PL looks to maintain momentum

01/02/2012 08:08 +0100

The Canaries head to the Stadium of Light on the back of an impressive six-match unbeaten run which has seen them consolidate their position in the top half of the Premier League and also secure a place in the last 16 of the FA Cup with victory at West Brom.

Lambert, though, knows his well-drilled side will face another stern test of how far they have come when he goes head to head with his former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill in the dugout for the first time.

"We are playing with a lot of confidence at the minute, and it will be a great game against a really good side," said Lambert.

"We will do everything we can to win and have a lot of confidence at the moment.

"Some of the lads will be fresh from the weekend, while others will need to go again, but whatever team I pick, hopefully we can go and win.

"The momentum is there and the lads have done terrifically well over the last six months."

Norwich winger Anthony Pilkington, 23, is one of several players to have made an impressive transition to top-flight football.

The summer signing from Huddersfield, who has five goals, believes the Canaries' strong bond has played a major part in their achievements so far.

"It is a great place to be, everyone keeps going on about the team spirit and it's there to see for everyone," Pilkington told Canaries Player.

"If you look around the whole squad and everyone is playing at the top of their game, and whoever drops out, people are coming in and flying.

"Everyone is going out onto the pitch with a smile on their faces."

Lambert played for O'Neill at Celtic, where the Bhoys enjoyed a hugely successful spell - reaching the 2003 UEFA Cup final, winning three Scottish Cups, the Scottish League Cup and beating Rangers to the Scottish Premier League title three times as well as playing in the Champions League group stages.

O'Neill, 59, left Parkhead at the end of the 2004-05 season to care for his ill wife, but returned to the game at Aston Villa and after another break, took over at Sunderland in December following Steve Bruce's departure.

Lambert has often been compared to his former manager, who like the Scotsman had spells in charge of Wycombe and, albeit briefly, at Norwich. The 42-year-old feels if he can emulate O'Neill's achievements, it will be a job well done.

"My five years at Celtic under him was a major part of my career and you learn a lot," Lambert said.

"He is brilliant at getting the best out of people, playing with confidence. I loved playing under him. It was terrific.

"Whenever I needed advice, I knew I could pick up the phone to him.

"You take bits from everybody you have worked under and I have always said if I could get a touch of the success he has had, then I will be doing all right."