Norwich's midweek match winner Dion Dublin insists the Championship strugglers have done little more than stop the rot. Dublin's brace sunk Blackpool at Bloomfield Road to notch City's first away league win in seven months.

By PADDY DAVITT

Norwich's midweek match winner Dion Dublin insists the Championship strugglers have done little more than stop the rot.

Dublin's brace sunk Blackpool at Bloomfield Road to notch City's first away league win in seven months. Back-to-back victories for Glenn Roeder's re-modelled Canaries after beating Coventry at Carrow Road have dragged Norwich within touching distance of safety - but the veteran sounds a note of caution.

“This is only going to be significant if we keep getting wins,” said Dublin after his starring role against the Seasiders. “We've done very well to get two victories but it's only two wins. We've lost far too many so this takes us in the right direction. We've not really achieved anything yet - apart from stopping the rot.

“Blackpool was a very important game for us. If we hadn't got something then the Coventry result would've been a waste of time. To get something makes Coventry even more vital.”

Dublin heaped praise on City's granite-like defensive display - underpinned by David Marshall's stunning late double penalty stop.

“Everyone who played deserved the plaudits but I thought the back four were absolutely outstanding,” said Dublin. “They won the game for us. Marshy's penalty save was outstanding. I got two goals and was very pleased with that but it's about the three points.

“It's been so long (the first away win) we have forgotten what it feels like. I wasn't at Plymouth but from what I hear from the staff we were woeful. Everyone was embarrassed by that performance.

“I'm just so pleased with this win. The boys worked ever so hard for it. I don't think it was the best of games and we didn't play particularly well - but what we did was stand toe-to-toe, looked people in the eye and get what we needed.”

Dublin concedes the Roeder impact has been key to Norwich's recent revival.

“A massive amount of credit goes to the manager,” he said. “You can see the camaraderie around the training ground has got better and we've got closer. Training has been more intense - it's usually a relaxed place, but I think we need that and we must keep it going.

“We had injury after injury but now there's only two or three out. They are important players but the manager still has 18, maybe 19 still to choose from. It's a great headache to have. Players must fight for their positions and that is what it should be like at a club the size of Norwich.”