Paul Lambert insists Norwich City can ill afford to relax in their quest for Premier League safety.

City's latest away win against West Brom moved the Canaries 11 points clear of fellow newly-promoted rivals QPR – but Lambert believes the arrival of new blood in the managerial ranks spells danger.

Mark Hughes is the latest high profile boss now back in the game after succeeding Neil Warnock at Loftus Road, along with the man Lambert still labels 'the gaffer'.

Sunderland have felt the immediate benefit of Martin O'Neill's magic with the Wearsiders pulling clear of the relegation zone having picked up 13 points in seven matches since his arrival in the north-east.

'You look at QPR. They have changed it with Neil to try and give them a fresh push as well so they could come racing up,' said Lambert. 'Football is a dangerous game and if you don't get the results then things like that can happen.

'He had done great there and the owners decide what they want to do, but that is football.

'There are a load of teams doing great. Look at Sunderland under the gaffer, which I knew would happen. There is nobody really detached from anything.

'I said at the time (when he took over) it's not great for everybody else. I knew what he would do. I had played under him for five years and in all that time as a manager I knew so it was no surprise to me one bit.'

Lambert reiterated after City's success at the Hawthorns he had no concerns Norwich's current upward momentum could dip along the lines of Blackpool's alarming slump 12 months ago.

'That could happen to anybody but we are a different club,' he said. 'We're like everybody else. We need players to keep their form and hope we don't get injuries and suspensions.

'The lads are playing with a lot of confidence at the minute. I'm delighted with what they have done for me. I don't think anybody visualised this, but we are halfway through and there is a long, long way to go.'

Lambert's next task is trying to halt a Chelsea side at Carrow Road who need points to revive fading hopes of a Premier League title challenge.

Tottenham stumbled against Wolves over the weekend, but Lambert believes the top three will take some catching.

'I think everybody says it looks like the three of them. You're never quite sure how it will pan out but they are playing well,' he said. 'People can say Manchester City have had a wobble but I don't think two defeats in the cup is a wobble. I wish I had that. No, they are a top side but Manchester United as well, a fantastic side, and everyone knows how well Tottenham have done – not just recently, it's the whole season.

'They've been excellent, even last year they had that confidence round about them with a great manager who is steering it.'