Manager looking to get points reward for team's form
CHRIS Hughton is finally hoping to translate the Canaries’ positive form into a result when Cardiff City visit Carrow Road this weekend.City’s manager has been encouraged by his side’s general play, despite consecutive defeats against Chelsea and Arsenal, but firmly believes they can benefit from home advantage on Saturday.
“We are very conscious of the fact that we’re at home,” said Hughton when addressing the media at his pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon.
“One of the plusses is that we’re in good form at the moment. We’ve been beaten in the last two games by top teams who will both be pushing for the league title, but we’ve played well in spells.
“We’re on the back of a very good home performance against Chelsea, and we were really disappointed to not get something from the game. The generally feeling was that we couldn’t have given any more that day.
“We all know what a win can do at this stage of the season. Fulham won on Monday and it lifted them a few places in the table, and we’re definitely conscious of that.”
Hughton commented on the fitness of Ricky van Wolfswinkel, who missed out on last weekend’s 4-1 loss to Arsenal, saying that it will be ‘touch and go’ as to whether the Netherlands international striker will feature.
“Ricky missed out last week, but he’s close and it will be touch and go. We’ll make that decision over the next 48 hours, but he has a chance,” he explained.
“Thankfully Johan Elmander is back and has been training this week. Overall, we’re in decent shape at the moment.”
Despite opponents Cardiff, managed by former Norwich City defender Malky Mackay, lying just one place above the Canaries outside the relegation zone, Hughton thinks they will have been pleased with their first months in the Premier League.
“They’ve had some very good results – away at Fulham I thought they were excellent, and to beat Manchester City at home is a big feat. I think they’ll be delighted by their start,” he added.
“I’ve watched their recent games, and I saw a lot of them last season, and they’re a side that very much deserved to get the plaudits that they did last season.
“They’ve acquired some very good players in summer, and spent good money in doing so, but of course we look to try and get three points from every game, especially at home.”