Robert Snodgrass scored Norwich City's equaliser direct from a free-kick in a 1-1 draw against the Saints at St Mary's Stadium in November, and expects another 'ding-dong' contest.
Norwich City’s Robert Snodgrass ready for Premier League battle
David Cuffley
Friday, March 8, 2013
12:22 PM
There is no substitute for hard graft as Norwich City seek the points that will secure their Premier League future, according to winger Robert Snodgrass.
Snodgrass and team-mate Russell Martin were yesterday named in the Scotland squad to face Wales on March 22 and Serbia on March 26 in World Cup qualifying matches, but before that international double date, both players have more immediate business to attend to at club level.
While 40 points is usually seen as the benchmark for top-flight survival, two wins from the final 10 league games could well be enough for the Canaries to remain among the elite next August, and they will be hoping to secure one of them against Southampton at Carrow Road tomorrow (3pm).
Snodgrass scored City’s equaliser direct from a free-kick in a 1-1 draw against the Saints at St Mary’s Stadium in November, and expects another “ding-dong” contest.
He said: “Every game is a battle. You don’t go out there in the Premier League and get an easy game – never. I’ve not had it since I arrived here and from the feedback from the players, they’ve not had it either.
“You need to bite and scratch, do everything you possibly can as an individual to try to do better than your opponent.
“That’s what it takes for 11 men on the park – to roll your sleeves up and battle. It’s dogged down at the bottom of the league. Everyone is fighting for points – you see Queens Park Rangers have just picked up a vital three points and it opens things up again and they might think they’ve got a chance of staying up.”
It was at Southampton that QPR picked up those three points with last week’s 2-1 win, a result that makes tomorrow’s visitors eager to atone.
“They’ll want to put things right, first and foremost,” said Snodgrass. “They’ve just been beaten by the team at the bottom of the league. They’ll want to pick themselves up and go again.
“Everybody’s trying to avoid relegation. It doesn’t get any easier as the games go on, especially when you’re looking over your shoulder to see who’s catching you.”
The 25-year-old Scot draws comfort from the Canaries’ home record, with 23 of their 32 points garnered in front of their own fans.
“We’ve done quite well against the teams round about us, and we’ve done really well at home,” he said. “It’s only Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool who have beaten us at home.
“We’ve had some real ding-dongs at home and as a player you want to be part of that, fighting for every point and it will be no different tomorrow.”
Snodgrass is convinced City are one of the fittest sides in the top flight, and takes pride in his preparation for each game.
“As a footballer you’ve got a job to do and it’s preparing yourself for Saturday so you can be in the best mental and physical shape you can possibly be,” he said.
“You eat the right things – sometimes you’re just like a machine, you need to take care of your body, especially with how physical it is. Take care of yourself on and off the park and make sure you’re physically right for the high demands the Premier League sets upon you.
“As an individual, I do that. We have a great bunch of lads, honest, hard-working and a great nutrition and fitness side of things and that’s why people have noticed this season that Norwich do work very, very hard. If you work harder than your opponents, you’ve got a better chance.”
Snodgrass recalled that City might have claimed all three points at Southampton.
“In the first half they were the better side, but in the second half there was only one team looking to try to win the game and that was us. That was away from home, so let’s hope we can win the game at home,” he said.
“It was nice to get on the scoresheet that day but I’ll just be happy if we get three points. That’s the main aim.
“People have compared the two clubs a lot, especially with those Grant Holt and Rickie Lambert coming up through the leagues and scoring goals.
“It’s Rickie Lambert’s first season in the Premier League. I’ve played against him before and he’s very clinical. He will take his chance if it comes so we have to watch him.
“They have some good players in Adam Lallana and Gaston Ramirez so they’ve a lot going forward but they’ve also got weaknesses. That’s why they’re near the bottom of the table.
“They will be thinking the same things about us. I’m looking forward to it, especially being defeated the way we were on Saturday, 4-0 at Manchester United. There is no better way to put it behind you than to win the game.”
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26 comments
Cheers, sharky. I`m the antidote to The Fast Show. The So Slowmo. ;-)
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Mad Brewer
Saturday, March 9, 2013
I`m heading for the rupturing pulmonary option Stew. Will report back!
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Mad Brewer
Saturday, March 9, 2013
.....Brew! This story will be disappearing soon so go to the 'busting a lung' for further info....
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Stew Pydsodd
Saturday, March 9, 2013
MB You made me laugh. Great post. Good luck with wiziwig. Wigan 3 up I think they will escape relegation on todays form
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sharky
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Suits you, Sir.......
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Mad Brewer
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Hi, Stew. Somebody gave me a link and advised me to click on that. Takes you straight to the "select a channel" page. I got that far OK anyway, then confusing messages about installing stuff appeared. As a result I seem to have imported some intruders into the peaceful world of my BT Yahoo Homepage! My pal told me to ignore all that install stuff and avoid any option faster than 500 (megabytes??) per sec. Do you have a suggestion for the best option to try first? I`ll give it a try and fall back on Partridge Wireless & my imagination if (when) I fail. A couple of beers helps!! Your help is greatly appreciated - like a few other kind souls before you, you are dealing with a chronic computerphobe here! Can`t even find my ancient copy of "Windows for Dummies". I bought it thinking it was a novel about a Gents` Outfitters!! ;-)
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Mad Brewer
Saturday, March 9, 2013
.....Hello Brew!... Giving Wiziwig another try today? Good Luck!.....
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Stew Pydsodd
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Now there`s civilized! Good ol` Stew.
