Norwich City vs Swansea City preview - Lambert gives Swans due respect - 7M sport

Norwich City vs Swansea City preview - Lambert gives Swans due respect



I have a say

Posted Saturday, October 15, 2011 by PA

Norwich manager Paul Lambert believes every game in the Barclays Premier League is difficult and thinks Saturday's clash with Swansea is no different.

The Canaries come into the match on the back of an impressive performance at reigning champions Manchester United, although they eventually lost 2-0 at Old Trafford.

After a two-week break, Norwich face fellow promoted side Swansea at Carrow Road, and Lambert, who has no fresh injury worries, believes the Swans will provide as stern a test as any of the top flight's elite.

"I think every game is hard," he said.

"I don't just look at the Swansea game and think it is going to be easier than Manchester United were.

"That was really, really hard and I don't think tomorrow will be any different.

"Every match in the Premier League is tough and we have to earn the right to beat them and vice versa.

"I don't think it will be a defining moment on what is going to happen.

"I think throughout the course of the season a lot of things happen and you pick up points where people don't think you will.

"Then you lose when people expect you to win so I am not one to think what could happen.

"It is another game that we will try to win."

Norwich carved out a series of excellent chances against United. Anthony Pilkington hit a post and rolled an effort wide when he was clean through as the visitors pushed for a goal, before Anderson and Danny Welbeck sealed an unconvincing win for the champions.

Lambert was delighted with the level of his side's performance in the north west, but believes the match highlighted the importance of taking their chances.

"I think we are one of a million teams going there and probably saying the same things," he said.

"You just can't keep Manchester United out for 90 minutes. Somewhere along the line they are going to score.

"We had to score when we had the opportunities and I was absolutely delighted with how we played.

"We couldn't have done any more and when we had the chance to score, we should have taken them. But we didn't take them and, Sod's Law, then they went up the park and scored.

"But the way we played, I thought we were excellent."

Swansea are boosted by the return to full fitness of midfielder Leon Britton for their trip to Norwich.

Britton missed the home win over Stoke with a back problem but has been passed fit for the visit to Carrow Road, although he may have to settle for a place on the bench after Joe Allen, Mark Gower and Wayne Routledge impressed against the Potters.

Speaking ahead of the clash, Britton has warned his Swansea team-mates that facing Norwich will be every bit as tough as their early-season visits to Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Those fixtures all ended in defeats, although the Swans were unfortunate not to pick up a point against the Gunners, and there is an expectation that the clash with Lambert's side will represent their first genuine chance of breaking their duck away from the Liberty Stadium.

But Britton believes that is a dangerous attitude to take.

The 29-year-old said: "Carrow Road is a tough place to go, it has a great atmosphere and they have fantastic support.

"It's always sold out there and the fans make a fantastic noise.

"It's a difficult place to play football although so are Stamford Bridge, the Emirates and the Etihad Stadium.

"They are all tough to play at so this will be no different to playing at those grounds."

While Swansea's maiden Premier League campaign has caught the imagination of many in south Wales, much of the Principality is currently holding its breath in anticipation of Wales' Rugby World Cup semi-final against France in Auckland.

And while Britton may be a born-and-bred Londoner, he says knowing several of the Ospreys players in Warren Gatland's squad means he will be backing the men in red.

"I have been in Wales a long time and you see how much rugby means to the nation," he said.

"It's great for Wales and Swansea in general. I room with Joe Allen on away trips and I am sure we will be up watching it and cheering them on.

"A lot of the boys play for the Ospreys and they were cheering us on last season when we were doing well and hopefully they will get to the final.

"I bumped into Alun Wyn Jones at the end of last season and he had a picture on his phone of their lads in a hospitality box cheering us on, so we are backing them and hopefully they can do it."

end



Attention: Third parties may advertise their products and/or services on our website.7M does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of their contents.
Your dealings with such third parties are solely between you and such third parties and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you.