Lambert taking nothing for granted

Published: 11:38 AM November 5, 2009 Updated: 10:54 PM October 10, 2020

Norwich boss Paul Lambert insists he will give Southern League minnows Paulton 'total respect' ahead of Saturday's FA Cup first round trip into the unknown.

Lambert has ruled out wholesale changes to any of his frontline League One troops for the televised tie at the lowest ranked club left in the competition.

“I'm not going to underestimate this game,” he said. “There is only one reason the television want to take it on because they are hoping for an upset. Resting one or two doesn't even come into my thinking for this game. We want to win the game.

“When you add in everything that surrounds this type of occasion I'm not going to treat it lightly. In fact we'll treat it no differently to a league game. I want to get through to the next round and that is what we'll try to do.”

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Lambert hinted young stopper Declan Rudd is set to deputise for Fraser Forster with the Newcastle keeper ineligible under the terms of his St James' loan switch. Lambert has no fears exposing any of his young players to an expected FA Cup cauldron at Rovers' 2,500 capacity Winterfield Road ground.

“Cody (McDonald) is not experienced, Declan is not experienced, Chrissy Martin is only 20 or so,” he said. “People tend to forget that we have young players in the side with a bit of experience around them, but I'll go strong - that is for sure.”

With the queue for the physio room growing longer by the week, it's likely to be another square peg in the round hole on the right side of the defence.

Michael Spillane is out until Christmas and teenager George Francomb could be out for a month, while it could be a game too early for Jon Otsemobor, who has been struggling with a hamstring injury.