According to City midfielder Matty Pattison, the Canaries must forget about Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to Blackpool sooner rather than later – and where better to start another unbeaten run than at Vicarage Road tomorrow night.
It was a difficult afternoon against the Seasiders; City did not look at their best and as boss Glenn Roeder admitted afterwards, too many people had an off day.
They were sluggish for long periods and despite Jamie Cureton's second-half penalty reducing the arrears, a Canary comeback didn't really look on the cards.
And the man who won that penalty, Pattison, agreed with Roeder's assessment. To be fair to the South African, his performance was one of only very few positives to take from the game and his driving display from midfield ? after he replaced clash of heads victim Mark Fotheringham ? could mean a starting slot at Watford tomorrow.
But, it is a team game after all. And the former Newcastle man was in agreement that it was just a very bad day at the office.
“We didn't really turn up,” said Pattison. “We weren't first to the ball and we should have worked harder on keeping the ball better.
“We trained well all week so we can't put it down to any of the training. It was just a bad day at the office really. Let's hope it was a one-off.
“You can't put it down to our trip to Spain. It was good weather, good pitches, and we trained well. Everyone put it in.”
Despite City's lacklustre showing, let's give Blackpool some credit here. They were certainly one of the better sides City have faced this season and they were as good as the Canaries were bad.
Not many teams come to Carrow Road and make a real fist of it but even after their opening goal, they went looking for more. The Tangerines played with real confidence and panache and their 2-1 triumph in Norfolk now puts them ahead of Roeder's men in the table on goal difference.
Any lingering relegation fears have surely now been extinguished and Seasiders boss Simon Grayson can now relax knowing that his side will be a Championship club again next season.
Let's remember they even had Paul Dickov ? who was touted as their main dangerman ? on the sidelines with a hamstring strain but his deputy, Stephen McPhee, certainly made sure they didn't miss the Scot by netting twice.
And Pattison agreed that Blackpool had came, seen and conquered.
“Blackpool played some good stuff. We knew they had good players but they played some really good stuff out there.”
But in terms of City's attacking prowess, the 21-year-old was at the heart of all things good and his driving run made the penalty after a clever through ball from Cureton.
Whether it was a spot-kick or not is debatable if we are all being honest. It could well have been outside the box, and according to Grayson, the amount of contact was thrown into doubt by some sections of the Blackpool team afterwards.
There was even the argument that the 'offender', Shaun Barker, should have been sent off for his troubles as Pattison was in fact the last man and through on goal. All in all, it was a confusing one. Who would be a referee hey?
But Pattison insisted he was definitely tripped, and that in plenty of other encounters, Barker would have been taking an early bath.
“He definitely caught me,” Pattison added. “My touch was a bit heavy when I ran into the box but he definitely caught me. Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't.
“Should it have been a red card? That's what they say isn't it. Maybe I was the last man. I'm not trying to get anyone sent off but that's what the referees normally do, that is the rule. Maybe he should have been sent off.”
Whether Pattison has done enough to force his way back into the starting line-up for tomorrow night's clash in Hertfordshire, we'll have to see.
But Kieran Gibbs endured a difficult afternoon in the engine room and Roeder and Co may see the South African's combative nature as a must against what will be a typically physical and robust Watford side.
You get the feeling Pattison would relish such a contest?
“We know what Watford are like. They like a fight and a scrap so it will be a hard game. But I'm always going to put it in. I like tackling, getting stuck in and winning headers. That is a big part of my game.”
And as all eyes turn to the trip down the A11 tomorrow evening, Pattison revealed that they must put the Seasiders defeat to bed as quickly as possible.
The gaffer certainly had; no teacup throwing, no ranting and raving. All thoughts must now be trained on Watford, and an opportunity for City to continue their impressive away form ? Leicester aside.
“The manager isn't happy but he's not one to throw things around the dressing room. He's quite calm and he said we've just got to look forward to Tuesday and forget about it.”
Tom Haylett
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