FOR City's Simon Lappin it's a case of 'same again, please' when the Canaries face Southampton in a Coca-Cola League One clash at St Mary's tomorrow.
The Scottish midfielder believes City's excellent run of nine wins out of their last ten games in all competitions - six out of seven in the league - is built on the solid foundations of preparing properly for every game, whoever the opposition may be.
After a shaky start to life in League One, Alan Pardew's Saints have responded well to the serious handicap of starting the season with minus 10 points after falling into administration at the end of the last campaign - which saw them relegated from the Championship along with Charlton and the Canaries.
After failing to win in any of their first seven league games, they bounced back in style with a run of six wins out of seven games in all competitions before slipping to a surprise 3-1 home defeat to Gus Poyet's Brighton on Sunday.
The Saints are currently in 22nd position in the league table but without their points deduction would be in a much-healthier tenth spot, just five points off the play-offs. Lappin told First News the Canaries will have to be well-prepared and focussed as usual if they are to get a result at St Mary's.
"All the games in this league are going to be tough, but it's another one we are looking forward to," he said. "Hopefully we can keep the good run we are on going, there is no room for complacency. We've got to be professional and do everything right if we want to keep on it and that is what we are striving to do. We'll approach it just the same way we approach every other game."
Lappin agreed Southampton's current league position was not a true indication of the kind of threat they were likely to pose: "Obviously at the start of the season they started on minus 10 points and if you're looking at the table now it is a bit of a false reading because they are a good side, but we will focus on what we do and approach the game in the right way."
Lappin and his team-mates ground out a gritty 2-0 win at home to a stubborn Tranmere last Saturday - but Southampton on their own turf are likely to provide a different kind of test for Paul Lambert's side.
"They will obviously be looking to go and win the game, likewise so will we so it should be a good game," commented Lappin. "We're going to have to be on the top of our game if we're going to get anything from it."
Speaking just moments after the news of Fraser Forster's loan extension until the end of the season had been confirmed, Lappin said of the big Geordie: "He has been fantastic since he came in and I think last week the save, which the manager described as 'world class', was. That is what he brings to the team and all the boys are delighted that Fraser is going to be here for the rest of the season."
