Patrick Bamford is confident he will only get better for Norwich City – and when he does, the goals will follow.

Saturday's goalless draw with Manchester City was not only the 22-year-old's first Premier League start – it was only his second start this season, after the on-loan Chelsea striker's trickier pre-January spell at Crystal Palace.

The sharpness wasn't quite there for Bamford to take his chances as a substitute in defeat at Swansea, but the promise was added to by his 67 minutes at Carrow Road.

'It's like a vicious circle,' said Bamford. 'If you don't play and then you don't take your chances because you're not sharp, then you're not going to play again. So you need that run of games to get that sharpness back – and then the goals will start coming again, I'm sure.'

Bamford's Premier League ambitions had been curtailed by Norwich's play-off success last summer, but now the former Middlesbrough man is fully engaged in City's survival fight. Not only is he clear of the emotional baggage from City's relegation two seasons ago – he hasn't sensed it in his team-mates either.

'To be fair, all I can see from all the players is a determination not to let it happen,' he added. 'No-one wants to get relegated and there is that drive to not let it happen, and everyone in the team is heading towards that.'

Having now made his home debut, Bamford admitted it was nice to be on the right side of the Carrow Road crowd for once – support that can help fuel City's top-flight survival bid.

'Saturday was the loudest I've heard it since I've been here,' Bamford added. 'The crowd were really with us and that helps. It drives the team on. When you're tired and then you hear that roar, it almost gives you that extra self belief and it can be helpful.

'I've been booed a lot before when I've come here, so it was nice to have them supporting me and get that nice ovation at the end.'

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