A hopeful New Year

Glenn Roeder has given a glimpse of what he discovered behind the scenes at Norwich City when he took over as manager as the Canaries waved goodbye and good riddance to 2007.

Glenn Roeder has given a glimpse of what he discovered behind the scenes at Norwich City when he took over as manager as the Canaries waved goodbye and good riddance to 2007.

A 1-1 draw at home to Wolves on Saturday was enough to keep City two points and two places above the bottom three, with the prospect of stretching their unbeaten run to seven games when they travel to Crystal Palace for the opening fixture of the New Year on Tuesday.

It was an unlikely prospect two months ago, when City looked dead and buried and ready to be cast adrift.

But Roeder has breathed new life into a Canaries side which was close to collapse when he took over at the end of October.

“I came in to a club where the players were dejected, lacking in confidence, couldn't see where their next win was going to come and suddenly we have raised the bar of expectancy, which we are happy to do,” said Roeder, who took over from Peter Grant at the end of October.

“We accept that responsibility because, after all, Norwich are expected to be at the top end of the Championship trying to get out of the division into the Premiership.

“But with the absolutely woeful start we have had to the season it has taken a lot of bottle, a lot of mental strength to come to the last game of the year and find ourselves where we are now. I think it is a tremendous effort.”