Grant Holt celebrates his second goal in today's thrilling 3-2 Premier League win at Swansea. Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd.

Paul Lambert - Norwich City’s win at Swansea was deserved

Paddy Davitt, EDP Sports Writer Saturday, February 11, 2012
6:04 PM

Paul Lambert saluted a “massive” display from Norwich in today’s epic 3-2 Premier League win at Swansea.

The Canaries became only the second side after champions Manchester United to triumph at the Liberty Stadium this campaign in a pulsating contest. Grant Holt’s brace and Anthony Pilkington’s deflected strike in a burst after the interval cancelled out Danny Graham’s slick early opener. The former Watford man then grabbed his second from the penalty spot after Holt pulled back Ashley Williams late on to set up a frenetic finish. Graham slid wide from seven yards and John Ruddy was forced to acrobatically tip over Steven Caulker’s powerful header to complete a memorable league double.

“Yeah I thought we were excellent,” said a delighted Lambert. “The lads deserved it. I thought the passing was great. I thought the enthusiasm to go and press the game was great. (Andrew) Surman should have made it 1-1 in the first half but I thought after the break we were excellent.

“As I said yesterday (Friday) I believe we have got a threat. That was evident here. Last weekend was probably the best in my time because of what happened to the two centre backs. Even today Wardy (Elliott Ward) first game back since July was fantastic. Massive, massive performance. It has been a long road for him.”

Ward was forced to play on in the closing stages after taking a whack on his right leg. Adam Drury and Elliott Bennett were also withdrawn with knocks whilst Kyle Naughton was a virtual passenger in the final seconds.

“Adam did his groin,” said Lambert. “Elliott Bennett had to come off because he felt something in a block tackle. Wardy felt something towards the end but he had to play on. Kyle was on his last legs. He got a bang on the side of his knee - so we’ll see how he is.”

Lambert confirmed centre back Zak Whitbread “was nowhere near” featuring in south Wales after his hamstring injury against Bolton the previous weekend.

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78 comments

800k per place would be brilliant news,88mil last year,plus 60mil+ this year,a sqaud that cost under 10million and now is worth 50mil +,lambert you are a genius, in our ours eyes you are sir paul lambert

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jmm

Monday, February 13, 2012
Oh, jmm, don`t talk it up! You`re right though. I imagine Aston Vanilla`s owner is not impressed with such underperformance. As long as they underperform when they play us! Agree with your other posts, too. I read somewhere that the prize-money is £800k per place but I don`t know if that`s true. Does anybody know for a fact?

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Mad Brewer

Monday, February 13, 2012
how is ryan bennett going to get in the squad let alone the 11, when all fit ward,ayala,whitbread,barnett, i think bennett has been bought to replace barnett for next season,

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jmm

Monday, February 13, 2012
alot of the experts on sky are predicting 36 points will be enough this year,merson thinks it may be as low as 34,because the teams at bottom are all on low totals,anyway we shouldnt be looking down any more,our team is as good as anyone outside the top 4,the higher we finish the more prize money we get,from what i see printed in newspaper its around 500k each place from bottom,if we finish 10th it will be another 5million to the transfer kity

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jmm

Monday, February 13, 2012
is anyone worried about the poor job mcleish is doing at aston villa?randy learner is a known admirer of paul lambert and villa is a big club, if they sack him in summer,i dont think lambert could turn villa down

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jmm

Sunday, February 12, 2012
Yes, City Boy, that Wolves-WBA result was good in that it kept our safety gap at 14 points. But Mick McCarthy is a much more interesting (and honest) bloke than Woy of Bwomich. I hope he doesn`t get the sack.

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Mad Brewer

Sunday, February 12, 2012
So far this seems like Norwich year. Not only playing well and taking the league by storm. But other teams are trying their best to help us other with results this season. Thanks to WBA beating Wovles today puts a bigger gap between us and the bottom 5 teams. A draw or better against Man U and I will be a happy Fan

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CityBoy

Sunday, February 12, 2012
watched the match saturday.we out passed them for most of the game.we were brilliant.i agree with goldie about the penalty.if holty was pulling his shirt how come he fell forwards?

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bluelight

Sunday, February 12, 2012
Sogstar, that Liverpool call could be a good one. We still have to play them at Carra Rud. Gerrard and one or two others apart, they`re not an inspiring bunch these days. Suarez has missed the opportunity to redeem himself and proved beyond doubt that he is a 24 carat k**b. Kenny D. got it badly wrong. But no celebration until there is something to celebrate! OTBC.

