Survival top of Lambert´s list

Paul Lambert maintained survival was his priority after Norwich leapt to ninth in the English Premier League with a 2-1 win over Sunderland.

Goals from Leon Barnett and Steve Morison were enough to secure all three points over Steve Bruce’s side on Monday, giving Norwich back-to-back victories following their triumph over Bolton at the Reebok Stadium on September 17.

“It’s a start (with regards to the club’s hopes of staying up). Winning away last week at Bolton was terrific and being at home and getting your first win at home is a big step for us,” Lambert told Sky Sports.

“We’re new to it (the Premier League) but we’re playing very well at the minute.”

“We’ll do everything we can to try and stay in the league, that’s first and foremost.”

“We’re trying to get our foothold in the league, it’s a very difficult league, but as I’ve said before we’ve earned the right to be in it.”

Next up for the Canaries is the daunting trip to league leaders and reigning champions Manchester United on Saturday, but Lambert said he was just happy his players were getting rewarded for their hard work over the last few seasons.

“We’ll do everything we can. It’s a blip that (United’s draw at Stoke on Saturday). They’re a top, top side and any team going there is going to find it really tough, but we’re going to go there and try and do well,” Lambert said.

“I’m delighted for the lads (being in the Premier League) and the fans. They’ve been through some barren times and I think the numbers that they come, the away support is terrific.”

“The lads, I’m delighted for. People wrote them off a little bit and where they’ve come from two years ago when we were in League One and now we’re competing at this level and I think it’s a testament to players.”

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce was disappointed with his side’s passing in the loss, which was a stern reality check after their 4-0 win against Stoke last Sunday.

“We gave the ball away so many times, so cheaply, which was one thing we have improved on – especially after the performance against Stoke – and today we had too many people today who gave the ball away cheaply,” Bruce said.

“We made a rally towards the end, we needed to score a little bit earlier and it might have been different. But overall, I’m slightly disappointed with it.”

“But fair play to Norwich and their crowd and all the rest of it. It was always going to be a difficult one, one where we needed to play well on the night and unfortunately we haven’t done that.”