Chris Lakey Norwich's Championship credentials have been given another ringing endorsement by a top-flight manager. Paul Lambert's side are odds-on favourites to open their campaign with victory over Watford on Friday - and one of the dark horses to make it two promotions in a row.

Chris Lakey

Norwich's Championship credentials have been given another ringing endorsement by a top-flight manager.

Paul Lambert's side are odds-on favourites to open their campaign with victory over Watford on Friday - and one of the dark horses to make it two promotions in a row.

And Everton's David Moyes saw enough at the weekend to endorse their claims - especially on home territory.

Everton won 4-2 at Carrow Road, but it was arguably a lopsided scoreline for City to sign off their pre-season commitments.

“I thought they played really well, they have got a good style,” said Moyes. “They will be hard opponents to beat here in Norwich, as you would probably expect.

“I thought they had a lot of good things about them. They looked a bit more ready than us and I could go on about the players that we've not got, Jagielka, Heitinga, Fellaini, Osman - we've got an awful lot of players to come back into the team.

“But I thought they played well at times. I'm always concentrating on my own team, but they put in a good performance in terms of their own style and shape.

“I think Norwich are in a good moment and it was a tough game for us.”

Moyes is the man in charge of the top-flight's oldest customers - Everton have been there for the last 107 seasons - and he says he can sense a Premier League feel about the Carrow Road set-up.

More than 20,000 season ticket holders and a capacity that has now been increased to 27,000 suggests City's home ground is of top-flight standard, but while Moyes believes the Canaries can ride the wave of success from last season, he does issue a note of caution.

“The people are expecting it as well and that might be something that the public might have to rein in and not expect too much,” he said.

“But when you get promoted there is a momentum that goes with you - if that momentum stays with Norwich and they get off to a good start then who knows.”

The weekend defeat followed on the heels of City's home win over Newcastle, when Magpies boss Chris Hughton admitted his side deserved to be beaten.

Everton's pre-season record is five wins out of five, and Moyes enjoyed the latest success.

“It doesn't make a great deal of difference if you win or lose but it's obviously better if you do win,” he said.

“We are all trying to get ready for the start of a big season. I don't think we've picked five really easy games. I think Norwich were a tough opponent and they have got a lot of momentum going with them.”

Carrow Road plays hosts to the first game of the new domestic football season when Malky Mackay's Watford visit - and the bookmakers see it as a home win.

Every major bookmaker - online and High Street - have City odds on, with the visitors unfancied at around 3-1. Of the more fanciful options, Coral have Watford at 100-1 to repeat last year's opening day scoreline and win 7-1. Ciy's odds to win the Championship outright range from 12-1 to 18-1, while they are between 15-4 and 7-1 to be promoted.