Norwich City FC: 6 Star Performers in Bolton Win

Norwich City proved its point again on Saturday afternoon, with a superb 2-0 home win against Bolton. It was a composed and controlled performance for the Canaries. When the final whistle went the East Anglian side fully deserved the points.

Some questions were asked after the inadequate performances against Martin O'Neill's Sunderland. But the response from Paul Lambert's men was superb, and it proved that the game on Wednesday night—was nothing more than a blip on the road to survival.

So with that in mind, I have highlighted six men that deserve special mention in this slideshow.

Russell Martin

Russell Martin may be a right-back by trade, but he has been immense as a central defender this season. The partnership between Zak Whitbread and Daniel Ayala have meant that Martin has been asked to revert to the right-back role.

However, the Scottish international defender has produced mixed performances since returning to his preferred position. On Saturday, he was not seen as the right choice to start the game.

Injuries to Whitbread and Ayala meant that he was called into action from the bench. Back as a central defender, Martin was superb. Holding the defense together in very difficult and unusual circumstances, but against the odds the defense held firm to record a second consecutive home clean sheet.

Of course, this begs on the question on if Martin should revert to a central defender permanently. In any case he is likely be needed over the coming weeks, with Ayala looking to be out for the next few weeks at least.

David Fox

The decision to recall David Fox was not a hard decision to make. However, with no Bradley Johnson or Andrew Crofts on their side, there was a lot of pressure on the midfielder.

However, the former Colchester United player put on a superb performance. Fox was playing just in front of the back four, was calm in possession and provided the right balance between defensive protection and getting the team moving forward. 

Andrew Surman

Andrew Surman has been putting in the sort of performances that make him one of the first names on the team sheet. Again, he was superb with clever movement and delicate, precise touches in possession.

Recently the former Wolves player has shown his ability to provide goals from midfield. It was great to see his perseverance with the strike on Saturday. Surman's initial drive was kept out by the crossbar, but he showed a striker's instinct by picking up the rebound and hammering it home.  

Simeon Jackson

The Canadian international played a very important role in the victory.

Simeon Jackson started the game and ran at the Bolton defense at every opportunity. His work rate was truly incredible, and he tested the goalkeeper out on a number of occasions. The only slight disappointing aspect was his lack of a goal. It would have capped off Jackson's performance perfectly.   

Anthony Pilkington

The Canaries had to attack with caution through much of the game on Saturday, to protect a makeshift defense. However, when Norwich played the ball wide, Pilkington was the man causing a lot of the problems.

It was another all-action display from the winger, and his sixth Premier League goal of the season to make it 2-0, capped it off.

Paul Lambert

Save the best for last, Paul Lambert was the real star performer of the day. It is not often that a football manager will lose his two central defenders in the first-half to injury.

However, it is often how coaches react that separates the good from the great. Norwich City does not have many options with its injuries and having Ryan Bennett away on loan.

The response was to play two full-backs in central defense, a winger at right-back and force a veteran full-back to play the whole game.

There was a second part to this as well, because Lambert could now only make one more change.

Paul Lambert may have called this the best win of his time at Norwich, but it was a masterclass of management. 

Follow James Kent on Twitter @jimlk2007.