City boss Paul Lambert has admitted that his side didn't do enough to emerge victorious today after Walsall frustrated the Canaries in a dull 0-0 draw.
It brings an end to City's winning run in League One and even though he pointed to another clean sheet as a positive, the Scot certainly had no complaints at the result.
With two victories in succession against Wycombe and Hartlepool, hopes were high of making it three in a row.
But it was a flat occasion and the visitors will be delighted at taking a point back to the west midlands.
In truth, Lambert's men struggled to create many clear cut chances and although the Saddlers were disciplined and organised, so did they.
This one had 0-0 written all over it…
“A draw was probably a fair result. We didn't do enough to win the game � but we certainly didn't deserve to lose it,” Lambert told the press afterwards.
“We were more dogged than spectacular. But if you'd have said to me when I came in that we'd get seven points from nine, I'd have taken it.
“I'm a big believer that if you're not going to win, if it's not going to be your day, then you make sure you don't lose. That might turn out to be a big point at the end of the season, you just don't know.
“There are some positives; I'm not going to moan about a point. As I said before, the club was dead on its feet and we needed a run at it � which we've done.”
City's best chance of getting maximum points was through a Michael Nelson header in the 63rd minute but the goal was disallowed for a foul on the Saddlers goalkeeper, with Grant Holt thought to be the culprit.
But even afterwards the details were sketchy and most inside Carrow Road were certainly scratching their heads when the goal was chalked off.
Add the fact that substitute Cody McDonald could, and should, have been given a penalty after a shirt pulling incident in the 70th minute and it all points towards a frustrating day for the Norfolk club.
“I never really saw it [the incident which led to the disallowed goal] to be honest,” said Lambert afterwards. “There must have been an infringement before it reached Nelson.
“I don't think the foul was against Michael but it's happened, we didn't get the goal, and we have to get on with it.
“As I said, I didn't really see it but if we're going to go down that road, then why wasn't it a penalty on Cody McDonald? It was a stonewall penalty, you cannot defend the indefensible.”
But despite his frustrations, Lambert was keen to stress it wasn't all doom and gloom. Another clean sheet on the board, their third in a row, was certainly a positive – especially after the manner in which they started the campaign.
“I'm a big believer that if you're not going to win, if it's not going to be your day, then you make sure you don't lose,” Lambert continued.
“That might turn out to be a big point at the end of the season, you just don't know. There are some positives; I'm not going to moan about a point.
“Sometimes it's harder to play with the crowd than against it. It's easy to come here and play without fear because nobody expects anything.
“It's up to us to make the running as the home team. You have to earn the right. Walsall are not just going to turn up and say 'go on, do what you want with it'. They are going to make it hard.”
Whilst there were some lacklustre performances, one player who did shine was Fraser Forster, the on-loan Newcastle 'keeper who was making his home debut.
And Lambert reserved his last words for someone who could well prove key to City's chances � especially now Ben Alnwick has returned to sender.
“He's going to have a massive career I think. He wasn't too far away from being involved in their first team. The lad has certainly got the stature and the presence.”
Tom Haylett
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