Ex-Canary Cort fires warning shot for old club

Michael Bailey

Striker Carl Cort has warned his old club that to take Brentford lightly on Saturday would be a big mistake.

The Canaries will be gunning for a record-equalling 10th successive home league win this weekend - but face a side who have taken points off League One leaders Leeds, Charlton, Colchester and MK Dons in recent weeks.

City will be on a high after their five star performance in Colchester last weekend and, with Leeds on FA Cup duty, Paul Lambert's side could replace them at the summit with a win.

But 32-year-old Cort, who made 13 appearances and scored one goal for the Canaries during his short-term deal last season, believes Brentford have what it takes to bring the Canaries back down to earth with a bump.

“It would be wrong for them to take us lightly; the boys' confidence is really high,” said Cort. “On paper our Christmas programme had some really hard games but we pulled out some good results and it has lifted everyone.

“We're strong at home but on our day, if we do what we do best, I think we can match anyone in the league.

“It will be interesting. Norwich like to get the ball down and play, and we're more of a side who will grind teams down and use our fitness.

“I thought the club, and especially the fans, were really patient with me given all the injuries and it'll be nice to go back. I'm looking forward to it.”

Cort was signed by Glenn Roeder during City's ill-fated Championship relegation campaign but, with Roeder gone and Bryan Gunn placed in charge, a foot injury late in the season ended his hopes of an extended stay at Carow Road.

He said: “I enjoyed my time there. It was a surprise going to Norwich in the first place and I was very cautious. I didn't think I would get as many games as I went and played. The physio Simon Spencer, was brilliant. Unfortunately I got the foot injury which set me back a bit - when you've picked up all these injuries like I have get used to it, but despite that I was able to get a few games and I really enjoyed it.

“I was hoping to stay on even though the club went down. It was a great club and I liked the way it played football, but obviously they had their reasons why they let me go.

“I'm now playing in the same league with Brentford and I follow their results. If they hold on to their top players and make a few good additions - which they have done - I'd definitely expect them to be pushing for it.

“They shouldn't really be in this division anyway, from what I saw last season.”

It is a point the former Newcastle striker firmly believes - a squad of Norwich's quality last season should never have been relegated.

He said: “It was funny because when I got there, in mid-December, I was always surprised at just how fit the players were and the way the club liked to play the game - you couldn't understand why they were in the situation they were.

“I didn't know the ins and outs but there is no doubt there was something else going on and it was affecting the team.

“The boys will always train well and play, but there seemed to be something missing in the side. I didn't know whether it was to do with some sort of breakdown with the manager and the players, but from what I could gather there seemed to be a bit of a breakdown in communication. That was the impression I was getting.”

Cort is expecting to make do with a place on the bench for his Carrow Road return but already has four goals in 16 appearances for Brentford.

He said: “Things are going well. I haven't been starting recently but I've been able to keep myself fit since I've been here and the coaching staff have been brilliant with me, and I'm ready to play when I'm called upon.

“We've shown we can match all the best sides in the league so we do believe we've got enough about us to be pushing for a play-off spot. We've shown we can get results in this league.”