SUDDENLY Cardiff doesn't seem so far away.

When a team of footballers and a football manager say they think they can win the FA Cup, you know they've got a real chance of doing it.

Normally, such things are played down until the last possible moment - it's one game at a time; anybody's capable of beating anybody; the magic of the cup and all that nonsense.

But not now.

And when you look at the teams left in the quarter-finals, it's simply impossible to play down Saints' chances.

They have proved this season they are capable of beating anybody on their day, so they rightly fear nobody and you fancy their chances no matter who they come up against.

Cup fever is sweeping the city and everybody's aware of what a great opportunity Saints have this year.

They made it into today's draw for the quarter-finals with what was ultimately a reasonably comfortable win.

It didn't seem so cut and dried in the first half, though, where Norwich worked hard and fought for everything they were worth.

Plus, with the threat of Paul McVeigh, Norwich always had at least something of a cutting edge.

The East Anglian visitors created plenty of half chances throughout the match but never seriously tested Antti Niemi with anything out of the ordinary.

Saints always looked the more likely, having hit the post after just four minutes through Brett Ormerod.

But it took a four-minute spell from the 69th minute to the 73rd to decide the fate of the match.

McVeigh twisted and turned in the Saints area and curled a beautiful shot which struck the post and rebounded to safety.

Four minutes later, the Canaries were 2-0 down and out of the cup.

With 20 minutes remaining, the excellent Chris Marsden put in a left wing cross that Ormerod knocked down for Anders Svensson to control on his chest and finish from close range.

Marsden was again involved in the second as his powerful shot was pushed out by Robert Green in the Norwich goal but only to substitute Jo Tessem.

The Norwegian hadn't been on the field more than a few seconds but needed no repeat invitation to slam home, double his side's lead and put Saints through to the next round.

Any tiny glimmer of hope that Norwich may have had of getting into the game was stamped out with nine minutes remaining when Malkay Mackay was sent off for a second bookable offence.

It was unfortunate for him personally but there were no protests, no arguments - two clear bookings and he had to walk.

Although this was not the convincing win many people had wrongly predicted, it was a good, professional performance from Saints.

It's great to see the 4-0 demolitions like against Spurs but, ultimately, all that matters in the cup is getting through to the next round.

And, if Saints do make it to Cardiff in May, not too many people will be all that concerned whether they scored six goals to get there or 60.

Fans that think Saints' name is already on the trophy are wrong.

But there's a whiff of excitement in the air.

This might just be their year - there's no reason why it can't be.