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‘We just complement each other’ – Positive impact of one City star rubs off on another
Josh Murphy sealed Norwich City's 2-0 Championship win at Birmingham. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
Jamal Lewis cut a composed Norwich City figure on his winning full debut at Birmingham – and he even helped bring the best out of a team-mate.
Daniel Farke's Canaries helped ease some of the tension around the club with a 2-0 Boxing Day win at the Championship's bottom club, ahead of visiting another side in the Championship relegation zone on Saturday in Burton Albion (3pm).
After a late cameo in the pre-Christmas home defeat to Brentford, 19-year-old academy product Lewis got the real gig at St Andrew's and barely put a foot wrong.
What's more, one of City's goalscorers and a fellow Colney graduate equally enjoyed Lewis' involvement at Birmingham.
'The best thing I can do is just help him through and to be fair, it was very comfortable playing with him because he was always in my ear, go here, go there – and we just complement each other,' said Josh Murphy, himself returning to Farke's starting line-up and duly scoring his eighth goal of the season.
'When he goes forward, I tell him where to go. When it's going back the other way, he tells me where to go. So I think we work we well off each other.
MORE: Tears ring in Norwich City's Birmingham victory according to Daniel Farke
'I'm nearly 23 now so I'm getting on a little bit. But it's nice to have an academy player there and it's just about learning. It doesn't matter about your age, as long as you're learning.
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'I'm always learning each week. I can always get better. And if I can help Jam better, then I'll do that.'
Farke also reinstated a fit Tom Trybull and Alex Tettey to his starting line-up for the first time since victory at Reading at the end September – with some would argue a predictable end result.
'They just give you that ultimate security,' said Murphy. 'They are always in your ear telling you go here and there, and they are just warriors. They are a massive, crucial part of this team.
'There is always a turning point in a season and hopefully this is the turning point for us, and we can go on a run and get ourselves back up the table.
'It's about going and picking up points. We're in a position we shouldn't be in – everyone knows that – and we're playing teams that are in and around us at the moment, so we need to pick up maximum points.
MORE: Alex Pritchard catches the eye as Norwich City ease past the Championship's bottom club Birmingham
'Obviously we didn't do that against Brentford the other day but we got three points here and if we can get three points at Burton then that can spark a good run for us.'
Murphy's final word went to the 921 City fans who gave up their bank holiday to support their team – and were rewarded with a rare Boxing Day away win.
'I think that's a great Christmas present for them,' added Murphy. 'Massive credit to them for turning up because I don't think a lot of them will know what they're going to get from this Norwich side – especially over Christmas.
'But I think we've put in a performance that they're going to be happy with – so I'm just happy they're happy.'
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Michael Bailey on Twitter @michaeljbailey