Canaries on a lofty perch

LATICS LIFE: ATHLETIC know first hand just what a daunting task they face against Norwich.

Paul Lambert's side were irresistible at times in the 2-0 win at Carrow Road back in early December and their effervescent attacking football could easily have seen a much heavier advantage than the two goals built up by half-time.

Clinging on by their fingernails, Athletic managed to hold out and as the home side visibly relaxed after the break, Keigan Parker had a couple of presentable chances to sugar-coat the final score.

Athletic fans will hope that with home advantage, the tables can be turned on the promotion-chasers at Boundary Park on Saturday.

One positive from a home perspective is that Norwich have experienced a slight wobble in form lately.

The Canaries, still top of League One, recovered from being a goal down to take all three points when hosting Southend on Tuesday night.

Former Stockport striker Oli Johnson was the Canaries' hero of the hour, emerging from the bench to equalise ex-Athletic man Scott Vernon's opener before winning all three points with an injury-time header.

Paul Lambert's men lost 2-0 at home to Southampton last weekend, a game in which Darel Russell was dismissed after 64 minutes.

The midfielder will sit out the game against Athletic, serving the second of his three-match ban after an appeal by the club against the ban was thrown out.

That was a second defeat in three matches for the Canaries, following up a 2-1 loss at Millwall two weeks earlier.

Prior to that, Paul Lambert's side had constructed a run of no less than eight consecutive victories to propel themselves to the top of League One above Leeds United.

But the City boss hasn't been panicked by the loss of form, stating to the press that he "never dwells on a win, never mind anything else."

With the level of firepower at his disposal, it is no wonder Lambert has little trouble sleeping.

Ex-Rochdale forward and team captain Grant Holt has been a revelation for Norwich, plundering 24 goals in all competitions this season, including one against Athletic.

Holt has played in the last three matches after coming back from a suspension picked up for a red card against Brentford when he lunged at midfielder Toumani Diagouraga.

In his absence, Johnson and former trainee Cody McDonald shared the responsibilities up front alongside highly-rated Chris Martin, who has himself bagged 18 goals in this campaign so far.