Martin salutes gritty Canary performance - with maybe a slice of luck thrown in too

Mon 16 Nov 09

City striker Chris Martin admitted that the Canaries probably got the slice of luck that has deserted them on the injury front this season during the 2-0 win over Tranmere Rovers.

It was hard going at times for the home side – partly due to a stubborn Rovers rearguard. But even the staunchest City fan would admit that they weren't at their fluent best.

It took that hotly disputed second half penalty to break the deadlock but once Wes Hoolahan slotted it away, there was only going to be one winner.

The manner of the decision angered Rovers chief Les Parry and John Welsh's adjudged handball from Adam Drury's shot did look harsh, but as Paul Lambert admitted afterwards - you win some, you lose some.

"Possibly we got a bit lucky with the penalty decision – I haven't seen it again, I'm not sure whether it was a handball or not," said Martin afterwards.

"But that was the breakthrough that we needed and then Doc slotted in another one. It was a good battling performance."

I think 'battling' is a fair description of City's showing but you certainly can't fault their desire or application. And the Beccles-born forward agreed that the visitors had come to Norfolk and set their stall out for a point – it was down to the Canaries to force the issue.

"Yes, I think so. Because our form has been so good recently, teams are doing that now. A point would have been a good result for them against a team that is in the play-offs so the lads dug in well.

"I think we did very well. Obviously at times it wasn't as pretty as we would have liked. We probably didn't play as fluently as in other games but we're dealing with most challenges that are being thrown our way.

"We need to make sure we carry that on for a long time, there is a long way to go – we're not even at Christmas yet. But as long as we keep performing as we are, we'll be alright."   Part 2 >>