Much has been made of Norwich City's team spirit over the last couple of seasons – yet Saturday provided another example of exactly what it means for Paul Lambert's men, according to Anthony Pilkington.

With two centre-backs withdrawn through injury in the shape of Zak Whitbread and Dani Ayala, City had to turn to Elliott Bennett stepping in at right-back and Russell Martin – on his 100th appearance for the Canaries – alongside Kyle Naughton in the middle of their defensive line.

And the makeshift back four withstood all that Bolton could throw at them, with Martin also having a hand in Pilkington's 85th minute strike – the goal that sealed City's vital three points.

'A lot has been made about the team spirit and you have to look no further than today,' said Pilkington.

'You look at the end and in our back four we had a right winger at right-back and two right-backs at centre-half.

'Kyle Naughton, who is about three-foot four playing centre half and winning headers against Kevin Davies, it just shows you what all the lads are about and wherever they are play they always give you 110pc.

'Wherever anyone plays they will always do a job for the club and the city, and you have seen that today.

'It has been a massive performance by the lads and it's a great day for Norwich City.'

Plenty of chances came and went for City as they rocked a previously resurgent Bolton side at Carrow Road – yet it took the final quarter of the game before the Canaries finally breached Owen Coyle's resolve.

That may have represented a nervy first 70 minutes for those in the freezing stands at Carrow Road, especially off the back of City's humbling at Martin O'Neill's Sunderland in midweek.

But such thoughts were far from the minds of those on the pitch, as far as Pilkington was concerned.

Following Saturday's win, only the Premier League's top five can claim a greater goals-for tally so far this season than City – hence the winger's unfaltering confidence Norwich would break through eventually.

'No, it wasn't nervy at all to be honest – I thought we were always in control and we could have come off the pitch four or five nil maybe,' said Pilkington.

'All season we've put loads of pressure on teams and we were piling the pressure on today, and we are always confident in our attacking ability and we always knew we could score.

'We started off really well in the game and it wasn't going in. We missed one or two chances, but we kept going like we always do and we have come off with a great result.

'We have won 2-0, kept another clean sheet and it's testament to the boys that they bounced back from Wednesday night and it was a great performance.'

Pilkington admitted Wednesday night's 3-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light was new territory for Paul Lambert's Premier League squad – and that both the result and performance against Wanderers was the perfect response.

'We were all really hurting after Wednesday and we are an honest bunch of lands, and to get turned over like we did really hurt,' he acknowledged.

'It was all about how we bounced back and we have shown everyone today we are more than capable at this level and long may it continue.'

The ex-Huddersfield winger's goal was his sixth strike of the season – only Grant Holt and Steve Morison have more this term.

'I'm always confident of scoring goals and I love scoring goals, but I love doing the other stuff as well,' he said. 'It's not about me scoring goals, it is about the team and today we have shown everyone how we can bounce back from a poor result.'