On a day of debuts it was former Celtic skipper Paul Lambert that emerged as the top bhoy as Norwich steamrollered his old club Colchester United 5-0.
Davie Moyes and Gary Caldwell also enjoyed good wins whilst former Celt Colin Healy looked very comfortable helping Falkirk to a 1-1 draw on his first return trip to Celtic Park.
It’s hard to imagine a bigger turnaround than reversing a 7-1 home defeat into a 5-0 away win, add in some local rivalry and a promotion place and it makes Norwich’s win all the more remarkable.
There were predictable chants of Judas aimed at Lambert from the home supporters but that won’t be bothering the Norwich boss with his new side now sitting just three points behind pace-setters Leeds United.
The grudge match attracted Colchester’s biggest crowd in 42 years but Lambert played down the significance of the result afterwards.
He said: “The lads were brilliant, they really were, considering all the things that have been going on and have been said, they kept their heads and kept their game going and I thought we were worthy winners.
He said: “The lads were brilliant, they really were, considering all the things that have been going on and have been said, they kept their heads and kept their game going and I thought we were worthy winners.
“We came here to try and win another three points, which we’ve done. I thought some of the football we played in really bad conditions was exceptional.
“Some of those players were beaten heavily at the beginning of the season and I’m pretty sure for some of them it was at their back of their minds but they never ever showed it.
“We came here to try and win another three points, which we’ve done.
“I said to the lads you’ve got to change your game for certain conditions but I thought some of the football we played in really bad conditions was exceptional.
“We had 2,000 fans here today and we could have had a lot more, as I’ve said before they have been fantastic for us this season following us everywhere in their droves.
“I’m pretty sure that today was sweet for them after what happened on the opening day of the season.
“We will do everything we can to try and go up this season, but for this moment in time I hope we gave them something to feel happy about today”
Norwich have now won seven of their last eight League One fixtures and are clearly looking more towards automatic promotion rather than a play-off place.
Sitting four places behind Norwich is Simon Ferry’s Swindon who beat Gillingham 3-1 at home with Paul Caddis expected to move to the County Ground on loan before the end of the month.
It was debut day for Barry Robson, Willo Flood and Chris Killen at Sheffield United but they were unable to prevent Middlesbrough losing 1-0.
Gordon Strachan’s side are 13 points away from an automatic promotion place and six behind Sheffield United who are in the fourth play-off spot.
After the defeat Strachan said: “I know what has to be done and I have to change it.
“It’s not great fun, it’s not nice, I wouldn’t recommend it for anybody but you have to deal with it.
“Fortunately I’ve been about for a few years in this job but I don’t think it would be great for a young manager.”
In the Premiership Davie Moyes became the first manager to defeat Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City with a 2-0 win at Goodison while Caldwell made a winning start to his Wigan career with James McCarthy a scorer in the 2-0 win away to Wolves.