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Mad Brewer

Sunday, February 12, 2012
Norwich are just lucky and pose no threat to any of the teams due to play us in the rest of the season. That's what Moyes, Mc Carthy, Warnock, Hodgson, Boa Constrictor, Coyle and Brendon were led to believe and it has served us well. Not sure Ferguson will be taken in though! Oh and Holt will never score in the Premier league so just leave unmarked as Swansea did

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Jeremy Walden

Sunday, February 12, 2012
Is Ged around here, he left his underpants in the field, baa!

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Sian

Sunday, February 12, 2012
Our little 'magician' picked Leon Britten's pocket ; Benno also seemed sublime; Pilks is just quality. All based on 4 mins on MOTD of course!! What price we finish above Liverpool?

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Soglio Star

Sunday, February 12, 2012
Quite right Bungalow. We`re not safe until it`s mathematically impossible to drop into the bottom 3. I`m sure PL is still focused on that. Just keep going out with the intention of winning and failing that, get a point. Poor old Hammers were unlucky to go down on 42 points. But it could happen again, however unlikely it may seem. Agree on Pilks. He`s got an eye for a goal, too and messed up Ashley Cole pretty well. I hear great things about Howson from itinerant Leeds fans. We`ll soon see, hopefully.

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Mad Brewer

Sunday, February 12, 2012
Don't get carried away. 7 times in Prem history 35 was enough to beat the drop. But WHam were scuppered in 2002-3 on 42. So keep the pedal to the metal as Ian Holloway would say. What about Pilks? Buy of the season, I'd say. Let's hope that Howson and Bennet are just as good. What does this mean for Wes Hoolahan though? He's comparatively quiet these days.

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Aston Bungalow

Sunday, February 12, 2012
Thanks, Swiss. I looked for result but missed it somehow! Another Ged hypothesis looking shaky: ie when we play teams the second time around, they will have sussed us out. Like Bolton, W. Brom (twice), Chelsea, QPR and Swansea. Sunderland did for us, sure. But was that the O`Neill Effect? Any team can have an off-day, too. We`ve done the double on 3 teams now.

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Mad Brewer

Sunday, February 12, 2012
Poor old Brendan! I think Lambo wouldn`t get it if he won every game between now and the end of the season. Who decides? Is it a selection of media types, or is it people who know something about football? I believe there is still some bad feeling following D. Dublin`s public outing of the Mackail-Smith bid on the Beeb, which effectively blew it out of the water.

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Mad Brewer

Sunday, February 12, 2012
Got your Fulham tickets yet guy's---go on the Fulham site---i'v got mine & boy do we owe them one.

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superfan59

Sunday, February 12, 2012
It was indeed Brendon Rodgers, of course.

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Swiss Canary

Sunday, February 12, 2012
Who DID get January`s Prem manager of the month? Couldn`t have been PL `cos we`re still winning!? Probably somebody more deserving like Villas-Boas or Woy Hodgson. It`s a poisoned chalice, usually.

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Mad Brewer

Sunday, February 12, 2012
put your shirt back on .... it's putting me off my breakfast YUK !!

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purplefreesia

Sunday, February 12, 2012
Yet again City pushed down the MOTD order. Get rid of the so called experts and showing London & Manchester teams regardless of how entertaining the matches are. The only mention BBC made during the afternoon was that Norwich was the coldest place in England. Great win and more evidence for PL to be manager of the year. Grant keep your shirt on till the last match then I'll have signed by you please.

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exile Mike

Sunday, February 12, 2012
They use to call Rooney a fat B***** so Holty is in good company and doing it like Roon sticking the goals in and not the pies.

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cutty

Sunday, February 12, 2012
The modern format of the uefa cup is a waste of space. The games get in the way of real business and aren't even well supported by the fans. But hey ! I can't believe I'm even talking about it. Happy days.

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Lobbo

Sunday, February 12, 2012
Yet again another pitiful 'analysis' of the game on MOTD. I truly am getting tired of it all. For those of us who do not have Sky television MOTD is really our only chance of getting some decent coverage of the team we support - who happen to be a premiership side exactly the same as Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool etc. Those players run their guts out and give it their all and they don't even get named. I say this for Swansea too because I felt they were somewhat short changed on MOTD too. It's alright each week saying "Ooh aren't they doing well" but we've had the same chit chat week in week out now. There's no mentionings of formations, player background, press coverage like you do for the 'big' games. I understand that the top teams generate the biggest interest but then if that's the case then just have a mini league made up of the top four and let's have a league that isn't grossly biased. (..... also if the top four were removed it would make us 4th in the league. WOO!)

