Norwich got things underway with a 4-5-1 formation which illustrated the respect Peter Grant and his back room staff had shown Simon Grayson's men, the 4-5-1 quickly came a 4-3-3 on the break with Lee Croft and Darren Huckerby breaking down at pace down the flanks to partner Chris Brown.
The first chance of the afternoon came on five minutes and fell the way of the Seasiders, Keith Southern and David Fox broke up play to release Adrian Forbes down the right, his first time cross was met by Andy Morrell, but the former Coventry man could only direct his header wide of the post.
Rhys Evans was called upon for the first time on seven minutes; the keeper did well to collect a swirling right wing cross off the head of Chris Brown.
Former Preston midfielder Dickson Ethuhu drilled a shot wide on 11 minutes as Pool struggled to come to terms with the extra man in midfield.
Keith Southern tested the keeper with a bouncing strike on 13 minutes, but the on loan Celtic stopper was equal to the shot and collected with ease low down to his right.
Scott Vernon was denied by the legs of the keeper on 14 minutes, Shaun Barker, Keith Southern and David Fox combined towards Andy Morrell who intelligently dummied the ball into the path of Vernon who saw his finish blocked by the legs of the keeper.
The resulting corner saw the visitors clear with ease, a minute later Pool forced another corner this time from the left wing, but once again the Canaries cleared with ease.
At the other end Rhys Evans once again came to punch a cross off the head of Chris Brown as Norwich threatened on the counter attack.
Pool had the first of two penalty appeals turned down on 20 minutes Andy Morrell found himself through on goal and the in form striker saw his run ended prematurely by a challenge from Collin, the referee waved away the protest and Norwich countered at pace and almost took the lead when Huckerby's cross was put agonisingly wide by Brown.
Rhys Evans produced a magnificent point blank save to deny Carl Robinson after the visitors had once again broke at pace down the Pool left.
Pool were awarded a free kick on the edge of the penalty area when Andy Morrell was upended, the resulting free kick saw Pool try one of those training ground pieces, but on this occasion the set play didn't work and Norwich cleared with ease.
The pace of Darren Huckerby almost saw Pool one down on 26 minutes, the former Man City front man fired through the legs of Ian Evatt and wide of Rhys Evans left hand post.
The half hour point saw Adrian Forbes fire wide after Keith Southern once again broke up play, a minute later Michael Jackson was forced to head behind as Norwich once again countered at pace, the resulting corner saw Gary Doherty head just wide.
The visitors forced another corner on 33 minutes, this time Safri saw his cross eventually cleared by the Pool defence.
Four minutes before the break Scott Vernon almost put the Seasiders in front, Shaun Barker showed a great piece of skill to wriggle free down the right, his pull back found Scott Vernon who fired just over. Dion Dublin forced Rhys Evans into a save after Pool failed to clear a free kick from the Norwich right as the game was becoming something of an end to end affair.
Chris Foy failed to endear himself to the Pool faithful on the stroke of half time when he penalised Keith Southern for a foul on the edge of the area, Safri stepped up and saw the free kick fly off the wall and over for a corner, the resulting corner was easily cleared by the Seasiders.
In first half stoppage time Foy made another poor decision when he booked Wes Hoolahan for simulation, the tricky Irishman appeared to be sent tumbling inside the area by Adam Drury but the referee had none of it waved away the protests and booked Hoolahan for diving.
In the second minute of stoppage time the visitors snatched the lead through DARREN HUCKERBY, the pacy winger reacted quickest to Ian Evatt's deflected clearance to fire beyond Rhys Evans.
Half time Blackpool 0 Norwich City 1
The second half was just eight minutes old when Pool pulled themselves back on level terms, IAN EVATT'S rose the highest to head a David Fox free kick downward, despite a melee of players the ball flew beyond Marshall to give Evatt his first goal for the club.
Three minutes later David Fox curled a free kick over the wall put was denied by a full stretch save from David Marshall.
Chris Foy amazed the home support again on 58 minutes when he waved play on after Hoolahan was unfairly blocked on the edge of the area.
Pool were throwing everything forward Adrian Forbes fired over after a neat move down the right, at the other end Forbes was forced to clear a near post corner off the line in what was becoming a cracking cup tie.
Keith Southern was caught in possession on 64 minutes which saw Norwich almost restore their lead, the visitors raced forward and were only denied by a brave piece of goal keeping and some resilient defending.
Mid way through the second half Pool made a double change with Ben Burgess and Keigan Parker replacing Scott Vernon and Adrian Forbes.
With almost his first touch Ben Burgess could and perhaps should have put the Seasiders in the lead, some neat approach play involving Wes Hoolahan and David Fox saw the ball threaded to the big striker, but Burgess could only blaze well over.
Shortly after, Keith Southern picked up fifth yellow card of the campaign following a foul on Drury.
Ben Burgess was denied by a fantastic save from Marshall on 78 minutes, the big striker got on the end of a great cross from Keigan Parker, but with the North Stand about to erupt Marshall threw himself to his right to push behind for a corner.
Ian Evatt almost mirrored his goal on 80 minutes the big centre back met a corner from the right but this time his header flew wide.
With eight minutes remaining Chris Foy entered the fray once again, this time the merry whistle blower sent Chris Brown off for a second bookable offence. A minute later Michael Jackson joined the ever growing list of names in the book following a late challenge on Croft.
If anything Chris Foy was consistent having booked Wes Hoolahan for simulation in the first half, five minutes from time he penalised Darren Huckerby for the same offence, and judging by the reaction of those Norwich supporters Mr Foy had made another strange decision.
With seconds of normal time remaining of the game Pool almost snatched it, a long punt forward was nodded on by Ben Burgess to Keigan Parker who saw his finish saved by Marshall.
As stoppage time approached Pool made the their final change with Claus Jorgensen replacing David Fox.
With the final whistle approaching Kaspars Gorkss forced Marhsall into a brilliant save. Ben Burgess then headed a corner wide as Pool had to settle for a draw and a replay at Carrow Road on Tuesday 13th February.
Full Time Blackpool 1 Norwich 1
Pool: Evans, Barker, Jackson, Evatt, Gorkss, Forbes (Burgess 67), Southern, Fox (Jorgensen 900, Hoolahan, Vernon (Parker 67), Morrell.
