Bristol Rovers boss Paul Trollope today fired a warning to his side as the high-flying Pirates prepare to make the long trek east.
Rovers are currently third in the division after an excellent 3-2 win at Southampton in the week.
But Trollope is expecting a big, big test in Norfolk this weekend. The whole of League One will be well aware that City seem to be finally hitting the straps after a topsy-turvy start.
A 4-0 win over Leyton Orient on Tuesday was the thumping that the Canaries have been threatening in recent weeks.
And the Rovers boss will be wary of coming to Carrow Road in front of a near-full house.
“Norwich will provide a similar test to the one we had at Southampton in terms of the ground and the history of the club,” he told thisisbristol.co.uk.
“They have picked up in recent weeks under a new manager so it’s a similar challenge. It didn’t quite happen there for Bryan Gunn for one reason or another.
“But it’s a big club with some quality players and in Paul Lambert they have a good manager at this level who did well with Colchester.”
And Trollope is quite clear on who the big threats will be. Grant Holt and Wes Hoolahan have struck up a real rapport in recent weeks.
On paper, there can’t be many better partnerships in the division. Trollope will certainly be having a few nightmares about those two in Rovers’ Norfolk hotel tonight.
“We know the challenge that is in front of us and that it will be a tough game. Holt is a threat and Hoolahan is on fire at the moment and producing some very good displays.
“But if we can reproduce the level we have been reaching we are confident we can go there and win.
“To win late on in front of great travelling support is always a fantastic thing and I think the win at Southampton will go a long way to adding to the spirit of the group.
“You could tell from the way the people on our bench wanted to join in the celebrations how much it meant to the group as a whole and confidence is now very high.”
Rovers are expected to name an unchanged side tomorrow but Tuesday’s match-winner Andy Williams is pushing hard for a start after his wonder goal secured the points at St Mary’s.
“I see Andy as a versatile player who at the moment is making a very good impact from the bench by setting up goals and scoring goals,” he said.
“He has given me a headache and you can see arguments for him starting the next game, but you can also see arguments for him continuing his role as supersub. That’s a decision I’m going to have to make.”
Tom Haylett
Don’t forget to log on to MFW tomorrow morning for striker Chris Martin’s thoughts ahead of the Rovers clash. And if you can’t get to Carrow Road, keep up-to-date with events via our Backchat service.
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