JOHN Ruddy was the City hero as the new Canary 'keeper saved a second-half penalty in tonight's entertaining goalless draw at Stevenage.

The match also gave the travelling City fans a first glimpse of recent signing Simeon Jackson who played the first half of the game.

City continued their pre-season preparations with 22 players, including two Academy scholars all getting valuable game time in this goalless draw with the Football League new boys at the Lamex Stadium.

Speaking after the game Paul Lambert said he was pleased with this latest workout as City continue to build up towards the big kick-off against Watford on August 6.

"Some of the football we played was great and we are only three games in," said Lambert.

"The lads have worked really hard over the last fortnight since we've been back in so I can't ask for any more."

The City boss was also full of praise for his two 'keepers.

"The two of them were great, John made a great save with the penalty and young Jed has come on and been great."

Although a number of senior pros featured against Stevenage, noteable absentees were new signings Elliott Ward and Steven Smith, midfielder Stephen Hughes and captain Grant Holt.

"Elliott's still got a bit of knock, but he's doing ok and Grant is the same," said Lambert. "Stephen Hughes got a kick a few weeks ago and that's just flared up and Stephen Smith got hurt in Germany, so four big players back home now."

Asked if any of the four might feature against Dagenham & Redbridge on Thursday night, Lambert replied: "Not so sure, that might be a bit early."

After a number of neat passing moves from both sides in the opening stages, the game was 20 minutes old when Stevenage created the first clear-cut chance of the match. Lee Boylan broke free down the right but he opted to take the chance early and placed his low shot wide of John Ruddy's goal.

Five minutes later and Ruddy pulled off a great stop to keep the hosts at bay. After Charlie Griffin was tripped by Zak Whitbread on the edge of the area, Joel Byrom hit the resulting free-kick which the City 'keeper dived sharply to his right to turn away.

On the half-hour mark the City fans saw the first burst of Jackson's pace as he latched on to a ball from David Fox and sprinted into the area before cracking a fierce shot that warmed the hands of home 'keeper Day.

Six minutes before the break and City engineered two chances from a corner. After Adam Drury's low driven cross was hacked to safety, first Michael Nelson went close with a header from the resulting flag kick and as Stevenage made hard work of clearing the ball a second chance fell to Whitbread who headed marginally wide of the target.

Right on the stroke of half-time Jackson came close to opening his Canary goalscoring account. The former Gillingham man was teed up by Wes Hoolahan but was once again denied by Day.

Half-time: Stevenage 0 Norwich City 0

Lambert made one change during the half-time interval with Oli Johnson replacing Jackson.

Ruddy made himself the hero of the evening as he saved a penalty early in the second half. Referee Woolmer pointed straight to the spot after Griffin was upended in the box by Whitbread but Ruddy was equal to Scott Laird's spot-kick as he dived to his right and palmed the ball away.

With the game now flowing from end to end Russell Martin saw a far-post header blocked by a combination of 'keeper and defender.

After an hour the City boss opted for wholesale changes with 10 players entering the fray for the final third of the match including Academy scholars Matt Ball and Richard Brindley.

Goalkeeper Jed Steer was soon called into action and had to be alert to repel an effort from the dangerous Griffin.

With game into its final ten minutes City were again grateful to the heroics of Steer who stopped a close-range effort as Stevenage looked all set to open the scoring.

Full-time: Stevenage 0 Norwich City 0

Stevenage: Day (Bayes 75), Laird (Win 65), Murphy (Charles 45), Roberts (Foster 75), Bostwick, Henry, Byrom, Long (Bridges 80), Griffin (Rila 70), Vincenti (Savage 50), Boylan (Wilson 45). Subs: McBean, Sills, Lawrie

Norwich City: Ruddy (Steer 60), Russell Martin (Brindley 60), Drury (Lappin 60), Nelson (Tudur Jones 60), Whitbread (Francomb 60), Crofts (Smith 60), Jackson (Johnson 45), Surman (Ball 60), Hoolahan (McNamee 60), Fox (Gill 60), Chris Martin (Dawkin 60)

Referee: A. Woolmer

City defender Zak Whitbread challenges Stevenage's
Peter Vincenti in the clubs pre-season friendly