Well, that was a bit better wasn't it?!

After a pretty tough few winless weeks marred by injury woes and suspension frustrations, smiles were back on faces at Carra on Tuesday night.

Six of the Best, the Joy of Six... there were plenty of options for the headline writers as the Canaries went goal crazy and returned to the top of the Championship high scorers table.

Yes, Wayne Rooney's Plymouth were as poor a team as we've seen in NR1 for some considerable time.

In periods of the match, complacency bred sloppiness and it was almost too easy for Johannes Hoff Thorup's men.

There was a culpable sense of relief around the stadium that the boys were back on track following three defeats and four draws.

Thanks as always to @ncfcnumbers for the stat that it was the first time City had scored six in a league game for three and a half years and only the fifth time they've done it since 1985.

A more quirky stat is that it's the first time they've scored and conceded six or more goals against the same opponent in consecutive seasons (Bristol City 0-6 and 6-1 in 1947-49).

It was definitely sweet revenge after the mauling at Home Park last season.

As well as securing the first three points since early October, there were also plenty of other positives.

The return of King Kenny was huge - and no one must ever again doubt his importance to the team.

It was great to see Ante Crnac get his goal and take another step in his development.

A header from a corner was a welcome sight, Jack Stacey got yet another assist and will certainly give Thorup a decision to make when Kellen Fisher is available again plus Emi Marcondes is showing us as each game passes what he is all about.

Oh and by the way, a 23-year-old winger who arrived on a free transfer became the top scorer in all four of English football's top divisions.

It's beginning to get harder to find superlatives to describe Borja Sainz.

Again, thanks to @ncfcnumbers the winger was the first Norwich player to score two hat-tricks before Christmas in a single season for 49 years, since Ted MacDougall in 1975/76.

His 14 league goals this season means he has outscored nine of the 92 clubs so far. That's crazy!

With his assists, Sainz has now got 16 goal contributions in City's 17 league games.

The Spaniard's scoring rate is 0.82 per game - so if he carries on at this rate he'll end the season with 37 goals!

He's already just two goals short of Josh Sargent's total for last season and one more than the American bagged in the whole of the previous campaign.

There are plenty of years in the past when Sainz's total would already be a season's best.

We had lots of debates about Borja as we walked back to the car and as we headed back along the A47.

We had never thought we'd ask the question again, but is he becoming City's best ever free transfer?

How does he compare with Teemu Pukki, Emi Buendia, Gabby Sara?

How long can we hold on to him? What number would his transfer fee start with?

Thorup was predictably asked about the hat-trick hero after the game - and was honest in his response.

"I'm not looking forward to January," said the boss.

"Hopefully when (yes, he said when not if) he travels to a bigger destination than here, then another one is ready."

I am absolutely loving watching Sainz at the moment.

As Thorup said, he's gone to another level.

He has so many incredible attributes. What stands out for me is his directness and single-minded focus on putting the ball in the net. He's on fire, he's electric.

Just imagine trying to mark him!

It's not just the awesome volume of goals Sainz has scored but the sheer quality of them.

We all know the time we have to enjoy the talisman in a City shirt is limited.

Will a club come in with a big money bid in January? Is the summer more likely? Is there any hope of his tenure in Norfolk moving closer to 2026 when his current contract runs until?

None of us fans has the answers.

All we can do is savour every minute of every game that the pint-sized magician is on the pitch.

Don't think about what we may lose - enjoy the time he is enthralling us while he is here.

Saluting the fans

I have to give a massive shout out to the hardy band of Plymouth fans who endured their team's capitulation on Tuesday.

The official coach left Home Park at 9.15am and I can only think about what time it returned.

That is some commitment to the cause - and the question has to be asked again why on earth a match with a 720-mile round trip is planned for a midweek night in November.

As temperatures have dropped this week, my column buddy Dave Hannant and I had a chat pre-match about which players may be wearing gloves.

Apart from Angus Gunn letting us down, we were both pleased that all hands were exposed to the elements.

Maybe an edict has gone out from the coaching team?

What was even more impressive is that despite the chilly evening, Shane Duffy, Kenny McLean and Forson Amankwah all sported short sleeves.

Positive side of message boards

Sadly, as we all know, not everything on social media and football message boards is positive.

There are far too many keyboard warriors who get a bizarre pleasure trolling others and spreading bile.

So it gives me a lot of pleasure to share an upbeat story about how Norwich City fans have shown how an online forum can be a force for good.

On our Pink Un website, a fantastic £25,000 has now been raised for the brilliant Community Sports Foundation from supporters making so-called Pup pledges.

A fan affectionately known as Nutty Nigel ran the initiative for many years and basically people make donations through the season on a range of Canary-related themes.

Examples are a fiver for every round City win in both cup competitions or a £2 reward for every player still here at the end of December from the 2024 Calendar or £10 if we finish higher than 10th in the league.

Some are a bit more off the wall – including  £5 if we see a fully naked pitch invader at Carrow Road this season, £10 if it’s a female!

It’s all a bit of fun and for a super cause.

Keep up the great work everyone!