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Mad Brewer
Saturday, March 9, 2013
.....morning jonny 4f.....seems I upset you in the recent past. I am sorry if that is the case, but cannot recall the incident. Please be good enough to tell me what it was and when...... Archant asked for our predictions on another board, and it spilled onto this one. Stories are being posted thick and fast at the moment and soon this one will disappear. Like you, I read most of the City football offerings and the comments made, with interest. I do not intend to offend, with one exception, but often like others, have different points of view. Sometimes perhaps, put a bit too bluntly. Keep your comments coming! I will look forward to them with a bit more interest!.....
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Stew Pydsodd
Saturday, March 9, 2013
have not posted here for a while but the last time i posted norwich were safe Stew Pydsodd shot me down changed your tune now keep the faith otbc
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johnny 4 fingers
Friday, March 8, 2013
Should we get Gareth Bale in to give some lessons? Hold on, referees seem to be on to him, how about Michael Owen?
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DocOhNo
Friday, March 8, 2013
If Snoddy is to get free kicks the team need to be falling over more often following the example of the teams with a good record of penalties who funnily enough are mainly in the top half of the table.
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goldie
Friday, March 8, 2013
Lets av a few more Snoddy free kicks finding there way into the back of the net.
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MBA Marine
Friday, March 8, 2013
My prediction is as follows... Reading to go down in bottom place on 33 points Wigan next on 34 points then a toss of the coin between QPR and Villa both who I think will finish on 35 points. I can also see Southampton (if we beat them tomorrow) and Sunderland getting dragged into it as well after looking at their fixtures but think they will do just enough to survive. I'm 98% certain Norwich are safe this season and to be honest I have not been in the slightest bit worried about us going down. 8 points is a massive gap to close and that is without us getting another point all season and lets face it that is not likely to happen is it? I know we aren't the greatest team in the league but we certainly aren't the worst either so more points will surely be picked up along the way. I agree with Stew and would say we are pretty much safe already but just for the record I think we will pick up another couple of wins and a few draws between now and the end of the season and end up on a total of 44 points. OTBC
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mickncfc
Friday, March 8, 2013
We missed the " easy" route to European competition in the FA and League Cups, sadly. Still, it`ll keep Swansea busy next season; just shows what can be achieved. 49 points, as optimistic as it was, won`t get us there. But it`ll do! (As would 17th place).
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Mad Brewer
Friday, March 8, 2013
I suppose a European place is out of the question? Mind you, seeing Inter Milan last night they're all rubbish.
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DocOhNo
Friday, March 8, 2013
Stew & CanaryWest should not be falling out. Both NCFC supporters. This is a virulent virus planted by S\O. Somehow, this utter t**t has created bad feeling on the boards. Shame on you, Archant. Pre-season, I predicted 49 points. Still not impossible..... Haven`t put my house on it, though!
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Mad Brewer
Friday, March 8, 2013
All five of City's remaining home games are winnable. The Canaries should be able to get a point or two from trips to Sunderland, Stoke and Wigan. Just one win and three draws (with six defeats) would put City on 38 points. I doubt Wigan, Reading, Aston Villa and QPR will get 38 points. Beat the Saints and they may not get to 38 either!
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Capri
Friday, March 8, 2013
......Was that 'typing or trying ' Canary West?Sorry ! I missed 3 teams from my prediction :-Sunderland 38pts - Norwich 41pts - Newcastle 41 pts....Anyone else got the ability to work it out differently?.. If you can, 'Lets be having your drivel ' .......
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Stew Pydsodd
Friday, March 8, 2013
I think City will stay up. The penalty save at QPR and the late turn around against Everton putting on 32 points with 10 games to go. I doubt QPR will get to 32 points but the other sides down the bottom will.
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Capri
Friday, March 8, 2013
I think CH will have one eye on attack and one eye on defense. That only leaves the nose in the middle.
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Lobbo
Friday, March 8, 2013
I'm with Stew, why is suggesting we're probably safe drivel?
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DocOhNo
Friday, March 8, 2013
Stew, why do you bother wasting time tying such utter drivel? If you think it will end QPR 28 pts, Wigan 28pts and Aston VIIIaReading 30pts you are truly deluded. We are not safe yet. Teams ALWAYS pick up at the end of the season so people who think we will be safe on anything between 32 and 35 points are really living in cloud-cuckoo-land. We need 38 points as a minimum and probably more. We will get them and stay up.
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CanaryWest
Friday, March 8, 2013
.....Anyone else notice that Spurs devastated Milan with their wide men last night?, and Parker(Hoolahan style), played a blinder in mid-field !....Fancy a go on the Left wing Snodgrass?...
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Stew Pydsodd
Friday, March 8, 2013
Nobody can question Snodgrass' effort and willingness to work for the team. Long may it continue. Hope he doesnt pick up anopther yellow though as we dont want to lose him through suspension for games like Reading at home.
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CanaryWest
Friday, March 8, 2013
....Busy day at the office today! Rosmary Dixon-Anny Onimus(x4) -Mike Bailey -Paddy Davitt - David Cuffley all having a go by 12 21pm. Time we lesser mortals make a comment , the story disappears from view. This is what I tried earlier in answer to 'The countdown begins'........Hear Ye!... Hear Ye!...Hear Ye!...after analysing the 'Ifs', 'Buts' and 'Maybes', I conclude that Norwich City is already safe from relegation this season. Teams that WILL be relegated are QPR 28 pts, Wigan 28pts and 'wait for it' Aston VIIIa 30pts, - Reading 30pts will escape because of their superior goal differnce to Aston VIIIa...Southampton will be next with 35 pts..... But don't put your house on it!...
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Stew Pydsodd
Friday, March 8, 2013