SUPER-SUB Oli Johnson was in a daze after his last-gasp heroics gave the Canaries a 2-1 victory over Southend United at Carrow Road.
The 22-year-old came on as a 69th minute substitute and made a much-needed impact when 12 minutes from time he popped up to tap in Grant Holt's rebounded effort which cancelled out Scott Vernon's first-half injury-time goal for The Shrimpers. And to send Carrow Road into delirium the former Stockport striker was then on-hand again to head home Anthony McNamee's 93rd minute corner.
"It's hard to put into words really," said Johnson speaking after the game. "It's a dream scenario you come on 1-0 down, you sort of hope as a team you can get back into the game and win it, but not necessarily getting the two goals yourself. So to come on and for that to happen is amazing really.
"I didn't really know what to do when I scored, it was that much of an amazing feeling that I didn't really know what to do with myself, I sort of just ran around like a lunatic. I don't think it really matters we won three points at the end of the day."
Asked if he had felt under pressure coming on a substitute with the Canaries 1-0 down, he replied: "There is a certain amount of pressure, more so the pressure you put on yourself to come on and make an impact. But all you can hope for is that the team get something out of the game - and as I said to score or to make a goal is a bonus really."
Although it was Johnson who made the headlines, the former non-league player with Nostell Minors Welfare in Wakefield only recently realising his professional dream with Stockport and now City, he was was keen to praise the collective efforts of his team-mates.
"I suppose if you come on and score two you're always going to be the one who gets the plaudits, but I know it's a bit of a cliché, but it is a team effort - Anthony McNamee put in a great corner and he was quality all night putting in crosses and I think we should have been better really trying to get in on the end of his balls - because they really were quality. The team drove forward, it's not just me who should take the credit because the team drove on and stuck at it and we never gave in."
MAGIC JOHNSON: Oli heads home to secure victory
over Southend at Carrow Road
After Saturday's disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Southampton, the quick visit of Southend was seen as an opportunity to bounce back straight away: "It wasn't the greatest performance from ourselves but we stuck at it and we've managed to grind out a win. On the performance side of it we can improve vastly but all that matters now is that we've got the three points," said Johnson.
The striker believes the victory shows good character by the Canaries, which will hold them in good stead as they push on through the remaining 13 games of the season: "It's a good habit to be in, it shows we are a team who fights to the final whistle. We don't know when we're beaten and I think it shows a lot of desire and determination to get the three points and I think it's a good trait to have."
See the full interview with Oli Johnson and the reaction of manager Paul Lambert on
