Holt inspires Norwich City to victory

Paddy Davitt

Midfielder Simon Lappin promised there was more to come from Norwich City's dynamic duo after Grant Holt and Chris Martin dumped Gillingham out of the Carling Cup.

Holt marked his first start of the campaign with a trademark brace and also set up Martin for his first goal of the campaign before the 21-year-old sealed an emphatic win in stoppage time.

City's skipper had endured an injury-hit pre-season period but left the field to a standing ovation in the second half and a hug from manager Paul Lambert.

Lappin said: “That is what Grant does, that is what he brings to the team and hopefully he can continue to do that for the rest of the season.

“He is a leader on the park, he is a good talker and it was great to see him back and you see the goals he scores. Every player has different attributes and brings different things to the game and Grant has a physical presence but also much more than that in his locker. He led from the front and got his rewards with the goals. Both him and Chris got on the scoresheet and that gives strikers confidence and they stuck them away brilliantly.”

Lappin insisted Carling Cup progress could be the springboard to get City's Championship season under way at Scunthorpe on Saturday following their opening night defeat against Watford.

He said: “It was important after what happened on Friday and no matter how you do it, to be in the next round is pleasing but I thought we played well.

“It was a game of football, no matter who it was against, and we said it doesn't matter what competition it is, you want to win. We conceded an early goal again and that always asks questions but we showed good character and we know what we have in the dressing room and there is always a belief that we can get back into games.

“We did that, we scored some good goals and it was a victory for us so we can take confidence from that with another tough game on Saturday. I think before the season we knew it was going to be tough, no doubts about that at all, but as long as we stick together and take it one game at a time and keep doing what we're doing the belief is there - but, like I say, we know Saturday will be a tough one.”

Lappin played the full 90 minutes on his first outing of the new campaign with Lambert forced to reshuffle his midfield in the absence of Andrew Crofts, on international duty, while Andrew Surman suffered a knock in training. The Scot admits there is now fierce competition for starting places.

He said: “It can only benefit the squad because you know there is a fight on and that keeps everyone on their toes.”