Don't cheer too soon: Martin

Norwich City defender Russell Martin has warned that the runaway League One leaders still have it all to do.

Martin has ruled out any complacency after City's latest comeback win at Huddersfield saw Paul Lambert's men open up a 12 point lead over third-placed Charlton in the race for automatic promotion.

'You can look at the gap to the third team and it is big now but we also know we turned around an even bigger gap in a shorter period of games this season,' he said. 'It's in our hands and that is the way we wanted it. All the time we were chasing it was down to other teams to lose games but we have got ourselves in a great position.

'Maybe there were a few doubters with the losses to Millwall and Southampton. There might have been questions asked as to whether we could handle being chased or would they panic - but not at all. We never doubted it. Going 1-0 down at Huddersfield a few could think, 'they don't fancy this at a tough away ground,' but we showed we have the character to win games like that.'

Martin knows exactly what it takes to last the promotion course after helping guide former club Peterborough out of English football's third tier last season. The reliable right back insists the Canaries must stay in the present - starting with Saturday's trip to Swindon.

'We won't look any further ahead than that one,' he said. 'You can't afford to take your eye off the target. Let's get a result and then I'm sure people will think about the big one after that (against Leeds) to come. Really they are all big and March is a massive month. I had it last season at Peterborough. We went unbeaten during the same month and that was what really got us promoted in the end because it deflates teams. They come back into the changing room and just like we found at Huddersfield, results can pick you up and drive you on.

'It was a massive result because all the others had gone for us. We always concentrate on ourselves but hearing the Leeds result when you come back in at the end does give you an extra little boost. If we keep winning and other teams drop points then hopefully what we want to achieve will happen - and the sooner the better.'

Preston loan signing Stephen Elliott pressed his claims for a start at the County Ground with a brace to sink the Terriers following an eye-catching second half cameo.

'The manager wanted to change things and it worked,' said Martin. 'Stevie came on and he had looked very lively in training. Let's not forget he is an international player, someone who has played most of his career in the Championship or the Premiership. He's a great signing and he took his goals brilliantly.

'It was a fantastic result. We never started well but it's the character of the squad and we managed to come back yet again. I think it's well documented how many goals we score late on in the second half which just underlines the fitness and the perseverance of the lads. We have individuals here who have that desire to win - which is ultimately what it comes down.'

City's fighting spirit was tested early on at the Galpharm when Neal Trotman rose unmarked to power Lee Clark's men ahead inside the opening seconds.

'I think really the first 15 minutes was the only time when they dominated,' said Martin. 'I thought we came into it more after that and we never managed to get that goal in the first half. I felt we were on top going in at the break and we just said, 'keep going, be patient, stay on top of them and keep turning the screw.' We did and we could have had maybe a couple more in the end.

'Maybe we got caught cold so early, which is unlike us, because we are usually very good defensively at set pieces, so to concede a goal was disappointing. They've got good delivery and its something we spoke about during the week and how clinical they are and how they scored a lot of goals. Sometimes you just can't deal with it because it was a great ball and the lad has done well with his run to head it, but it's the way you respond from that.'

Grant Holt's 27th goal of the campaign and Elliott's late brace capped a stirring second half onslaught in front of nearly 3,000 travelling fans.

'I just couldn't believe how many where there,' said Martin. 'When we first came out to warm up I said to Doc about it and he agreed. What a following. It's frightening and they make more noise than the home fans.

'It does make a difference, especially away from home, and second half when you are kicking towards them, they will us on. The lads just want to thank them again. They pay their money to go all over, week in, week out. Maybe they are not used to being in this league but they have stuck by the team and it's brilliant to see. Hopefully we can reward them at the end of the season.'