Norwich City

Manager Chris Hughton previews Spurs clash

CITY boss Chris Hughton is expecting to ‘see a reaction’ from his players when they take on Andre Villas-Boas’ Tottenham Hotspur in the Barclays Premier League at Carrow Road on Wednesday night.

Saturday’s FA Cup exit at the hands of Luton Town came after another defeat away to Liverpool in the league, but Hughton is hoping for an improved display against his former team Spurs, who City have already beaten at Carrow Road in the Capital One Cup this season.

He told Canaries Player: “It’s a good opportunity for us. We’re at home and these are the games where you look at the team and the individuals to bounce back.

“We look for character, and there is a lot of character in there.

“We certainly can’t underestimate the quality that Tottenham have because it’s there to see but it’s an opportunity for us to get back to winning ways, better form, and hopefully to get some points.

“They’ve got quality players, there is no doubt about their quality, and it will be a very tough game for us.

“What I’d like to expect is to see a reaction from my team. Whether that will see us put in a performance that we need to get a result that we want, we’ll only know that on Wednesday, but I’m quite sure it won’t be through a lack of effort.”

With the Canaries still seven points above the drop zone, the recent run of poor form has still left them in a strong position in the league, but the Manager is keen to get back to winning ways as soon as possible.

He added: “It has been a tough week but I think when you’re playing at the level we are then you have to be able to ride this poor run of form.

“We were on the back of a very good run before this. What’s the difference? Well you’re doing a lot of things the same as in you’re good run, but it’s about form, it’s about injuries, and it’s about the fine margins of getting a result when you don’t play so well.

“Sometimes in a difficult period, the same type of performance that might have gotten you a win before, doesn’t.

“It’s not a science, we are at this moment in what I regard as a good position in the division, and I suppose an example of how tough it is in this division is that at the beginning of this poor run we were ten points clear of the relegation zone, and we’re now seven points clear.

“It’s an example of how tough it is, not just for us, but for everyone.

“You can’t afford to get carried away when you’re on a good run, and we didn’t, and ultimately you can’t afford to let yourself get too down when you’re on a poor one.

“We have some very good professionals at this Club, and we need to get back to winning ways again.”

To watch the full interview with Chris Hughton on Canaries Player, click here.