Zesh Rehman believes City must put hard graft in front of style if they are to be involved in a late-season push for a place in the Championship play-offs.

Zesh Rehman believes City must put hard graft in front of style if they are to be involved in a late-season push for a place in the Championship play-offs.

The Canaries were in much finer fettle in the 2-0 home win over Derby at the weekend than they were in midweek, when two late goals helped them to a flattering 3-0 scoreline against Brighton.

But the Canaries on-loan Fulham defender says the priority is points, not just the way they are won.

“I think that first and foremost you have got to get the points,” said Rehman, an impressive performer in the centre of defence in four starts since his temporary move from Craven Cottage last month.

“If you have to scrap then you have to scrap, but if you can do it playing good football then that's what the fans deserve.

“You're getting 25,000 fans each week and they want to see good football so it was good to play good football against Derby and get the result. I am pleased for the fans.”

The win, and the style City showed in parts of the game, silenced many of the dissenting voices among the Carrow Road faithful, but Rehman says their anxiety has not transferred itself to the players.

“No, I think as a pro you have to be mentally strong enough to block it out and I think that's what everyone is doing,” he said. “As soon as you get on the pitch you have a job to do and everyone is totally focussed.”

The focus now is Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday, but Rehman was quick to put into perspective the difficulty of the task City face against a side currently occupying fifth place in the Championship table.

“We all saw Luton beat Reading on Friday night, so there is no reason we can't go to Palace and build on the Derby game,” he said.

“To be fair, I think every game in this league is a test. There are no easy games, especially from what I have seen so far, so if we can hold on it and take it from where we left off against Derby I am sure we will be alright.

“Winning breeds confidence and if we can build on it from each game, take the positives out of it and move on I am sure we will be alright.”

Rehman is at Carrow Road until the end of the season and was giving no clues away as to his next move.

“I am a Fulham player unless I am told otherwise,” he said. “I am on loan to the end of the season and I am 100pc committed to Norwich from now to the end of the season.”