Norwich City boss Lambert praises ‘brilliant’ goals

Paul Lambert praised two brilliant strikes by midfielder Andrew Crofts as City cruised to victory at Barnsley.

'They were brilliant,' said the City boss. 'The first goal was a terrific goal with a late run, the second I just think is a piece of brilliance.

'Once they are out there they play with their known eyes, you have got to give them the freedom to go and express themselves and what Crofty does on the other side of the game, the work ethic, is really, really high, but he can also finish.'

Victory ended a tough week, with City drawing 2-2 at Leeds and then struggling to a 1-1 draw at home to Doncaster on Tuesday.

'It has been tough, yes,' he said. 'We came here, which is never easy, it is a tough place to come, but I thought from start to finish we were the best side.'

Lambert pushed Wes Hoolahan up front to partner skipper and leading scorer Grant Holt.

'I just pick a team to try and win the game, that's what I do,' he said. 'People find bit very hard to pick him (Wes) up and the way he is playing at the minute his standards is extremely high, so the way he can manoeuvre the football and the touch he has got gives teams a problem.'

Mark Robins, whose side drew at Leeds on Tuesday, said: 'We have got to take that on the chin and forget about it as quickly as possible and learn from it as quickly as possible.

'The players were up on Tuesday night at Elland Road and today it has been a kick in the teeth in more ways than one.'

Robins was referring to a first-half incident when he lost skipper and former Canaries defender Jason Shackell, after a clash of heads with Henri Lansbury.