Canaries boss Paul Lambert was a happy man after players and crowd came together as one to push City into the second automatic promotion spot after a 3-1 home victory over Bristol City.

Two goals in the last few minutes from Henri Lansbury and Andrew Surman saw City open a three-point lead over third-placed Swansea, and close the gap to QPR to seven.

'They were terrific,' said Lambert. 'I thought right from the start the lads were absolutely excellent, they just carried on from where they left after the other night (at Leicester).

City had gone ahead after two minutes through a penalty from Grant Holt, though Lambert said: 'Sometimes that can work against you, but I thought the way we played the game, the chances we created and the way the fans were was brilliant.

'I think they realise when you boo a side that is trying to do something it is detrimental, it can hurt the club, it can hurt the team. I think they realised the position we are in we need them, we need everybody.

'The fans, the players, everybody needs to pull the same way to have a chance. It is testament to the crowd the way they had the place rocking, you are hoping that is going to be the way it will be from now on in.'

Lambert always insists he can see goals in his team – and that didn't change as the final whistle crept closer with the score 1-1.

'I just think that we look like always scoring,' he said. 'I think we have got footballers in our side that can go and create things and the crowd sensed that, that we can score. But Bristol City is a hard, hard game, they have been on a terrific run themselves. You get to 1-1 and they put you on the back foot until you ride the storm and you come back into it and then you get the goal.

Lansbury had the perfect cameo, having come on with nine minutes remaining, scoring a goal and then having a hand in another.

'It was reminiscent to the one he scored against Millwall at the death – it was a terrific ball from Wes (Hoolahan) and sometimes when you see the whites of the goalkeeper's eyes, especially the way David James was performing, when you score it is a big relief.'

Lambert refused to contemplate what victory means in the overall picture, with nine games remaining.

'I don't know, I really don't,' he said. 'You are asking me something I can't really answer. There is a long, long way to go - it is another win that we can try and keep going.'