Drury service

DAVID CUFFLEY

Skipper Adam Drury has urged his Norwich City team-mates to do it “our way” as they prepare to take on Sunderland - and not to be intimidated by the threat posed by Roy Keane's men.

The 28-year-old left-back insists the Canaries have to impose their own style on tomorrow's Coca-Cola Championship meeting at Carrow Road (3pm), rather than let the Wearsiders take the initiative.

“You know they're going to be in your face. You've only got to look at their manager,” said Drury.

“They're going to be up for it and they're going to fight for everything.

“He's a legend in the game and we know exactly what they're going to be like. I imagine they're going to be a physical side and he's going to demand quality from them as well.

“That's down to what we do and if we don't play our game - we didn't the other night against Colchester, we did it in spells but not for long enough - we won't get anything from the game, so we've got to make sure we go out and play our way.”

Drury knows victory is essential if City, currently 16th in the table and one place behind Sunderland, are to make any sustained progress after taking just one point out of six against Stoke and Colchester.

He said: “With the run of results we've had of late, we must get three points after the draw the other night and not playing particularly well. Although we created chances, we didn't play as well as we can do.

“I think we've been a bit stop-start. We've had a few good results, then we have had a little blip again, then we have a few good results.

“We've got to stop that because if you want to challenge in this league, you've got to be consistent the whole way through.

“I think at the minute anyone who strings that run together will be up there challenging and we've got to make sure that's us.

“Sunderland are exactly the same - the same sort of position in the table and they're going to be challenging as well.

“It doesn't help with the injuries but that's part of the game. When we've had get a settled side that's when we've had our best results and produced our best football as well. That's not been any concidence.”

Drury admitted there was a touch of nervousness about City's play but argued: “There shouldn't be a problem with confidence because the way the gaffer comes across he's positive about everything he does. We've got to take that out on the pitch with us.

“The other night, when a few passes went astray, you could tell people were a bit scared of giving the ball away.”

Supporters could play their part in what is sure to be a hothouse atmosphere tomorrow, he said.

“The fans are great, they're there every week and away from home they turn up to watch there as well. And when you get games like Stoke, they've got every right to have a go. But at home we want them behind us and backing us all the way.”

With tomorrow's match the seventh in 22 days for City since manager Peter Grant's appointment was announced, Drury said they were looking forward to a match-free midweek.

“With the gaffer it's been a little bit difficult for him since he came in, because we haven't had a free week. We've had a game every three days or so, so he's not had much time on the training ground getting his points across, so you've got to work that between not tiring the players out. It will be interesting when we get a few free weeks so he can do his stuff more in depth.”

Drury, who has played six successive games since an ankle operation, said he felt he was getting back to peak fitness - and adjusting to the important business of being a new father.

He said: “I still get a bit of soreness in the ankle every now and then. Match fitness is the big thing. You can do all the running you want on the training ground but now I'm getting a good run of games, which is good.

“I'm getting sleepness nights every night but I'm trying to split that between me and my wife and take it in turns!”