City boss Paul Lambert has revealed he will not approach tomorrow’s vital clash at Huddersfield any differently, despite facing the challenge of breaking Town’s unbeaten home record.
Lee Clark’s men have been patchy on the road and have indeed lost their last two encounters – at Southampton and Gillingham.
But at the Galpharm Stadium they are a formidable outfit and it’s their home results which are keeping the Terriers’ play-off dreams alive.
Lambert doesn’t, however, have any special plans in place for the trip to west Yorkshire. The league leaders will play their own game and with any luck, come back with another three vital points.
And with Swindon and Leeds next up, the Canaries will just go about their business in the normal manner. There are no easy games according to the Scot.
“Every game is hard, every game has a hurdle in front of it; you have to get over it. This game will be no different,” he said this morning, speaking at his pre-match press briefing.
“We are playing well, Huddersfield have been beaten in the last couple of games but they are still trying to get in the play-offs.
“We have to go there and try and win the game. We’ll have 3,000 fans there so we will be ready for them. We will play our game, our way and try to counterfeit what they have got.
“You need to try and win your home games and pick up points away from home and we seem to have done that. As I have said before the lads have been brilliant and we will go up there and try win another game.”
Lambert admitted that he has his team nailed down already but the Canary chief wasn’t about to give anything away. With Darel Russell returning from suspension, it will be interesting to see if the experienced midfielder is thrust straight back in.
One option would be to switch Wes Hoolahan to the left with Simon Lappin making way but that seems unlikely, with Lambert a confirmed admirer of the former St Mirren man and the balance he gives the Canary eleven.
But whatever side lines up tomorrow, the City boss praised the collective effort during Russell’s absence and he’s clearly pleased with a squad that can mix and match when needs must.
“The lads have been brilliant for me and it was the same situation as when Grant [Holt] was out,” continued the Scot.
“Cody [McDonald] came in and did a fantastic job for me and Oli [Johnson] came in and did great. The only game we lost then was at Millwall and we have won every game since Rusty [Russell] has been out.
“Every player was a major part then and they are a major part now so whatever team I pick it’s one that will try and win the game.”
One player who should have no worries about making way for the returning former City trainee is Korey Smith; the midfield dynamo was outstanding in last weekend’s 3-0 win over Yeovil.
And Lambert is delighted with the progress Smith has made, despite sounding a little warning at what may lie ahead.
“Korey has come in and done exceptionally well for us. But his next season will be a big, big test for him as people will expect things from him.
“We just have to remember he is only 18, but he has been brilliant for us. Sometimes you can wait for young players to tire and sometimes it does not happen.
“He seems to be one of those lads that just keeps on going and his form has never really dipped either. The only time I left him out was due to his hamstring and his form has never come down to level where I thought he needed a rest.”
Apart from a possible midfield change to accommodate Russell, it should be a case of ‘same again’. But the Norwich chief did reveal that defender Adam Drury will travel with the squad, after returning from injury in the midweek reserves win at Southend.
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