A fuel nozzle assembly comprising an annular slot surrounding a fuel nozzle, the annular slot having gas passages for feeding a gas into the slot and against an opposing wall of the slot. A method of operating a gas turbine engine including directing a gas flow into and across the slot against an opposing wall of the slot to generate a circulating gas flow filling the slot, the gas flow passing into the slot through one or more gas outlets within the slot and thereafter said gas flow exiting the slot into the combustion chamber, the gas outlets spaced away from the closed end of the slot. A gas turbine engine comprising a slot formed in a fuel nozzle assembly, the slot having one or more gas passages extending through a wall of the slot and feeding a gas into the slot against a another wall of the slot.