Tonight's clash with Charlton Athletic has brought back some mixed memories for Norwich City manager Neil Adams – and his assistant Mark Robson.

The pair both played in a previous meeting of the two clubs, which ended in a dramatic 4-4 draw in February 1997, with both of them on the scoresheet.

Two goals from Adams and two from Darren Eadie had seen the Canaries 4-2 ahead with six minutes remaining, with Robson scoring once for the club he played over 100 games for.

'Mark Robson played in that 4-4 game when I scored two, he scored one for them, so 2-1 for me,' the City boss joked.

'I remember that game really well, we were 4-2 up, they had 10 men and we conceded two late, late goals and Mike Walker absolutely ripped us to pieces at full-time, as you can imagine.'

Adams is hoping he will not have to do the same to his players after tonight's Carrow Road clash but knows not to take the Addicks lightly, following an unbeaten start to their league season.

'Full credit to them, any unbeaten record, I know they've drawn six games but to not be beaten in nine games is a really good achievement,' Adams continued.

'They're organised, Bob (Peeters, Charlton manager) has got them playing, we've obviously had a good look at them and it's up to us to end their unbeaten run.'

Adams may face a similar battle to that evening of 17 years ago though; against complacency.

Clearly the Canaries of 1997 lost that battle but now Adams plans to make sure his league leaders do not start believing the hype surrounding their Championship title hopes.

'We're top of the table, we're only nine games in, that's the thing for me,' the former midfielder said. 'Not that it's no good being top of the table now, it is in May, but where would you want to be now, you'd want to be top.

'But nobody is getting carried away, it's good start that's all it is, it's not 20 games in or 30 games in, so everybody's feet will be firmly on the ground because as we know whichever team you come across in this division, if we're not at it, they can cause us a problem or two.'

If City are to beat the Addicks, they will have to get past a defence with two centre-backs of vast experience.

Former Reading man Andre Bikey is joined by Premier League journeyman Tal Ben-Haim, with well over 400 appearances in English football between the two of them.

'Experience is the key there, two talented players who have been around the block and know the division and have played at a high level,' Adams said of the pairing.

'You'd have to ask them if that's the foundation for their unbeaten run but it's certainly going to play a large part of it when you've got two experienced players and a defence that can defend well as a group, but obviously those two will have played a big part.'