Chris Hughton has more important things to focus on at Carrow Road than the Premier League sack race.

The Norwich City chief had a simple response after Ian Holloway became the second top flight manager to leave his post earlier this week following Sunderland's decision to dismiss Paolo di Canio - the only two clubs below the Canaries in the current Premier League standings.

'Yes, it is a tough job. There is always a lot on your shoulders and a lot of responsibility,' said Hughton. 'That is the tough side. The reason we do it is because we enjoy the challenges. All you can do is work as hard as you can and you try to win as many football matches as you can.

'I want to get us higher up the division and I know the season goes in phases. A win can turn into another win and then a run and better fortunes. What I am drawing on is the way we are playing. What we need to do is eradicate the errors because when you are up against the quality we have been lately you can be punished.'

Former Palace chief Holloway admitted at his leaving press conference he no longer felt he was the right man to take the club forward.

'I did watch a fair bit of that and you always feel when a manager leaves at this early stage it is tough,' said Hughton. 'Everyone within the game knows what Ian has to offer. He has so much enthusiasm and look what he did a couple of years ago when he had Blackpool playing ever so well for a long period. 'There is no doubting his credentials as a manager and it was sad to see. He is a very emotional individual and it was an example of the pressures we are under. You have to have good people around you. They help you, they lessen the load but of course a good percentage is about yourself in this job and your decisions that nobody can help you with.

'I enjoy those circumstances. If things are not going well there is a great challenge to turn things around. It is then about being as level-headed as possible and you have to be upbeat in the difficult moments. Maybe he had felt it had got the better of him but he is a proven manager.'