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wisemanthree

Sunday, February 12, 2012
That Holt chappie certainly casts a fine shadow, what! Another great display of centre-forwardship. We dominated the game and Swansea`s first goal was against the run of play, bigly. Cue: Norwich collapse? Not these days. Wonderful, coordinated team display. Great display as an attacking centre-back from Ward. Welcome back, indeed. Don`t get injured again please! But all those other injuries too? PL maybe fielding an interesting XI v Leicester next week. If he can find that many!

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Mad Brewer

Sunday, February 12, 2012
Impressive away following at Swansea. Hope you all carried out an extensive risk assessment before leaving Norfolk.

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Lester Dave

Sunday, February 12, 2012
Please take that revolting photo off the home page.

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Thoreauwasright

Sunday, February 12, 2012
I'm not sure I want Uefa Cup football yet either. There are far too many games in that competition and our squad has been stretched very thin (esp in defence) with injuries. On that note, welcome back Wardy. We have missed you this season. First game back and you were terrific. OTBC NMTD

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Preston Canary

Sunday, February 12, 2012
MOTD was fine for me, just surpised that the most discussion was about holding hands before a game. However....no one seemed to comment on the fact that at the last minute before the collision Suarez stepped back and nudged Ferdinad into Evra which could have resulted in Rio breaking his neck.

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Swiss Canary

Sunday, February 12, 2012
someone wrote "was reading holts twitter account during week and he has been recieving loads of abusive tweets from swansea supporters,telling him he is fat and will be chasing the ball all afternoon" - so thats why he lifted the shirt up lol when will they learn never wind up the opposition - btw i was staggered how thin Holt looked lol

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SussexYellow

Saturday, February 11, 2012
think its time they got new people on motd ,shearer ,hansen,lawrenson are so depressing, hansen cant say more than 3 words without saying liverpool, watch sky with gary neville its so much better ,

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jmm

Saturday, February 11, 2012
well all they have done is praise swansea on motd, we have now done them twice and are 5 points clear of them, can we please have a proper analasis of our play and more than 3 words please, surely we deserve it

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jmm

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Am waiting in deep anticipation for the twenty seconds of coverage MOTD will give us. "So what do you think of Norwich then Alan?" "Yeah, good" "How about you Mark?" "Better than expected" "Right, now our next game..."

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wisemanthree

Saturday, February 11, 2012
With Brendan Rogers signing a three and a half year contract recently he has shown the Swansea fans that he has total commitment to the club and their fans how nice it would be if the City Board and Paul Lambert show us City fans the same commitment. While I realise that by signing a contract do not mean very much at present in football but it would mean so much to us fans that have shown our commitment to City Board and managers over many years. So how about it Paul and David as someone once said let's be 'aving you.

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leslie cater

Saturday, February 11, 2012
what was the score after 38mins when stopped?? if 0-0 then it must be 1st time on a saturday they have not conceded a goal, pity it dont count!

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jmm

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Imagine the extra strenghtening of the Cross should Holty really be Jesus! A nailed-on bit of logic.

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Mad Brewer

Saturday, February 11, 2012
They probably wouldn`t notice the difference, ImDrunky! Still sitting there chanting "Ipswich...". The "phew" fighters.

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Mad Brewer

Saturday, February 11, 2012
The Ipswich game got called off 38 minutes in, they're probably confused and still there waiting for the game to restart.

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ImDrunky

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Where`s the Bell-end? Few! too many miles to travel? It must be cold in Ipswich tonight!

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Mad Brewer

Saturday, February 11, 2012
big clubs will be after lambert in summer,i dont care if the board have to pay him 5mil a season to keep him,just give him what ever he wants, we woulnt even be here with out him,we would be in league 1 or championship at best, promotion was said to be worth 88mil, we have only spent 10mil,so must have loads in bank

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jmm

Saturday, February 11, 2012
I like it, Mr. Willgress. The thing is , Lambert has given us life. God only lent it, already.

