't until the 85th minute that Libbra showed he wasn't afraid to run with the ball down the left-wing trying to create an opening for that elusive third goal to calm City's nerves. In the end it went begging for despite accurately finding Notman, the Scottish striker could only side-foot his effort wide from 10 yards out.
Six minutes of extra-time just ensured the anxiety for home players and fans alike continued. Fortunately, despite the lions share of possession, Wimbledon were unable to create any clear cut chances.
With nine men we really should have killed them off, but if can do that and still win then I'm happy.
Full-Time: Norwich City 2 Wimbledon 1
