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End-of-season report: Norwich City

Norwich City defied the bookmakers by comfortably surviving in the Premier League. Here, Sports Mole reviews how the Canaries went about their successful campaign.

The bookmakers had Norwich City as one of the favourites for relegation at the start of the season.

However, as the season unfolded Paul Lambert's promoted squad never looked in any danger of falling through the Premier League trap door.

What's more, the likes of John Ruddy and Grant Holt have received a number of plaudits for their performances on the pitch.

Here, Sports Mole reviews the displays that the Canaries have put in over the past ten months.

August

Lambert's side adjusted to life in the Premier League with successive 1-1 draws against Wigan Athletic and Stoke City.

Their next fixture was a trip to Chelsea, who defeated the Yellows 3-1 in a match that included a debut goal from Spanish international Juan Mata.

Perhaps even more concerning for Norwich supporters was the fact that some of their squad players were beaten 4-0 at home by League One side MK Dons in the Carling Cup.

September

Peter Odemwingie scored the only goal of the game as West Bromwich Albion claimed all three points from a trip to Carrow Road, which left Norwich still seeking their first win of the season.

That eventually arrived in their next match - a trip to Bolton Wanderers. Anthony Pilkington and Bradley Johnson were the heroes, scoring a goal apiece at the Reebok Stadium.

Victory over Sunderland on a Monday evening rounded off a largely successful for the Norfolk-based side.

October

Despite creating numerous chances, Norwich slumped to a 2-0 defeat away at Manchester United. However, that was soon erased thanks to a 2-0 win over Swansea City and a 1-1 draw at Anfield.

The last game of the month saw the Canaries score two late goals to seal a 3-3 draw from their home fixture against Blackburn Rovers.

November

Successive defeats against Aston Villa and Arsenal at the start of November led some to wonder if Norwich were going to be sucked into relegation trouble.

In their next outing the Canaries went about proving that talk to be a little hasty when goals from Russell Martin and Holt handed them a 2-1 win over struggling Queens Park Rangers.

December

December began poorly when Norwich shipped five against leaders Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

They soon recovered though, defeating Newcastle United 4-2 before securing successive draws away at Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The other remaining festive fixtures saw Norwich pick up just one point from matches against London duo Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur.

January

Vital wins in January over QPR and West Brom were accompanied by a 0-0 draw with Chelsea as Lambert's men ended the month unbeaten in the Premier League.

In fact, the club did not suffer defeat in all competitions thanks to FA Cup wins over Burnley and West Brom.

Manager Lambert was also active in the January sales, adding Jonny Howson from Leeds United to his squad.

February

Sunderland recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory over Norwich at the Stadium of Light at the start of the month, before they responded with successive victories over Bolton Wanderers and Swansea.

They also looked to be heading for a point against Man United at Carrow Road until Ryan Giggs turned in a cross from Ashley Young in stoppage time.

It was also the end of the road as far as the FA Cup was concerned as Championship side Leicester City recorded a 2-1 victory at Carrow Road.

March

With safety all but confirmed, Norwich slipped to three defeats in March in matches against Stoke, Newcastle and Fulham. Those results were also accompanied by a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Wigan.

The only bright point of the month arrived when relegation candidates Wolves were beaten by two goals to one.

April

April also included three defeats, most notably a heavy 6-1 loss at home to Manchester City, whose striker Carlos Tevez found the net on three occasions.

Everton were held 2-2 at Carrow Road, while a powerful strike from Elliott Bennett sealed all three points for the Canaries from their trip to Tottenham. Lambert later described his side's display at White Hart Lane as the best they had put in all season.

May

Lambert went on to change his opinion in May following Norwich's 3-3 draw away at Arsenal. At one stage Norwich led 2-1, before Robin van Persie scored twice to give the Gunners what looked like all three points.

However, Steve Morison came off the bench to rescue a point fort the visitors.

The Canaries claimed another three points on the final day of the season, beating Aston Villa 2-0 at Carrow Road to finish 12th in the table, level on points with West Brom and Swansea.

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