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Mad Brewer

Saturday, February 11, 2012
yeah but its more competitive now in premiership, sides that get uefa cup football struggle,as their qualifying starts in july, look at fulham,villa,stoke they have all struggled. it would be to much in only the second season since promotion, i hope we dont get uefa cup, i want to stay in league, not micky mouse cup

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jmm

Saturday, February 11, 2012
think the board should get lambert of this rolling contract and say give us 3 years lambo,make us an estabilished premier league side and give him a 5 mil bonus at end and then let him go on to a massive club, we got 88mil for promotion and have not even spent 10mil so must have loads in bank,plus next season is said to be worth a few quid, invest in lambert,he is better than any player we could sign, he makes ordinary players into world class players,

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jmm

Saturday, February 11, 2012
jmm, you should never deny today's supporters of the same enjoyment the rest of us shared the last time we were in the Uefa cup. It's unlikey to happen even now, but if it can happen, Bring It On, good times !

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Bruce87

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Lambert is now master of his own destiny.Let's hope Delia and McNally make his mind up for him.There's more than 27000 who can help them.

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Peter Watson

Saturday, February 11, 2012
after waiting years for a return to premiership,every saturday night we stay in to watch motd just to see norwich, i sit down,feet up,cold beer,wait for norwich game,i sip of bear and its over! 5 second talking,no praise for the lads or lambo, every week this has happened, getting sick of the bbc. we must get more than 45 seconds this week,

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jmm

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Sure he'll leave one day, but why now? the team is buzzing and working together. If he go to a different team and he has to work to achieve that again. The big clubs will look for a well known name who have won big trophies. But I hate all this talk of him going, wish we all can just enjoy this moment. =)

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ImDrunky

Saturday, February 11, 2012
i dont see why we should only be 3rd on motd, spurs game was a 1 sided rout, our game was close ,entertaining and brilliant game to watch

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jmm

Saturday, February 11, 2012
only 4 points behind liverpool ,i really hope we dont get a uefa cup place,because firstly it will be very hard to stay up next year with all the extra games and if lambert got us that higher finish then he will be gone to spurs, our supporters should wake up,alot of people seem to think he will never go any where and that norwich is big enough club for him and can fulfil his dreams, he is going right to the top ,spurs or chelsea he could get them the title

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jmm

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Think we're on fifth on MOTD. Man U and Spurs will be 1st & 2nd but I don't see why we shouldn't be on 3rd. But who cares? great day for the yellow army =)

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ImDrunky

Saturday, February 11, 2012
This win speaks volumes, Swansea are no easy touch at home, the stats say they are the sixth best passing team in Europe but City had 53% posession, scored three goals in eighteen minutes, did the double on the swans and have lost only one of their last seven premier league matches and are only four points off Liverpool and only four places outside the Champions league places......it can't get any better than this.........or can it?

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digger

Saturday, February 11, 2012
If Lord Lambert is God then Holt is Jesus

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CanarySid

Saturday, February 11, 2012
The media still fail to award us our just dues,and I wonder why ?

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Albert Cooper

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Fantastic win and a big performance. Truly is a great time to be a NCFC supporter right now. I'm not too worried about PL going just yet, I'm just enjoying the good times.

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ImDrunky

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Grant Holt is superhuman. True.

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Abraham

Saturday, February 11, 2012
We can't keep doing what we are doing and hope that no one notices Lambo. It is a pity that I think we only have him on a rolling contract. Brendon Rogers recently signed a 2.5 year deal with Swansea but it is very quiet about what PL's contract is, other than it was much improved in the summer. He seems to want to commute to the family home in Glasgow every week but that is his business. I guess that he has been a commuter for many years now. I can understand that it is a good way of keeping the family at a distance from all the hulabaloo.

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Swiss Canary

Saturday, February 11, 2012
I hate how people compare Paul Lambert to God. I mean, he's cool and great and nice and everything, but he's no Lambert.

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DAVID WILLGRESS

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Yabadabbadooh!

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john doe

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Calgarycanary, like you I've been following the Canaries since I was a nipper: over 40 years now, and I still have the programme from my first game at Watford, a significant one and all. I'm just savouring all of this, 'cos it can't last forever: but what a team, what a season, what a manager. For all the media drooling over Swansea, look at how many points the teams have tonight! This is a season-defining result. OTBC!

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wurzelcanary

Saturday, February 11, 2012
I metioned last week that there would be some funny results for us once P.L. certain next season. 2 more wins--the pressure will be off--and watch out TottenhamEvertonMan CityLiverpool etc; O.T.B.C.

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superfan59

Saturday, February 11, 2012
The penalty given against Holty was pathetic, See worse than that several times every match played against City but Referees seem blind to to 99% of them. Home crowd pressure me thinks. Lobbo jelousy will get you nowhere.

