Chris Lakey Matty Pattison was left to savour the plaudits after inspiring the Canaries' comeback on Saturday - at both ends of the pitch. The South African was manager Glenn Roeder's first permanent signing, turning a loan deal from Newcastle into a £500,000 transfer in January.

Chris Lakey

Matty Pattison was left to savour the plaudits after inspiring the Canaries' comeback on Saturday - at both ends of the pitch.

The South African was manager Glenn Roeder's first permanent signing, turning a loan deal from Newcastle into a £500,000 transfer in January.

Life at Carrow Road hasn't always been easy for Pattison: a drink-driving ban didn't win him any friends and he has sometimes been unfairly made a scapegoat. Any more repeats of his Ninian Park performance and the fans may be more forgiving.

"Matty Pattison had his best 90 minutes for Norwich since he has been here," said Roeder. "He always does good things in a game then he will go and do some silly things due to his inexperience.

"I don't like man of the matches because it's a team game and I don't like pointing out individuals, but if you pressed me to today I would say Matty Pattison was our man of the match quite easily.

"I thought he had an outstanding game and he is a lovely, lovely lad, a super lad to work with during the week in training and he has come all the way down here and he wants to do well."

Pattison's first major contribution was to earn an early penalty, although Jamie Cureton squandered the opportunity.

But a curling right-footer that missed by inches and a low effort that Roger Johnson cleared off the line marked him out as City's main threat in attack - until Arturo Lupoli came along.

But while Lupoli's headed goal earned City a point, it was Pattison's goal-line clearance with his head six minutes from time to prevent Johnson's volley going in that saved one.

"Obviously that's why you put people on the post for corners and it paid off," he said.

"We would have been absolutely gutted if that had gone in, so it was just as well I was on the post. The corner came across and it just dropped down to him and he's just sort of pinged it at me really.

"Anywhere else and it's going in, but it just hit me straight in the head - it was a powerful shot as well, but I was just glad to be one the line to stop it. You don't want to go 3-2 down after doing all that hard work to get back in it."

Pattison started on the right flank and, even when Lee Croft replaced Wes Hoolahan at the start of the second half, there was no immediate change.

"I enjoy playing out on the right," Pattison said.

"Then the gaffer changed me over to the left in the second half and I enjoy playing there as well.

"I do like attacking a lot, even when I'm playing in the middle I still enjoy attacking, but I haven't done it as much for Norwich.

"I'm just glad to be playing in the first X1 - wherever I play I'm happy so hopefully I can keep performing well."

What Pattison needs now is a goal - he hasn't scored in his 29 league appearances for City.

"I'm sure it will come soon and when one comes the second one seems to come along quite quickly, like Lupo (Lupoli) today," he said.