Hughton looking for consistency

Chris Hughton is hoping his team may finally be able to find some middle ground as they look to plot their Premier League survival.

Last Updated: 27/02/13 at 16:42 Post Comment

Chris Hughton: Survival the priority

Chris Hughton: Survival the priority

Norwich hit a late double to come from behind and beat Everton 2-1 at Carrow Road on Saturday, which was a first Premier League win since December 19.

The victory moved Norwich some eight points clear of trouble heading into the final 11 matches of the campaign, which continues at leaders Manchester United on Saturday.

Hughton's first season at the helm opened with four defeats from the first seven league outings and was then followed by a remarkable 10-match unbeaten run, which included home wins over Arsenal and United.

Although Norwich now look capable of breaking the fabled 40-points barrier soon enough, Hughton would rather have been through less of a rollercoaster ride.

"The teams that can be that consistent are the teams that are used to this division, have the quality and are regular members of the division. We are still striving to be that and along the road with that come the inconsistencies," said Hughton, who took over when Paul Lambert left for Aston Villa in the summer.

"The spirit has never been lacking. It has been there all season, but this is a tough league to get wins.

"We play a tighter game and so perhaps it is difficult to get the wins we want.

"However, in the end, there is only one thing that matters and that is come the last game of the season, we have enough points to still be in this division."

The impact of on-loan forward Kei Kamara could just prove key to those ambitions.

The Sporting Kansas City striker came off the bench against Everton to equalise with a powerful header from a corner, which set up a grandstand finish as captain Grant Holt went on to bundle home a winner in stoppage-time.

The Sierra Leone international, who moved to the United States as a refugee before going on to play in Major League Soccer, could be in contention to start against the Red Devils - against whom he scored for Kansas in a shock win when Sir Alex Ferguson's squad were on a pre-season tour of America in 2010.

"He will help us. How much of a difference? I am probably a little bit reluctant to single out one player because he is only one player in a team and this is his first goal and his second appearance coming on. The judgment time will comer after a few games," said Hughton.

"We have a lot of good personalities in the squad, so it is not a difficult group to come into.

"Kei is a very good character, a really nice man, but he is not a young, inexperienced player, he has been around for a while, albeit not here, but he really wants to do well."

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