Norwich City manager Paul Lambert shows he still hasn't lost the old touch. Picture: Paul Chesterton / Focus Images

Norwich City boss Paul Lambert delighted by reaction to loss of centre backs

Paddy Davitt Monday, February 6, 2012
12:13 PM

Paul Lambert is still playing the numbers game – but even the Norwich chief was prepared to accept City had just edged a pivotal Premier League contest in their survival bid.

Lambert has batted away all suggestions the Canaries’ serene progress through the New Year period had gone most of the way to securing another season of top flight football.

After losing both centre backs to injury before half-time against Bolton; triggering the type of defensive reshuffle Lambert would not have countenanced in his worst nightmare, the hosts stormed back to sink Wanderers in the final quarter.

Andrew Surman’s volley and Anthony Pilkington’s close range hit moved Lambert’s men 12 points clear of the Trotters, who now occupy the final relegation spot.

City’s goal difference is also substantially healthier than any of the bottom four clubs – an equation Lambert admits that is now stacking up favourably in the Canaries’ favour ahead of the run-in.

“We’ve had some terrific results of late and that is another one that might, just might keep us in the league,” he said. “Considering the manner of how we got beat the other day as well. We got beat purely through the better team winning on that night. But that was the first time in my time here (in the league) that we never got going.

“We needed a response and it was magnificent. It keeps our heads above water, which is a thing that I want to do. If this club stays in this league, it will be terrific. It’s when somebody tells me that’s it, that’s the time I’ll rest. When someone says it’s mathematically certain, then I’ll be okay.”

Lambert was moved to label his 127th Norwich game as the best so far – given the freakish circumstances that robbed him of both Dani Ayala and Zak Whitbread to suspected hamstring injuries.

Russell Martin and Kyle Naughton forged an unlikely centre back pairing with Elliott Bennett following up his brief cameo at left-back against QPR to complete the full set on the opposite flank.

“That is as good as I have seen in my three years here because of the circumstances and the desire they showed. I thought they were absolutely brilliant,” he said. “They were fantastic. I can’t remember two defenders going down like that. It is a blow losing two of your big defenders because they are so good in the air. Bolton are a big side, so to have Russell and Kyle there with Elliott playing right-back was colossal.

“Kyle is knee-high to a grasshopper so it just shows you the commitment and the desire. You know that someone like Kevin Davies is always going to be a handful, but I thought Russell and Kyle were excellent. I thought we deserved to win the game. We were dominate from the off and could have had a couple more goals.”

Ayala’s right hamstring was causing Lambert the more immediate concern in the aftermath of the win after stretching for a sliding block tackle with Bolton’s Chris Eagles.

Whitbread also departed the scene before the break stretching his right leg and both will now undergo further tests by the club’s medical staff during the early part of this week to assess the extent of the damage.

Lambert was holding back on potential timescales the duo could be sidelined. The double injury blow paved the way for Martin to return to the fray after the defender had started on the bench following his heavy workload.

“Dani has done a hamstring and Zak felt a bit of tightness. We don’t know at this stage but Daniel’s looks worse than Zak. Hopefully Zak will be okay,” was Lambert’s initial injury prognosis. “With Russell, I just felt the amount of games he has played, not just this season but last season, and the level he has been playing at, he could do with a breather.”

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20 comments

Wardy dun good!

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Mad Brewer

Sunday, February 12, 2012
Sogstar has a good point ref. Ward. He didn`t even get a run-out in the Reserve match v Liverpool. No match practice is not good news with Whitbread & Ayala possibly or probably not fit and with Swansea coming up. What`s happened to Barnett? What`s really happening with Tierney? Again, as Sogstar said,is there anyway we can get our player, Ryan Bennett, from Peterborough sooner rather than later? Or is PL going to trust the allegedly vertically-challenged partnership of Cafu & The Grasshopper in central defence once more? ILWT. OTBC. etc.

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Mad Brewer

Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Ged, Ged be an ol` dear, Git you a gorn and stay outta here. With acknowledgements to the Singing Postman.

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Mad Brewer

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Ged Ged whoever you maybe, You wear Blue in your home county, It could be worse, you could be... hmmm i can't think of anything worse, even death would be better than going to Portaloo Road each week. OTBC! ILWT!

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NCFCtillidie

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Oh Ged please stop...Oh my aching sides Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha !!!

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Timbo

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
A Pink Legend? Sounds good to me? Total Shambles? Win 2 nil against a team that turned over King Kenny's troops a couple of weeks ago? So many questions Ged, a master pundit? No stick to debating, you are a master at that.

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RoadWarrior

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Class anagram, Swiss. OTBC.

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Mad Brewer

Monday, February 6, 2012
Nothing to say but positives about our beloved club these days. The players, management, and the fans are all quite superb. OTBC!!

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Mellow_Yellow

Monday, February 6, 2012
We lacked so much strength at the back that we kept a clean sheet. Though this might make sense in another reality, those of us on Planet Earth see it differently. BTW "Pink Un Legend" is an anagram of "Needling Punk".

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Swiss Canary

Monday, February 6, 2012
He has been missing for so long but he is back with the same old glum pessimistic comments that really are applicable to Ipswich, is he on the wrong site?

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blackdog2

Monday, February 6, 2012
Ged, this is ridiculous even by your own low standards. How have you been proved right? Ah, I see, in the way you were against Chelsea, where you predicted an easy Chelsea win and that Torres would score ...

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Johnny Gavin Lives

Monday, February 6, 2012
That picture of PL is utter class. BOOM! What a big win without our main CB partnership.. maybe Ips*** should play without theirs and see if they do better?

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YorkCanary

Monday, February 6, 2012
WELL PUT MAD BREWER. O.T.B.C.

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yarco

Monday, February 6, 2012
But unlike you, they did not need boxing gloves to keep a clean sheet. By "lacking strength at the back" do you mean spineless? You should know.

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Mad Brewer

Monday, February 6, 2012
What a shambles. Just goes to show that the fitness levels of our players aren't what they should be. It also highlights the ridiculous effort of our management team in the transfer window, signing a player and then loaning him back straight away, what were they thinking!! I've been saying that we lacked any strength in depth at the back all season and yet again I've been proved right. That's why I'm a Pinkun legend.

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Ged Steroo

Monday, February 6, 2012
Could Lambo loan Wardy to Peterbro so we can have Bennett for Swansea game? Wardy needs match practise.

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Soglio Star

Monday, February 6, 2012
The whole makeshift defence was magnificent but great performances were given all over the pitch. I was particularly impressed by Russell Martin. Dropped for what would have been his hundredth game he came on and marshalled the defence brilliantly. He has impressed me since playing a major part in the away win at Wycombe at new year in League 1. He has scored vital goals and lets not forget forced Bogdan into error for the Pilkington goal on Saturday. Also the manager's faith in Surman is beginning to bear fruit. He is now imposing himself on games and is scoring with left foot, right foot and head!

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burnhamcanary

Monday, February 6, 2012
Paul, get back on your Nelson Hotline ! OTBC

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augustuspablo

Monday, February 6, 2012
The thing is there is no whinging, no excuses. The players are adaptable and committed. This IS our budget version of "Total Football", like Holland used to do. Elliott Bennett is becoming another version of Cafu Martin. As for that vertically challenged Naughton-good man. Sign him! OTBC.

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Mad Brewer

Monday, February 6, 2012
Last time we were in the premiership we struggled to field eleven good players with 'thin' backup on the bench. This time we have a quality squad with an excellent choice of players. I think we'll finish in the top half of the table. Hope these two are not out for long but other clubs will have their injury problems too.

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cutty

Monday, February 6, 2012