City chief Lambert not overly concerned at the lack of goals. It's all about fitness, fitness, fitness

City boss Paul Lambert admitted that it was a tough night in east London as the Canaries went down to a 1-0 defeat at Dagenham and Redbridge.

After Tuesday’s 0-0 stalemate at Steveange and the loss at Victoria Road last night, it’s been a goalless week for the League One champions.

But the Scot isn’t overly concerned and to be fair to the Canary chief, he has always maintained that results don’t mean too much at this stage of pre-season.

Saying that, Lambert will be hoping his side can step it up a gear tomorrow when Newcastle United come to town, after a 24th minute Gavin Tomlin goal sealed their fate yesterday evening.

“It was very tough,” Lambert told the club’s official website.  “But the game is there to get people fit and match-fit and we’ve got another tough game against Newcastle on Saturday.

“We can’t expect to turn up at any football ground and just get a result, albeit a pre-season friendly. The main thing for me is to get people fit and get ready for the Watford game.”

As their lack of goals suggests, the Canaries didn’t create too many chances despite a late rally.  And while Lambert will be hoping they can add a cutting edge to their play, he isn’t going to press the panic button just yet.

“I was disappointed in the first-half but we did better in the second-half,” continued the City boss.  “The main thing for me remains getting players fit, not picking up any injuries and getting ready for the Watford game and we’ve still got three games to go.”

It was another evening where sweeping changes were made, with eight substitutes introduced into the action on 60 minutes. 

But it was the absentees, one in particular, who provided the talking point for the 254 travelling supporters, with skipper Grant Holt again missing with his ‘niggle’.

The two Scots, Stephen Hughes and Steve Smith, were also not in attendance and Lambert revealed afterwards that the trio are unlikely to face the Toon in tomorrow’s first showpiece friendly of the summer.

There was one piece of good news, however, with new signing Elliott Ward making his first appearance since agreeing a Bosman free transfer in June.

City: Ruddy (Steer 60); Francomb, Ward (R Martin 45), Tudur Jones (Nelson 60), Gordon (Drury 60); Gill, K Smith (Crofts 60), Lappin (Surman 60), McNamee; Jackson (Dawkin 60), C Martin (Johnson 60).