Norwich midfielder Mark Fotheringham admitted City's rejuvenated squad are now counting the days to Southampton's Championship visit. The Canaries face a blank FA Cup weekend ahead of the Saints' league visit in nine days after demolishing Barnsley under caretaker boss Bryan Gunn.

Norwich midfielder Mark Fotheringham admitted City's rejuvenated squad are now counting the days to Southampton's Championship visit.

The Canaries face a blank FA Cup weekend ahead of the Saints' league visit in nine days after demolishing Barnsley under caretaker boss Bryan Gunn.

“We're just looking for the next game. It's going to be another tough one,” said Fotheringham. “The pleasing thing was as soon as we got in the dressing room, there was myself, Darel Russell, Gary Doherty, Jon Otsemobor even Adam Drury, with his suit on, saying 'This is the start and we'll show people how good a team we can be'. And I'm just hoping that whoever comes in, or if Bryan keeps the job, he's able to get some players in to give us a little bit more depth.”

Fotheringham's believes the Carrow Road factor is key to the club's survival bid after vociferous backing helped sink fellow strugglers Barnsley.

“The atmosphere at the stadium was fantastic,” he said. “It really helped the players and our performances because when it wasn't quite going for us, they were still with us and you feel when you're on the pitch, it's just a pleasure to play in front of them.

“In my opinion, when the fans are like that, there's not better place to play in the league. It's the best stadium, the best group of fans. It's just a great place to live down here in England.”

Wes Hoolahan's first goal for City and Jamie Cureton's first for the club for 10 months set up a victory that was completed by Sammy Clingan's late penalty and Darel Russell's stoppage-time header.

“I'm sure the fans knew the first goal was going to come because we were on top for the majority of the game,” said Fotheringham.

“Wes gets himself into so many good positions but often he tries to find a pass or walk the ball into the net. The thing is he's got a great shot and he shows it in training all the time so it was great the way he took the ball round the keeper. I thought he was fantastic at times.

“I'm so happy for Jamie Cureton to get the goal because no matter what anyone says about Jamie, I'll always back him. He's a great goalscorer in this division.”

Fotheringham also hailed Gunn's calming influence after a turbulent week.

“He was really relaxed,” said the Scot. “Bryan Gunn's a top man, a great human being, and he's shown a lot of humility this week because it must have been difficult being a part of Glenn's backroom staff. He's such a big character here in Norwich and the fans love him.

“Bryan's a very intelligent guy and he's played under one of the best managers in the world and I think he got a little bit of help from Sir Alex Ferguson with his team talk.

“He was very relaxed and composed and he just said for us all to go out and show a lot of passion because that's what the fans down here want. They want to see players who are fighting for the jersey.

“Everybody upped their game that extra per cent in their performance levels and Bryan was great. He's so relaxed on the sidelines, he just lets the lads go and play because there's a lot of experience in the team.”

Fotheringham spared a thought for Roeder, however, after a City performance that was unrecognisable from the feeble surrender to Charlton in the FA Cup four days earlier.

“It's really strange, it's just football for you but it's hard to explain,” he said. “I feel happy at getting the win but it just shows you if we can perform like that we really did let the boss down. I don't know if there was a potential manager there looking at that, but I'm sure he's going to be happy with the performance of the players.

“I think we're the smallest squad in the league, to be honest, but the lads worked their socks and I was proud of every one of them. We just looked really solid and there were some great individual performances.”