If A half-full Hillsborough was further evidence of the declining appeal of the FA Cup, the point was probably lost on Ritchie Humphreys. The young Sheffield Wednesday striker had not scored since grabbing two in a third-round tie at Grimsby two years ago today but, after a first-half double which killed off Norwich's chances of an upset, four of his seven career goals have now come on the road to Wembley.
As if that was not enough, Humphreys also played a significant part in Wednesday's third goal, heading Andy Hinchcliffe's long cross-field pass into the path of Petter Rudi in the 39th minute. Andy Booth, who failed a late fitness test on his ankle injury to hand Humphreys his sixth start of the season, must now be worried about regaining his place.
"It's going to be a nice dilemma," said Wednesday's manager Danny Wilson. "I thought Ritchie was excellent today. I thought with the work-rate he's been putting in recently, he deserved rewards and he got them today. Any young player is going to have a dip but we've always had confidence in him.
"He finished his goals well and it'll do his confidence the world of good."
However, even yesterday Humphreys was never more than a willing foil for the real star of the show, Benito Carbone. The little Italian was a delight and set up each of Humphreys's goals, first spotting an unlikely one-two for his partner to finish clinically, then chipping with precision after being set free by an intelligent pass from Niclas Alexandersson; on this occasion Humphreys's header was saved and his subsequent effort bravely blocked by Matt Jackson, but he had the persistence to make it third time lucky.
Some of Carbone's less savoury antics made him about as popular with the noisy and numerous Norwich support as his compatriot Paolo Di Canio is with the Wednesday fans. An outrageous dive after his failure to win an early header against Jackson, roughly twice his height, ensured that every subsequent touch was booed and, after setting up Humphreys's second, his gesture towards the travelling Norwich support was downright inflammatory.
After Rudi's goal Wednesday were able to hit cruise control. Iwan Roberts pulled one back for Norwich before the interval as Pavel Srnicek was left floundering by a Neil Adams corner, but Dejan Stefanovic re-established the three-goal cushion on 72 minutes after City's keeper Michael Watt had failed equally miserably to deal with a typically wicked Hinchcliffe set piece.
Afterwards, Bruce Rioch bemoaned his Side's defensive frailties: "I hope we've learnt a great deal from the game. The three major attacks they had in the first-half resulted in goals.
"The only times they got in behind us and stretched us, they scored. It's a sign of Premiership players that they punish you when you make errors and you don't defend properly against them."
Wednesday's fans, few that there were, could go home a little more cheered than of late. The numerous empty blue seats, and a low-key atmosphere early on, showed how much Wednesday could use a good Cup run. Maybe it will even cure Di Canio's depression, although after his latest sick note ("It's getting like Darren Anderton," joked Wilson) he continues to be linked with Atletico Madrid.
Sheffield Wednesday: Srnicek, Atherton, Jonk (Sonner 45), Walker, Carbone, Humphreys, Stefanovic, Hinchcliffe, Thome (Briscoe 78), Rudi, Alexandersson. Subs Not Used: Pressman, Magilton, Morrisson. Goals: Humphreys 18, 33, Rudi 40, Stefanovic 73.
Norwich City: Watt, Sutch, Fuglestad, Grant, Mackay (Forbes 79), Jackson, Adams, L. Marshall (Fleming 79), Roberts, Eadie, Llewellyn. Subs Not Used: A. Marshall, Russell, Coote. Booked: Jackson. Goals: Roberts 45.
Referee: P Rejer (Leamington Spa).
