City goal hero Chris Martin insisted that the feel-good factor is alive and well at Carrow Road after the Canaries swept aside Premier League Newcastle yesterday.
The 2-1 victory, in which Martin netted twice, saw home debuts for many of this summer’s signings. But despite Paul Lambert bringing seven new signings to the club, Martin revealed that it hasn’t affected the mood in camp.
Far from it – the League One champions are buzzing.
“The lads are still on a bit of a high from last season I think,” said the Beccles-born striker, speaking to reporters after the game.
“Having the ones here from last season has done the lads who have come in good. They can feel there is a bit of a buzz around the club and the city from last season.
“But we need to forget what happened last year now and knuckle down for the Championship this season, which is going to be a different challenge all together.
“We are slowly getting ready for it and we showed [against Newcastle] that we can only keep getting better and better.”
Yesterday’s victory was certainly an impressive one, with the home side playing plenty of attractive football against their top flight visitors.
Messrs Crofts, Jackson, Fox, Surman and Ward looked the part and after a poor week on the road with those goalless trips to Stevenage and Dagenham and Redbridge, Canary supporters will have left the stadium in confident mood.
“We can take a lot of positives from that match,” continued Martin, who looked sharp up top with new boy Simeon Jackson.
“We played really well and had a lot of possession against them. The lads played some great stuff and we can take plenty of positives from that going forward.
“A few people might have been worried [after the two midweek friendlies] but I don’t think we were personally.
“We trust each other and the manager trusts the players that go out on the pitch to get him goals. I don’t think we would play if he didn’t to be honest.
“We just need to keep playing our football and the team showed that when we play, it is free flowing and that creates plenty of chances; as long as we are creating then the goals will come. I’m sure that come the first game of the season, we will score plenty of goals.”
Martin played the full 90 minutes against the Toon and boss Lambert ‘only’ made the five changes yesterday, with thoughts slowly turning to that Championship opener against Watford.
And the City Academy product, who was in lethal form last year in the third tier, feels all the better for it. Oh and by the way, the second goal – a header from Anthony McNamee’s cross- was definitely his. Honest.
“That was also a big positive for some of us lads as it is the first time we have got a full 90 minutes and that is really good for fitness.
“I think the second flicked off me and the defender as well. But I will definitely be claiming it – you have to get them from wherever you can.”
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