Pilkington hails Canaries' team spirit

Soccer:Republic of Ireland Under-21 winger Anthony Pilkington is in no doubt Norwich's team spirit can help them achieve the collective goal of Premier League survival.

The Canaries came from behind to beat 10-man Queen’s Park Rangers at Loftus Road yesterday, where Rs captain Joey Barton scored after just 11 minutes and was then sent off for an apparent headbutt on Bradley Johnson.

While Barton’s dismissal may have caught the headlines, Paul Lambert’s men chalked up a second away win to put more distance between themselves and the bottom three.

Lambert made five changes yesterday to the starting XI and is expected to bring in a couple of new faces to help the current group, who have all impressed on their step up to the top flight, many for the first time.

Former Huddersfield winger Pilkington, who scored the equaliser yesterday, his fifth goal of an impressive debut Premier League campaign, feels should Norwich steer clear of a relegation dogfight, it would be a real team effort.

“We have got a great squad and whoever comes in does really well, and it is up to them to keep the shirt,” said Pilkington.

“We changed the team again and it worked brilliantly. Everyone is working together and there is a great team spirit in there.

“All the boys and all the staff, we are working really hard to get our aim at the end of the season.”

After being outclassed by Tottenham at Carrow Road on December 27th, Norwich netted a stoppage-time equaliser to draw 1-1 with Fulham ahead of yesterday’s victory, sealed by a late strike from Wales forward Steve Morison.

Lambert’s men probably now need around another five wins from the remaining 18 games to help them pass the fabled 40-point mark.

Pilkington, 23, feels results like the one at Loftus Road could prove priceless come May.

“It is massive — hopefully at the end of the season we will look back at these wins and that is what has kept us up,” he said. “Any win away from home in this league is huge and against one of the teams that are going to be in or around us come the end of the season.

“We are pulling away from the pack now. Hopefully we can keep picking up points, and I am sure we will be sitting nicely come May. That is all we are looking for, is to be in this league next season.”