Chris Lakey Promotion-chasing Canaries star Grant Holt says he is not worried about a two-horse race with Leeds United - it's the chasing pack that he's wary of. The League One promotion battle is looking increasingly like a straight race to the finish between City and Simon Grayson's Leeds, especially after nearest rivals Charlton lost 2-1 at Bristol Rovers last night - and that's just what Holt wants.

Chris Lakey

Promotion-chasing Canaries star Grant Holt says he is not worried about a two-horse race with Leeds United - it's the chasing pack that he's wary of.

The League One promotion battle is looking increasingly like a straight race to the finish between City and Simon Grayson's Leeds, especially after nearest rivals Charlton lost 2-1 at Bristol Rovers last night - and that's just what Holt wants.

“We are not really bothered if we stay above Leeds or not,” he said.

“The only thing we're bothered about is staying in first or second place - as long as we do that.

“We started with the aim of promotion and anything else is a bonus, but that's all we aim for, we are not worrying about Leeds, we're worrying about the likes of Charlton, the likes of Colchester and the people who are chasing us.”

Holt made his return to City colours at Brighton on Saturday and scored the leveller in a 2-1 win which stretched the lead over Leeds to four points, from two games more.

Leeds have a chance to close that gap when they play Walsall at home tonight.

Charlton are back in third, nine points adrift having played the same number of games, with Colchester, who are at Yeovil tonight, a point further back in fourth. Swindon and Millwall complete the current play-off picture, but have a huge gap to make up on the top two.

That suits Holt down to the ground, with the big striker convinced that the success at Brighton will prove to be hugely significant come the end of the season.

“It is always nice to go out and win games by two and three and be comfortable,” he said.

“But when you look back at the end of the season you will look at Brighton and think, 'that's a great three points'. You're getting beat, not playing particularly well and it is always tough there, they are a tough side and we managed to get a win - and I think we will look at that in a few weeks and realise how big it was.”

Next up for City are Southampton, whose promotion ambitions were ended before they started after they began the season with a 10-point deduction for going into administration, but who have held City to a pair of 2-2 draws in the league and the Johnstone's Paint Trophy already this term.

“They are all a different kind of match,” said Holt. “Coming to Brighton is no easy task to get something. Southampton will be tough - they have got a good side, but we're a different animal at Carrow Road and I'm sure they'll be in for a tough fight.”

City will be aiming to make it game two of a new unbeaten run, after defeat at Millwall 10 days ago ended their record at 16 - although Holt is just happy they bounced back with a win at the fist attempt.

“You are always going to get beat, that is the nature of football, but that's what the good teams do, the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United, teams like that, they bounce back with wins,” he said. “We have talked about that, that you can't get back-to-back defeats and thankfully we did the job eventually and got the win.

“We've been on a fantastic run - we talked last week after we had a little blip about not getting beat and we know we are a good side who would bounce back and we showed that.

“Brighton battered us for probably the first half, we were a bit sloppy on the ball, and if you are a Brighton fan you would probably have gone home a bit aggrieved, but that just shows you how good a side we are - we keep going, we keep working and we get our rewards.”