Norwich City boss Paul Lambert acknowledges the Canaries have made massive strides in the past 12 months as the club prepares to ring in the New Year.

City stormed to the League One title following Lambert's arrival one month into last season and the midweek win over Sheffield United moved the Canaries to within a point of a Championship automatic promotion spot.

'It's been unbelievable, what has happened to the club since I have been here with Ian (Culverhouse) and Gary (Karsa),' said Lambert.

'Sometimes you look at it and think, 'this has to stop,' but the lads for some reason have kept going and going, which has been incredible. I've said in the past you have to learn to walk before you can run and the crowd have bought into it. No doubt about it, they are huge. I have only been here for a short period of time and the people who follow the club have probably seen a few lows before I got here, but this club is vibrant now and with a fan base like we have you have to try and hit the ground running.'

Lambert admitted his initial brief was far more modest after his Colchester side dismantled City on the first day of last season.

'I was asked to try and get us into a play-off position,' he said. 'Because the club was that far behind getting in the top six was what we were trying to do and we did our best to achieve that. But I knew that our fan base could drive us onto a run. With this crowd we were not going to be a mid-table side in League One.

'At that stage if we had got into a play-off position then you think, 'okay, let's take our chances,' but the way it went the lads took on board our way of thinking. That explains why the rise has been huge and to carry it on again this time is unbelievable credit. It's not just the lads – the whole city feels vibrant.'

Lambert is still refusing to look beyond hitting the 50-point safety barrier.

City moved to within 11 points of that target in midweek but Lambert's playing resources continue to be stretched with Simon Lappin (ban) and injured duo Elliott Ward and Henri Lansbury the latest absentees for QPR's visit tomorrow.

Lambert admitted he may have to fast-track fit-again defender Zak Whitbread after the American made his first appearance of the campaign late on following a persistent calf problem.