Onwards and upwards is the mantra from Paul Lambert after the Canaries edged ever closer to Premier League safety.

Lambert is well aware City have all but guaranteed another stint of top flight football next season after moving within one point of the widely recognised 40-point survival mark. The Norwich chief, however, insists there can be no easing off over what promises to be a more relaxed run-in.

'I don't feel comfortable until it is mathematically safe, but even if you are safe you don't want to down tools,' he said. 'You want to keep driving on and finish as high up as we can. We'll not ease off. I'm proud as anything of the team. Now we nearly have 40 points in the Premier League, it's an incredible thing. The main thing is to stay up but I'll keep on focusing on what's going to happen in the remaining games. It might not take 40, it might do, but I'm not sure. This is the first time for everybody at the football club we are in this position.'

Lambert opted for his now customary rotation in personnel with five changes from the previous weekend's Premier League defeat at Newcastle. The Norwich chief also unveiled a new look formation with Russell Martin and Zak Whitbread flanking Elliott Ward in a defensive three and a midfield harnessing the attacking talents of both Jonny Howson and Wes Hoolahan.

'I trust them to go and do it,' said Lambert. 'Those two are totally different footballers, but some of the football was excellent. I think any system we play, the personnel that plays I know I'm going to get everything from them and it's a great thing to be able to trust footballers and it's testament to the boys what they've done.'