CITY 'S latest pre-season game saw them go down 1-0 to League One new boys Dagenham & Redbridge at Victoria Road tonight.
Despite the result, boss Paul Lambert will have been pleased to see Elliott Ward play his first 45 minutes in a Norwich shirt. The keenly-contested affair also saw 21 different City players get valuable game-time under their belts ahead of the Canaries' first Carrow Road date of the season against Newcastle United on Saturday.
"It was very tough," confirmed Lambert. "But the game is there to get people fit and match-fit and we've got another tough game against Newcastle on Saturday.
"We can't expect to turn up at any football ground and just get a result, albeit a pre-season friendly. The main thing for me is to get people fit and get ready for the Watford game."
The City boss confirmed he was a little disappointed about the lack of clear-cut chances his side were able to create. "First half yes, but we did better in the second half. The main thing for me remains getting players fit, not picking up any injuries and getting ready for the Watford game and we've still got three games to go."
Although the match saw a City debut for Ward, Lambert confirmed Grant Holt, Stephen Hughes and Steven Smith remain sidelined and unlikely to face Newcastle at Carrow Road on Saturday.
The hosts came close to opening the scoring after 12 minutes. With City down to 10 men, due to Owain Tudur Jones receiving treatment for a head wound, Dagenham striker Gavin Tomlin escaped the attention of George Francomb before forcing the ball past John Ruddy, but the covering Elliott Ward was on hand to clear the ball off the line.
Tomlin came close again just moments later with a powerful shot which Ruddy did well to palm away at his near post.
With Tudur Jones back in action and City back to full strength they began to see more of the ball with the lively McNamee providing a number of balls into the Daggers' box but nothing of note falling to the City frontline of Martin and Jackson.
Dagenham took the lead after 24 minutes when Tomlin got the slighest of touches to a low driven Danny Green cross from the right which the City defence failed to clear.
WINNER: Gavin Tomlin scores on his debut for the Daggers
City almost levelled the game straight from the restart when Simon Lappin saw a goal-bound effort deflected for a corner.
Ruddy had to be alert to prevent the Daggers from doubling their lead ten minutes before the break as the impressive Green struck a free-kick through a ruck of bodies that the City 'keeper did well to get down to.
HALF-TIME: DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 1, NORWICH CITY 0
Russell Martin replaced Ward at the break and took up the right-back slot with Francomb moving across to partner Tudur Jones.
Eight minutes into the second half and Chris Martin almost engineered a chance for himself following a mix-up between Daggers 'keeper Chris Lewington and the covering defender but the hosts managed to clear the danger in the nick of time with Martin all set to pounce.
On the hour-mark Lambert made nine changes with Steer, Nelson, Drury, Crofts, Johnson, Hoolahan, Fox, Surman and Dawkin all joining the Victoria Road encounter.
As the second half continued it was the home side that continued to press forward in search of a second goal and they went close again on 72 minutes when Romain Vincelot saw his header come off the underside of the crossbar.
FULL-TIME: DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 1 NORWICH CITY 0
DAGENHAM: Lewington, Ogogo, McCrory (Currie 60), Doe (Gwilliam 60), Vincelot, Arber (capt), Green (Bingham 60), Lewis (Montgomery 81), Benson (Antwi 60), Tomlin (Scott 71), Gain: Subs: Sambridge (GK), Wilkinson, Osborn, Wootton, Montgomery, Femi
CITY: Ruddy (Steer 60), Gill, Tudur Jones (Nelson 60), Jackson (Dawkin 60), McNamee (Gill 60), Chris Martin (Johnson 60), Francomb, Smith Crofts 60), Lappin (capt) (Surman 60), Gordon (Drury 60), Ward (Russell Martin 45)
Referee: Mr G Ward
Attendance: 1,092 (254 City)
