Norwich 1 - 0 Swindon Town : The Canaries pull off a Swi - By!!

City boss Paul Lambert praised the way his side dug out a vital three points against Swindon yesterday as the Canaries moved up to fifth place in League One.

The Norfolk club deserved their victory but for the second time this week, they showed signs of tiredness in the game's latter stages and when the score stays at 1-0, there is always some degree of anxiety.

But Chris Martin's first half winner, which he poked home after Gary Doherty played him in during a scramble in the box, was enough to send them ahead of Bristol Rovers on goal difference and their climb north continues at a decent pace.

At times in the opening 45, the Canaries played some aesthetically pleasing stuff but if you were being ultra critical, a cutting edge was possibly lacking at times.

But a Carrow Road packed house were certainly being entertained and the craft and movement belittled their League One status – especially in the first half.

And Lambert saluted his players afterwards, even if it wasn't a vintage performance. You're not going to roll over the opposition every week – and Swindon are no mugs at this level.

"I said after the Bristol Rovers game that I wished I could always be as relaxed as I was that day," he told the press afterwards.

"It's never easy, you've got to earn the right to win games and we did that today. I thought we were excellent in the first half and we might have got a couple but Swindon are a good side.

"I think we deserved it on the balance of play – but I'm always going to say that aren't I? I thought we showed a great hunger and desire not to get beat.

"You try and bounce back as quickly as you can after a defeat and all credit to them," added the Scot, fast forging a reputation in Norfolk.

While the Canary chief wasn't making any bold predictions, he'll be well aware that slowly but surely, City are becoming genuine promotion contenders.

And after this win consolidated their place in the top six, all thoughts will now turn to whether Norwich can start closing the seven point gap between them and Charlton.