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SMITH ONLY DOUBT FOR LAMBERT

Posted on: Fri 02 Apr 2010

MIDFIELDER Korey Smith is a doubt as the Canaries head to the north-west to face Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park on Good Friday (7.45pm).

The 19-year-old picked up a dead leg in last Saturday's exciting 1-0 win over promotion rivals Leeds United and was substituted in the 85th minute.

City boss Paul Lambert said: "He's a little bit of a doubt at the minute so we'll have to see how he is. He's played an awful lot of games and he's been terrific for me but we'll see how he is."

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The only other absentees remain Jens Berthel Askou (foot) and Luke Daley (thigh).

City now face an Easter programme of two games in four days - both against teams fighting relegation. Tranmere currently sit in 21st position and Stockport County, the Canaries' Easter Monday opponents, prop up the division 15 points from safety.

But this quick succession of games is nothing out of the ordinary for Lambert: "I'll see how everybody feels and see how we do. I know it's a short turnaround but I'll see how they feel. But it's the same for everyone.

"You have to get on with it, the Easter period dictates, the same as the Christmas period, that you have to play games pretty quickly and we have to turn around as well as we can and hopefully keep performing."

The Canaries have benfitted this season from a string of successful grandstand finishes - the latest coming last Saturday with Chris Martin's 89th winner against Leeds. Lambert feels it is a combination of fitness, desire and the passionate support of the Yellow Army which is helping his side to late results.

"It's a combination of a few things - yes they're fitter but their adrenalin is carrying them through.

"You know you're in a decent position to try and do something and that definitely drives you on. The crowd plays a major part in it because of the amount of people that come and watch and they certainly help you.

"The crowd are absolutely vital for us and as I've said before they're a major part of this Football Club and always will be - we need them, there's no doubt."

Last Saturday's winner was scored through the combination of two substitutes, but Lambert insists his side's results so far this season have been realised by the whole team:  "I don't just look at it as 11 lads or the subs, it's everybody at the Football Club I need to perform and the lads who have played every single week have been brilliant.

"Stephen Hughes came on, had a great run and put a terrific ball into the box and it's an absolutely terrific finish by Chrissy Martin. But I expect them to go and do it, it's their job to go and perform and they have, every one of them has been brilliant for me."

He added: "It's their job, and if you can do it brilliant, but the job is to win us more games than not. As a group to work with they've been brilliant, not just the eleven lads, or the subs but everybody."

Wes Hoolahan wheels away after giving City the lead at Carrow Road
LAST TIME: Wes Hoolahan celebrates his penalty
conversion in November's 2-0 Canary win at Carrow Road

City travel to Prenton Park where Tranmere manager Les Parry is trying to steer his side away from the drop zone and will be looking to avoid a repeat of the season's earlier encounter at Carrow Road when the Canaries ran out 2-0 winners.

Lambert commenting on tomorrow's opponents said: "Every game is tough, they've got their own situation to look after to stay in the league. They gave us a hard game here, so it will be a hard match.

"Les has done really well up there, they were really down-and-out and he got them on a little bit of a run, they were out of it for a stage and then all of a sudden you find yourself back in it. But as a team going to their ground I'm sure they'll be up for it."

Tickets are on sale on the night at Prenton Park for tomorrow's match with Tranmere. Seats are also still available for Monday's game with Stockport County at Carrow Road (3pm).

Tickets are available by logging on to online ticketing, by calling 0844 826 1902, or by visiting the Carrow Road ticket office or the Canary Store in the Mall, Norwich.




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