Andy O'Brien has some scores to settle with Norwich City if he gets the chance to play against them at Valley Parade tomorrow.

The 19-year-old defender unwittingly played a part in both Norwich goals as City were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw at Carrow Road earlier this season after twice leading.

First, he had the misfortune to get in the way of Keith O'Neill's cross and the ball flew past Gary Walsh for Norwich's first equaliser.

Then in the final minute, O'Brien was judged to have tugged at the shirt of striker Iwan Roberts and Neil Adams scored a second equaliser

O'Brien said: "From my point of view it was a disappointing end to the game. I had given away an own goal, but then I had a penalty given against me.

"The referee thought Darren Moore had fouled Iwan Roberts, but I was the one who tugged his shirt.

"It seemed a strange decision. If all those types of decisions were given there would be hundreds of penalties throughout the season. I thought Roberts made a meal of it."

O'Brien paid a high price for more shirt tugging in the FA Cup third round against Grimsby at Valley Parade two months later. He was sent off for a second bookable offence after pulling Jack Lester's shirt towards the end of City's 2-1 win.

Ashley Westwood took over alongside Darren Moore when O'Brien was suspended for the home match against Crewe and he said: "I have not got in the side regularly since then."

One of O'Brien's many strengths is his ability to mark closely and he believes that is why he has got involved in shirt tugging - an offence the authorities are determined to stamp out.

"Man marking is a key part of my game," he said. "I get close to my opponents. I don't mean to tug them, but if they get half a yard past me my arm just goes out.

"I warned the referee in the Grimsby match that Lester was pulling me from the first minute. He just laughed, but at the end of the day he obviously had the last laugh on me.

"I said I would have to change my game, but that is my style and it isn't easy to change. Maybe I need to get a bit sharper rather than having to pull opponents back. Some referees let you get away with it, some don't.

"If I play against Norwich tomorrow it would be nice to score in the right net, but I am taking it a stage at a time. I have not been in the team much recently which has been very disappointing.

"There is no point in moping or feeling sorry for myself. It isn't going to achieve anything. I have got to get on with it. If there is a suspension or injury I could get in.

"I played at right back against West Brom a fortnight ago. It wasn't really my natural position, but I will play anywhere at the moment because it is a hard side to get in and once you are in it is a hard side to stay in.

"I can play at right back and I can do a job in midfield, but I like to think my best position is central defence. It is all well and good being able to play in these different positions, but I want to hold down one position."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.