DMITRI Halajko is looking for his team to secure their place in the knockout stage of the International Cup when they face Aston Villa on Thursday.

Continuing the Club's initiative from the previous two campaigns, entry to Carrow Road to watch our young hopefuls will once again be FREE for all supporters.

A draw or victory for Halajko's team will see them top Group E and progress beyond this stage for the first time since the tournament's inception.

He told canaries.co.uk: "We’ll go and try to win the game. We played Villa recently, beat them 2-1 away at Villa Park and we had to play very, very well that night to get that win.

"It’s going to be a tough game. If we get anything out of the game it’ll be because we deserved it because they’re a good team in our league with some good players.

"I think cup games always add something a little bit special and games at Carrow Road are always something a bit special for these lads, so hopefully we put on something for people to enjoy.

"If we win this game we will get through to the quarter-finals, that’ll be the first time the group has ever got through to that stage since it started so that’ll be a good achievement."

City played their first game of the calendar year against West Ham United on Monday night, slipping to a 2-1 defeat.

It extended their winless run to six matches but Halajko feels they have gone close to picking up positive results in that time.

"I think all the games have been competitive, it’s been a one goal swing either way," he added.

"We just haven’t been clinical enough in both penalty boxes to get that result to swing in our favour, whether it's been a mistake, there's been a goal conceded or whether it's been a miss or two at the other end.

"That's been the difference maker. It’s been those fine margins, we’re just falling short at the moment."

DMITRI HALAJKO: CUP GAMES ALWAYS SPECIAL

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