DMITRI Halajko knows how important Monday's clash with Southampton will be, with a win edging City even closer to safety.

City's Under-21s picked up a crucial three points against fellow relegation contenders Leicester on Monday thanks to Ray Grant's late free kick.

"We need to pick up points because we're playing the teams that are around us in the table, and the boys put in a real big performance against Leicester," Halajko told canaries.co.uk ahead of the Barclays Under-21s Premier League meeting.

"They had five players who had played Premier League football and our average age was around 18. We like being tested and it was great to get a performance and a result like that."

"It was a case of our game plan working perfectly and we're looking to put the consistency together now."

Halajko knows the scenario that his young Canaries find themselves in, with his side one point off safety but with a game in hand on Middlesbrough.

"It's in our hands and we're up for the challenge. One win out of two could do it, but two out of two absolutely secures it," he explained.

"This is a great learning experience for the lads because their league will be dictated by their performances in these next two games, which they haven't experienced before."

The City boss has also urged his team to concentrate ahead of their trip to Southampton, when the Saints will be eager to gain revenge for a 7-2 drubbing handed out by City back in November.

"We need to control our performances and hopefully the results will come off the back of that."

We will be joining the team on Monday night to provide coverage across our digital channels, with video highlights to follow on Norwich City TV.

CANARIES' FORM
W - 0-1 v Leicester (A) 11/04/2016 - Barclays U21s Premier League

L - 2-1 v Everton (H) 04/04/2016 - Barclays U21s Premier League

D - 4-4 v Reading (H) 21/03/2016 - Barclays U21s Premier League
W - 1-2 v Tottenham Hotspur (A) 11/03/2016 - Barclays U21s Premier League
L - 1-2 v Manchester City (H) 04/03/2016 - Barclays U21s Premier League

LAST NORWICH CITY U21s XI (vs Reading)

Killip; Ramsay, Crowe, Efete, Toffolo; Grant, Adams; Lewis, McIntosh, Middleton; Ashley-Seal (Sambu, 62). Unused subs: Oxborough (GK), Pollock, Aransibia, Syme.

U21s PREVIEW: HALAJKO ON SOUTHAMPTON

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