AUDIO: Midfielder Simon Lappin will not spend his time anxiously scanning the Championship table as Norwich City move into the final third of the season in the thick of the promotion battle.

The Canaries went into today’s home game against Reading in fourth place but within striking distance of second spot depending on results.

But Lappin says he and his colleagues are not unduly concerned with the mathematics just yet – simply trying to win as many of the last 16 games as they can.

“You know who’s there or thereabouts but we look at ourselves and we can only take it one game at a time. It’s an old clich� and I keep saying it but you can’t look any further ahead,” he said. “We worry about ourselves and not other teams.

“Everybody says it’s the most difficult league to call in terms of results and it proves that way every week. There are good sides up there challenging but we have to concentrate on what we do and focus on ourselves.”

Lappin admits that at the start of the season, City would have been happy with the thought of being in fourth place in mid-February, but is not surprised at their success up to now.

“Definitely – but there’s always been that belief within the squad that we can go and do something this season,” he said.

“We’ve not done anything yet, though. There are still 16 games to go and we’ll see what happens at the end of the season. But confidence is high at the moment, and as long as we can keep it going we’ll give ourselves a good chance of doing something.”

Automatic promotion remains “something to aim for” but he added: “It’s just taking it a game at a time and not getting caught up in it, like if we win this game we’re going to end up here.

“It is a carrot to try to get into second place and push as high up the table as you can. It’s in the back of your mind but first and foremost you have to go and win the game and then you can go and have a look at the league table after the game.”

Lappin is asked at almost every interview when he is going to end his scoring drought, nearly 3� years after his last senior goal for City.

He came very close to curling in a free-kick in the 2-1 defeat at Burnley, and missed a couple of early chances in the 2-1 home win over Millwall.

“It doesn’t bother me at all,” he said, with a knowing smile. “It will happen when it happens. It will be great when it does. The most important thing is getting three points every Saturday.”