Chris Lakey City winger David Bell is convinced that one lucky break will see the Canaries move away from the drop zone. The defeat at Reading left City 20th in the Championship, just five points off the danger area - and with bottom side Charlton at Carrow Road on Saturday.

Chris Lakey

City winger David Bell is convinced that one lucky break will see the Canaries move away from the drop zone. The defeat at Reading left City 20th in the Championship, just five points off the danger area - and with bottom side Charlton at Carrow Road on Saturday.

But Bell believes fans should take heart from the three performances during a six-day spell when City beat Ipswich but lost at Watford and now Reading.

"After beating Ipswich we went to Watford and played really well," said Bell. "To even get only a point out of that game would have been an injustice - but we go and lose 2-1. I felt we dominated for long periods again today. Reading are a top side, thatwhy they are up there, and I feel the last three performances have been really good and positive and we are just not getting that rub of the green. It was a penalty late on that was given against us when it should have been a foul at the worst in our favour. We just have to take the last three performances in a positive way. We know Reading are one of the best sides in the league and we've given them a good run for their money on their own patch. We know we can compete with the best teams in this league, we just need that little bit of luck. I am sure - and we all hope - we start getting that rub of the green soon and start pushing up to the right end of the table rather than the wrong end."

Referee Trevor Kettle's decision four minutes from time to award Reading a penalty against Mark Fotheringham for handball when he appeared to be pushed left City players fuming.

"We are disgusted at the decision," said Bell. "When he blew his whistle their team, our team, everyone thought he was blowing for a foul on Fozzy because there was obviously a nudge in the back.

"I thought we edged the first half. The second half they got on top in periods, which obviously they are going to, but I felt we defended really, really well and the referee killed the game, it was a lot of hard work down the drain."