CHRIS LAKEY Veteran striker Dion Dublin says there is no time to waste in Norwich City's pursuit of promotion. Dublin scored a stunning equaliser at Hull on Saturday, and while it wasn't enough to prevent a 2-1 defeat - the first of the season - there were encouraging signs that a team which contained half a dozen of the summer signings was beginning to gel.

CHRIS LAKEY

Veteran striker Dion Dublin says there is no time to waste in Norwich City's pursuit of promotion.

Dublin scored a stunning equaliser at Hull on Saturday, and while it wasn't enough to prevent a 2-1 defeat - the first of the season - there were encouraging signs that a team which contained half a dozen of the summer signings was beginning to gel.

But Dublin believes that process must begin quickly before City begin to lag behind the contenders in the race for Championship glory.

“We haven't got time, we can't afford to take time,” said the 38-year-old. “We had that last year and we ended up 16th - it's rubbish for a club the size of Norwich. It's not good enough, it really isn't.

“The players know that and what we have to do is take on board what the manager is telling us and do it to the letter.

“If it doesn't work then the manager will stand up and be counted. We haven't done it to the letter yet. When we do it to the letter we'll be okay.”

Dublin has been around enough teams at the top and bottom end of tables to give a realistic and honest assessment of City's position - and he is optimistic.

“Oh gosh yes, without a doubt,” he said. “I know we have more than enough for in this league.

“When everybody's fit the gaffer's got 22, 24 players - we have Chrissy Martin there, Hucks is to come back, we have got the Jarvis brothers, we have loads of players back there that can do a job in the first team.

“It is all about earning the right for the shirt - don't get complacent with the shirt. Y need hunger, and we have got it in this squad, we just need to be consistent with the hunger.”

The Canaries pretty much matched Hull blow for blow, but were undone by two lapses of concentration which allowed another veteran, Dean Windass - three weeks older than Dublin - to enhance his cult status on Humberside.

Windass struck just after half-time, Dublin equalised with a glorious volley minutes after coming on as a sub, before City were undone when Windass set up Richard Garcia for the winner.

“It is disappointing,” said Dublin. “We don't want to go backwards. I think we have started the season well, we just got back into the game and we let ourselves down again by letting the other team counter on us and get an easy goal, a goal that was avoidable.

“Very frustrating, that is the feeling in the camp. Disappointing, because we knew we had a point, which was great, and I thought when the goal went in we might even nick something, that was the feeling in the camp as well. So very disappointing, but some decent performances.

“It wasn't a passing game, it was a physically strong stand-up-and-be-counted kind of game and we did that. There were just a few elements of the game we let ourselves down with - lack of experience, lack of know-how, and it showed.”

Dublin's goal was his first of his last season at the top level and one to treasure.

“I was very pleased with my goal - it's not very often you get a chance to score like that,” he said. “It's not very often I'm facing the goal like that, I have always got my back to goal normally, so it's nice to get the chance to score a goal. It's always nice to score, it's always nice to score and win.

“I treasure them just as much as I used to - they are harder to come by because I don't play as many games, but I enjoy every minute when one hits the back of the net.”