It was far from a repeat of last season's humbling – but the disappointment at losing out to 10-man Manchester City still hurts, according to Russell Martin.

It was far from a repeat of last season's humbling – but the disappointment at losing out to 10-man Manchester City still hurts, according to Russell Martin.

Carrow Road was treated to a seven-goal thriller in rounding off 2012 and while the Canaries were never able to recover from Edin Dzeko's lighting quick two-goal salvo notched in the opening five minutes – despite Samir Nasri's sending-off on the stroke of half-time – the Premier League champions were given an almighty scare.

It wasn't the 6-1 thrashing City were dealt by Roberto Mancini's men in March, but defeat left City pointless over their festive programme following Chelsea's win in Norfolk on Boxing Day and ahead of tomorrow's trip to West Ham United.

'It's frustrating,' said Martin, whose own brace brought the full-back his first goals of the year in its final match.

'We have come away frustrated not to get something out of the game against the champions of the Premier League and the disappointment is the goals we have conceded, because you know the quality they possess. If you give them half a chance they will take it.

'We found that out last year and it's not like us to concede two early goals like that. We have shown a lot of character to get back into it. Even though they have gone down to 10 men we shouldn't have conceded the goals we did.

'But we did and we were still fighting at the end, and I think we were unlucky to come away without anything in the end.

'It was one of those games – which hasn't been like us at all. We have been solid and consistent, and we have waited for the chance to break. But this was you attack, we attack. Some games transpire like that.

'They are a team that want to attack and get lots of players forward, so there is lots of space to exploit and the boys gave a massive effort today, especially with the way we played against Chelsea – we were gutted not to get anything then as well.

'The lads have come off absolutely shattered and gutted we haven't got anything.'

Having missed six weeks of the season with a back injury sustained at Aston Villa, Martin is being given his chance again following the hip knock to Steven Whittaker.

And while the right-back is enjoying his prolonged return to action – and now to goals – he would rather be experiencing wins.

'It's nice to score, really nice and especially at home,' he said.

'But it means nothing at the end of the day apart from you might get a little clip on Match of the Day or something like that.

'The second one I just stuck my leg out and it went in – I thought he was going to save it with his head at one point. Later on I said to Turns (Michael Turner) I'm going to get another one, but it didn't happen.

'I really enjoyed it apart from the defeat – it was some game to play in and it must have been a good game to watch, that's for sure.'

Martin had no issue with their visitors stringing the game out as they tried to secure their 12th win of term – 'We would have done the same thing if I'm being honest' – but was happy to compare Norwich's two 2012 fixtures with the Premier League champions as marking their top-flight progress.

'Well we were in the game a lot more than last year, although even last year we were in it until 60 or 70 minutes when it really opened up – but when we do go behind now I think we are a lot harder to breakdown at times,' he added.

'But it is trying to get the balance between being a threat as well and today I thought we did that quite well, especially from set pieces and things like that.

'But with the quality they have got you can't give them the chances we gave them.'