Paddy Davitt delivers his FA Cup verdict after Norwich City’s third round replay win at Bristol Rovers.

1. Liverpool calling

The sides entered to the Rocky theme music. But it was Norwich City who landed the knock-out punches in a professional second half after Luke McCormick had rifled the League One hosts in front.

Gabby Sara, Adam Idah and Kenny McLean sealed a fourth round tie at Premier League heavyweights Liverpool. David Wagner gets the dream reunion with Jurgen Klopp. For Rovers, no fairytale, no giant-killing act. For Norwich, another shot of confidence and more momentum to build on a hard-fought Hull win.

With Jacob Sorensen back in the fold – a ‘new player’ as Wagner referred to him after the game – and Sara back in the goals, barring a groin injury for Dimi Giannoulis on the eve of the game, and Danny Batth's suspected hamstring issue in the first half, it was a night to savour.

At the final whistle, the strains of ‘We’re going to Wembley’ echoed around the away end. That will take some doing with Liverpool now in their sights. But Norwich will surely relish carrying a rare underdog tag this season.

2. Sara unshackled

Sara in a forward posting felt big for the league tussles ahead. With each passing game where he failed to add to his goal contributions tally this season it felt added urgency on Wagner to find the fix.

The Brazilian put that right - and ended a run of nine previous games without a goal or an assist - when he reacted quickest to slot Sam McCallum’s curler against the inside of a post to draw Norwich level.

The statistics tell you not only how influential Sara is to this Norwich City collective, but his status amongst the most creative assets in the Championship.

Only Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters and Swansea’s Matt Grimes have recorded more progressive passes in the second tier this season.

Only potent Leeds duo Georgino Rutter and Crysencio Summerville, along with Leicester’s lynchpin Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, have a higher expected assisted goals figure than Sara’s 7.4. Or to put it in context, Giannoulis is the next highest Norwich player in Wagner’s squad with 2.6 xAG.

Metrics which underline how key Sara is to unlocking City’s fitful productivity.

From 13 goal contributions in his first 18 league games this season to a barren spell either side of the festive period.

Form can fluctuate, but Wagner was categorical in the build up to this FA Cup tie that he had not asked Sara to curb his natural attacking instincts in the quest to concede fewer goals. One hopes his advanced deployment against Rovers is a clear signal for the future.

Sara remains an absolutely fundamental part of Norwich’s battleplan in the final third.

3. Salute Sorensen

When Batth dropped to the turf in the first half, with what appeared a muscular problem Wagner confirmed afterwards was a hamstring injury, Sorensen probably took a sharp intake of breath. With no Shane Duffy or Grant Hanley on the gig the Dane must have calculated he was in for the long haul on his first start since last season.

A campaign blighted by surgeries related to pelvic issues that surfaced in pre-season saw him make a long-awaited return in the first tie at Carrow Road.

But neither the player nor Wagner would have wanted him to go into over-time in a full-blooded, raw-boned cup contest.

With Batth’s departure, Sorensen dropped into the centre of defence to again underline his versatility. There was a few nervy moments, as Bristol’s desperation saw them commit bodies forward and the Dane found himself backtracking into the channels, but Sorensen held firm.

Few would surely begrudge him an injury-free conclusion to what at present is the final term of his current Carrow Road deal. Albeit Norwich retain a one-year option. There is much to play for in the weeks ahead, but in Wagner he has a fan.

4. The law of possession

Wagner’s pre-match admission City must rediscover a confidence in possession was a timely reminder Norwich’s renewed focus on solidity is only part of the equation to exerting greater control of Championship contests.

When a 33pc share of the ball is the highest mustered in three of the previous four league games that is not a recipe for sustained upward mobility.

Norwich shaded possession at the Memorial but it is back in league territory where the shift has to be decisive.

City’s grit, togetherness, defensive resolution and individual moments through the quality of a Jon Rowe or a Sara or even a Borja Sainz may combine to get then within range of the top six, but it will take far more to force their way into the play-off spots - that stated ambition before a ball was kicked this season.

Wagner was right to point out ahead of this cup tie all he is asking his group of players is to re-produce what they showed in the brightest parts of an inconsistent campaign.

Contrast the recent hard labour trying to mine results, with backs against the wall, with that eight-game unbeaten stretch last August that had them tucked in behind Leicester City.

Games like Southampton and Huddersfield away or Millwall at home had a clear pattern to progress the ball, with central midfielders making clever angles and raiding full backs on the same wavelength to get Norwich up the pitch in a measured style so at odds with percentage balls fired at, or in the direction, of Ashley Barnes.

It does not require slavish adherence to possession in the same manner so favoured by the likes of Daniel Farke and Russell Martin, but something sustainable within Wagner’s preferred brand of ‘full throttle, high intensity’ football.