CREATIVE City midfielder Wes Hoolahan paid tribute to his team-mates and his second-half replacement Oli Johnson for helping the Canaries to grab all three points in Saturday's 1-0 win over a lively Brentford side.

The popular Irishman received a huge ovation when he was substituted by City boss Lambert with the score at 0-0 on 69 minutes - and was as pleased as everyone else at the Club when Johnson's lovely pass set up Chris Martin for the all-important winner 13 minutes from time.

Hoolahan said: "It was a great win especially playing with ten men for 50 minutes. We showed great character and determination to get a win from the game, we didn't sit back and settle for a draw after we lost Holty and went forward and created a lot of chances.

"Obviously it's the gaffer's call to make a change and it paid off, because Oli's gone past two players and played a great ball to Chrissy who has finished it really well. Nobody likes to get taken off but that's football and obviously it's for the best of the team and it worked out well so I've no complaints."

Johnson's clever assist followed hard on the heels of his first strike for the Canaries in last week's 5-0 win at Colchester, and Hoolahan said the former Stockport striker has made a good impression since his switch earlier in the January transfer window.

"Oli's been great he's come in fresh and put a smile on everybody's face and he's just been brilliant in training," said Hoolahan. "He's come on again on Saturday and he's created a goal. Oli's come in and it's like he's been here a few months and hopefully he can keep it going."

Hoolahan and his team-mates rose to the challenge against the Bees after the hammer blow of losing skipper and leading scorer Grant Holt for a straight red card following a challenge on Toumani Diagouraga in the 41st minute.

Asked if it would be a blow to lose the league's top marksman during his three-game suspension following that dismissal, Hoolahan replied: "Yes obviously it is. He's scored 23 goals this season and he's a big, big player for us but hopefully we can win a few games and then get him straight back in.

"He's got great positional sense up front, his work-rate is unbelievable and his character in the dressing room before the game and all that is great so we'll miss him."

Meanwhile Hoolahan is pleased the City faithful have had something to cheer about so far this season having endured some grim times since he joined the Club: "Yes, when I first came here we hadn't really won much and didn't really do anything so this year has been great and the crowd have been amazing.

"On Saturday It was amazing, probably the best we've had, especially when we were down to ten men. They kind of controlled us along and helped us.

Brentford's industrious Sam Wood was employed in a man-marking role on City's playmaker and Hoolahan was asked if he can expect similar tactics in the games ahead, starting with Walsall away on Tuesday night (7.45pm):

"I hope not because it was a bit annoying - everywhere I went he kept following me! But you've got to deal with these things and it kind of gives other people more space on the pitch. So hopefully it works out both ways."

Walsall have only played one game since December 19 - a 2-1 home reverse to Brighton two Saturdays ago - as their pitch has been frozen during the bitter English winter. Hoolahan acknowledged the Saddlers would provide tough opposition but was confident the Canaries would adapt to challenging conditions as they did to such great effect at Colchester:

"They've not played many games apart from last week so hopefully we can catch them a bit cold. As far as the pitch goes it may not suit our natural game but hopefully we can adapt to the situation."

 Tickets for tonight's game at Walsall will be available on the turnstiles at the Banks's Stadium