LAST night's 1-0 victory over Brentford in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy saw City record back-to-back wins and clean sheets - something achieved only once last season.
After the win Danish defender Jens Berthel Askou spoke to First News and said: "The confidence is growing after two consecutive wins and another clean sheet, so we have a lot of positive things to take to the next game on Saturday."
Askou was pleasantly surprised by the bumper JPT attendance at Carrow Road and is enjoying the minor celebrity around the city from fans: "Although we gave them a rough start, they have been fantastic supporting us, they really help a lot. I was maybe expecting half on a good day, but even with the rain today, it was amazing, it gives you an extra percentage to go out and win the game.
"Norwich is a very nice city, with a good friendly tone between the players and the fans, I like that. Sometimes I get recognised and it is nice when supporters are coming and asking for my autograph. Even when I was on trial I felt it was a really nice place to be, everyone has been with open arms welcoming me, fans, staff and all the players, so I have only positive things to say."
The powerful Dane can potentially lay claim to being the first player to clear the Jarrold Stand: "I had a couple of mis-timed clearances in the second half, I owed a bit extra so I just tried to clear my lines but I don't know what happened, it just went over the roof. It was not my intention to blast the ball out of the stadium!"
Having arrived in the summer from Turkish top-flight side Kasimpasa, Askou is settling in well to his new surroundings: "I'm still learning and trying to adapt to the English style which is much more direct and more physical than I was used to in Turkey. It reminds me of Denmark, even though we tried to play more patiently. I'm trying to adapt as quickly as I can, as long as we are winning it gets easier. We are working very focussed and intensively in the training sessions, it is going well at the moment, we are getting some good results and we have to keep up the hard work and the concentration."
The draw for the second round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy will take place this Saturday on Sky's Soccer AM programme. Like the first round, the second will be split into four regions with City in the Southern Section - East along with Barnet, Brighton & Hove Albion, Charlton Athletic, Gillingham, Leyton Orient, MK Dons and Southend. The ties will be played the week commencing October 5. Log on to canaries.co.uk on Saturday to find out City's second round opponents.
