CHRIS LAKEY Peter Grant will warn his players of the perils of complacency when League Two minnows Barnet come to Carrow Road for the first round of the Carling Cup tonight.

CHRIS LAKEY

Peter Grant will warn his players of the perils of complacency when League Two minnows Barnet come to Carrow Road for the first round of the Carling Cup tonight.

The Canaries boss knows first-hand what damage can be done when so-called smaller teams are taken too lightly - he was a victim of a Barnet giant-killing a decade ago when City went out over two legs at the same stage of the competition.

It was only Grant's second game for City and the Canaries, having won the first leg 2-1, were cruising thanks to Iwan Roberts' opener at Underhill. Then disaster struck as the underdogs hit back with three goals in 12 minutes.

"I have never been so comfortable in a game," he recalled. "Then all of a sudden the roof caved in. Barnet deserved to win, okay they only played for 10 or 15 minutes, but in that 10, 15 minutes they deserved to win the game and it shows the capabilities of the so-called lesser teams.

"People talk about if you don't prepare properly - you don't do your job properly you will be punished."

Grant insists he has done his homework on Paul Fairclough's Bees.

"Since the draw we have probably seen Barnet more than their supporters have seen then," he said. "I think that is the respect - we played Chelsea last season and we did the same preparation for the likes of Chelsea in the FA Cup and we will do the exact same for Barnet, because you want to win games of football, that's what we want to do.

"We know Barnet have done very well, they have got a very good mix of youth and experience and a manager who has been about at various levels.

"They will have done their homework and they will come here thinking what a great opportunity to come and play. They are a team that can play if you give them time and space."

Grant has been blessed with a rare home cup draw for City - the last time was January 2006 when City entertained West Ham in the third round of the FA Cup - and says he would be content to forego money-spinning draws against the Premiership big boys if it meant a good run in the competition.

"We are here to win games, nothing else," he said. "You are here to go as far in the cup as you possibly can. I think I proved that the time I was here last year, I want to win every game we play.

"All you ask for in the cup is home runs and you hope that is enough to make you perform and get the results. The way you approach every game is to go to the next round. I don't care who we play, I want to get to the next round.

"If you get all the way to the final without playing anybody I'd be absolutely delighted - I'm not one of these ones who look for a big draw and hope to make money. I am only bothered about getting to the next round."