Cudicini denies Norwich

Norwich's Steen Nedergaard runs at Gianfranco Zola

Norwich 0-0 Chelsea

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Norwich were denied an FA Cup upset by Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, who pulled off a string of top-class saves.

The Italian had little to do in a dour first half but had to be at his brilliant best to ensure the Blues left Carrow Road with their pride intact.

Chelsea started well but had to survive some intense Norwich pressure after the break as Paul McVeigh, Alex Notman and substitute Mark Rivers all went close to breaking the deadlock.

  Key moments

10mins: Desailly heads over

18mins: Mulryne limps off

53mins:Cudicini saves from McVeigh

80mins: Cudicini denies Rivers

Chelsea made a number of changes for the game, the most notable of which involved John Terry.

The defender was relegated to the bench following a fight in a London nightclub on Friday that resulted in him being charged with affray and assault.

The fit-again Marcel Desailly took his place in the heart of the Blues defence and almost marked his return with a goal inside the first 10 minutes.

Unmarked on the edge of Norwich six-yard box, he headed the ball over from Graeme Le Saux's free kick on the right.

John Terry played very well, just like usual. I have no worries about him. He's a good man

Claudio Ranieri

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink should have broken the deadlock on five minutes, putting his shot the wrong side of post with just the keeper to beat.

They were the only meaningful attempts on goal in a dull 45 minutes.

The only other incident of note came on 18 minutes, when Phil Mulryne was forced off by injury after being fouled by Sam dalla Bona.

Forssell and Fleming watch the ball

It was a different story after the break, with both goals coming under fire early on.

Le Saux fizzed a shot just over just after the re-start before Cudicini was forced into two smart saves as Norwich began to pile on the pressure.

The Italian beat away a fierce shot from McVeigh before diving to his right to keep out a low shot from Notman.

If you had given us a 0-0 draw at the start, we would have probably taken it

Nigel Worthington

Darren Kenton then tried his luck from long range only to see Cudicini parry the ball clear.

Cudicini then pulled off a fantastic save to keep out a shot from Rivers with 10 minutes remaining.

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Norwich: Green, Kenton, Mackay, Fleming, Drury, Nedergaard (Rivers 75), Holt, Mulryne (Russell 18), McVeigh, Libbra (Llewellyn 90), Notman.

Subs not used: Crichton, Sutch.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Babayaro, Desailly (Terry 45), Gallas, Le Saux, Zola, Jokanovic, Ferrer (Melchiot 45), Dalla Bona, Forssell (Lampard 72), Hasselbaink.

Subs not used: de Goey, Keenan.

Booking: Dalla Bona.

Attendance: 21,017.

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).