City boss Paul Lambert insisted that his side won’t feel any extra pressure if they reach the summit of League One tomorrow – at Carrow Road, there is expectation every single day.
The Canaries know that a home victory over Brentford would see them replace Leeds at the top of the pile and all eyes will be on Norfolk come 3pm.
But Lambert is adamant that it won’t change a thing. With the support City enjoy, the pressure is on 24/7.
“At this football club, it doesn’t matter,” said the Canary chief, speaking to the media at Colney this morning.
“Whatever league we are in, there is always pressure and expectation at this club because of the amount of people that come and watch us. I believe that is the way it should be.
“We would rather be at the top looking down. As I’ve said before, all you can do is eat away at Leeds’ lead.
“I think people get carried away with what has happened and just think we are going to keep going. I have been in the game too long for me to get complacent.
“We have done brilliantly and we are in amongst it that’s for sure. People should not get carried away with things but we are going well as a club on and off the pitch which is pleasing.”
With the Canaries in such a rich vein of form – with 11 wins in their last 13 games – many are finally starting to believe that the league title is a realistic aim.
And according to Lambert, the much talked about ‘blip’ may never materialise. City will just keep going and going…
“The blip may never come. I’m pretty sure that if you asked the Arsenal team the same thing when they were unbeaten, they would have said they could win every game.
“I always think, and it may be naivety, that we can win every game home and away. Whether we do, we will have to wait and see.”
In team news, the only new injury concern is over Adam Drury, after the left-back picked up an ankle knock in last week’s 5-0 romp at Colchester.
Elsewhere, there was some good news regarding long-term absentee Michael Spillane after the young defender returned to full training this week.
“We will see how Adam is today. It was a knock from Saturday; he was feeling better yesterday so we will see how he is feeling today.
“Adam has been brilliant for me this season and is probably playing at the top of his game at the moment.
“Michael has trained with us in the last few days which is pleasing. He needs fitness and maybe a few reserve games, but he’s hopefully not that far away.”
If Drury makes tomorrow’s Bees clash then expect the Canaries to be unchanged. But Lambert knows that he has real strength in depth for the first time in a while, with Oli Johnson and Zak Whitbread staking their claims.
Whitbread has clearly not been brought to Norfolk to sit on the bench and after Johnson’s goal-scoring cameo against the U’s, is the Scot tempted to freshen things up?
“I think that if you are in there, you’re in on merit – I don’t think tiredness becomes an issue,” continued Lambert at today’s weekly pre-match bulletin.
“We have had nearly the same team for last few weeks and there is not one player better than the other. But you can only pick 11 players.
“I have to pick a team that will win. It’s hard to keep everyone happy and the rest of the lads know it’s hard to break into a team that’s doing well.
“When you are on form that’s what the lads have to face, but I have to pick a team I believe can win.
“For someone to come in and dislodge our front line at the moment will be tough. But Oli has come on and been brilliant.
“He is still young and only came out of non league football 15 months ago. But he has come to club and been fantastic for us.”
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