Norwich City FC: 5 Things Learned from Swansea Win

Norwich City fans will have calmed down from their superb win over Swansea by now. The Canaries proved that is is possible to go to the Liberty Stadium, stop the the home side playing, and come away with all three points.

The 3-2 scoreline perhaps flattered Swansea a little, and without the heroics of Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm it could have been 4-1 or worse.

With the game in mind I have complied this slideshow to review this fine win.

The Game Elliott Bennett Showed What He Can Do

The decision to pick Elliott Bennett ahead of Wes Hoolahan was a big call by Norwich City manager Paul Lambert. It was the sort of decision that could have made lesser managers looks a bit silly. However, our man Lambert looks like a genius again. 

Quite where Bennett was playing is anyone's guess, but I am just going to assume he was given a free role to roam where he likes.This means that, sometimes he popped up in a wide role, other times he was playing in more central areas.

What we know for sure is that Bennett laid on goals for Anthony Pilkington and Grant Holt. The former Brighton man was also a constant menace to Swansea defense. The one thing that is missing is that first goal in Norwich City colors.

However, if Bennett can keep this level of performance that surely will come soon. 

Norwich City Have No Problem Beating Their Fellow Newly Promoted Teams

After the win against Swansea at the Liberty Stadium that is four wins out of four. 12 priceless points taken off Queens Park Rangers and Swansea.

Those points have propelled Norwich City up the table. As they say, newly promoted clubs have to beat the teams around them. The Canaries though can currently enjoy being in the top eight of the league table, rather than the bottom eight.

Paul Lambert Has Learned Lessons from Their Last Visit to the Liberty Stadium

When Norwich traveled to the Liberty Stadium on the 9 April 2011, the Canaries were resoundingly beaten 3-0.

Every time Paul Lambert loses a match it clearly hurts. But the man is a real student of the game, and will analyze the performance to work out what went wrong. Why were Swansea able to win so easily on that day?

Whatever the reason Lambert has worked it out. He's worked out how to stop them, and how starve them of the ball. This time around Norwich got their revenge.   

Grant Holt and Anthony Pilkington Just Keep on Scoring

Grant Holt showed what he is all about in the game against Swansea. The Swans supporters thought it would be funny to tease Holt about his weight.

Norwich City's forward responded in the best possible way. First of all, by scoring a brace, and then by taking his shirt off to reveal he is actually in incredible shape. How silly must Swansea fans feel now.

With nine Premier League goals already, should we rule out the former Shrewsbury striker scoring 15 league goals or more?

Equally, Anthony Pilkington's goals have been very useful. That is now seven Premier League goals for the season. The former Huddersfield man will now be looking for double figures.

Leon Barnett to Be Replaced

In the game against Swansea, Norwich City had their two first-choice central defenders out injured. Therefore, Leon Barnett would have thought his chances of starting the game was fairly good.

However, instead Lambert elected to play Russell Martin and Elliott Ward. Barnett was places on the bench. Martin is a right back by trade and Ward was making his first appearance of the season after being out with a long-term injury. Barnett did make a brief appearance late in the second half. However, the former West Brom defender is clearly well down the pecking order.

His chances in the first team will get even worse when Ryan Bennett arrives from Peterborough United.

Having said all that, Ward was superb for a man out injured for so long. A stunning saving title to deny Swansea a second goal when they were leading 1-0. Then the presence of mind to set up a goal for Grant Holt.

Follow James Kent on Twitter @jimlk2007 and via his Facebook fan page.