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goldie

Saturday, February 11, 2012
we have to be 2nd on match of the day tonight,first time ever,and maybe we will get more than 2words said,

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jmm

Saturday, February 11, 2012
we have to be 2nd on match of the day tonight,first time ever,and maybe we will get more than 2words said,

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jmm

Saturday, February 11, 2012
was reading holts twitter account during week and he has been recieving loads of abusive tweets from swansea supporters,telling him he is fat and will be chasing the ball all afternoon and swansea will pass him dizzy,well think he shut them up,and think thats why he took his shirt off ,to hit back at the fat and useless comment he got of swansea supporters tweet, holt for england

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jmm

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Currently in Madrid so watch, listen and read from a distance. Radio 5 live just had a NCFC supporter on who's complete exposure on air on debating the farcical suarez situation rather than promoting our position. No need to say how pleased and proud i am about the season and performances so far, however I am concerned over the market interest PL will get if the managermerry go round starts which is extremely likely. Super guy would hate to see him go..... but lets not get carried away, will be really interesting to see the boards resolve over any compensation they may get!

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JB

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Currently in Madrid so watch, listen and read from a distance. Radio 5 live just had a NCFC supporter on who's complete exposure on air on debating the farcical suarez situation rather than promoting our position. No need to say how pleased and proud i am about the season and performances so far, however I am concerned over the market interest PL will get if the managermerry go round starts which is extremely likely. Super guy would hate to see him go..... but lets not get carried away, will be really interesting to see the boards resolve over any compensation they may get!

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JB

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Currently in Madrid so watch, listen and read from a distance. Radio 5 live just had a NCFC supporter on who's complete exposure on air on debating the farcical suarez situation rather than promoting our position. No need to say how pleased and proud i am about the season and performances so far, however I am concerned over the market interest PL will get if the managermerry go round starts which is extremely likely. Super guy would hate to see him go..... but lets not get carried away, will be really interesting to see the boards resolve over any compensation they may get!

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JB

Saturday, February 11, 2012
The comment made earlier about this team costing less than Torres, and having seen the Chelsea result today, just goes to show what PL and his wonderful team have achieved. The emphasis is on 'team'. We don't have individuals at NCFC and I wouldn't want it any other way!

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Mark King

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Magic, pure magic, this season gets better and better. Been a canary fan for 40 years since living. In Norwich, have to. Wait until tonight to see the game, but follow the yellows every game.

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Calgarycanary

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Just listening to Radio 5 Live and on the news summary we only had...Norwich beat Swansea...now if it had been other way round the BCC would have been savouring it....the commentors on the braodcast I watched here were realistic and gave the boys the praise they deserve....OTBC

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Singapore Canary

Saturday, February 11, 2012
I think for the doubters that CONFIRMS our PL status for next season. Absolutely terrific we have trumpted BOTH the promoted sides. 100% PL status is now confirmed we are staying UP UP UP ! Well done NCFC onwards and upwards !

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Dubai Canary

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Lobbo, he would look thinner than me even if he was not holding it in. Actually, I expected his upper body to look a bit more beefy!

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Swiss Canary

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Actually for once hope we are last on MOTD, as I may be sober enough to focus by then...in the morning.

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Soglio Star

Saturday, February 11, 2012
NCFC are a mid table Premier League club,not just one that stays up and this has somehow been achieved with less money than Chelsea paid Liverpool for Torres.How on earth has this miracle happened?If there is such a thing as a messiah is Paul Lambert one?

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Peter Watson

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Norwich thoroughly deserved the win today. An excellent all round performance. Lets not forget that Swansea played Arsenal off the park a couple of weeks ago. Lambo has done an incredible job. OTBC

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remmucs a ton

Saturday, February 11, 2012
It was Leicester away last year; is it this match that sums up our season? The dream gets better and better.

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Soglio Star

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Defining moment in the season. If West Brom win at Wolves I'd say we're there, 14 points clear of the bottom 5 teams with 13 games to go. Oh! by the way, what would Holt look like if he wasn't holding his tummy in in the photo above.

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Lobbo

Saturday, February 11, 2012
What an absoultely fantastic performance. Norwich stopped Swansea ruling the pitch, as they like to do at home, and ran away with it. Grant Holt silenced the barracking from the home crowd and there were many terrific individual performances. It is time for this team to be recognized as the force that it has become.

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Swiss Canary

Saturday, February 11, 2012