Norwich City defender Jon Otsemobor insists the Canaries will not get sucked into a late Coca-Cola Championship relegation battle.City's fourth league defeat in six against title-chasing Stoke left Glenn Roeder's men five points clear of the drop zone.

Norwich City defender Jon Otsemobor insists the Canaries will not get sucked into a late Coca-Cola Championship relegation battle.

City's fourth league defeat in six against title-chasing Stoke left Glenn Roeder's men five points clear of the drop zone.

The attacking full-back remains confident Norwich can hit Roeder's survival target ahead of this weekend's trip to resurgent Sheffield United before rock bottom East Anglian rivals Colchester visit Carrow Road.

"When the gaffer first came in he said the main thing was to get to 50 points or better," said Ostemobor. "We've still got to get some points but this team is more than capable. I think you have to look at the bottom half really.

"All the teams are fairly close but we feel very confident in ourselves. This is a bit of blip at the moment but we'll be okay. We're on a bad run but I don't feel that is affecting us going into games. I think all the lads were confident going into this game (Stoke) with the way we were playing and the way we were trying to get the ball down."

Jamie Cureton's scuffed point- blank miss against the Potters condemned City to a second consecutive defeat, but Otsemobor defended the club's top gun.

"Jamie is a goalscorer. He has done it week in, week out," he said. "I had a look at the video and it's just one of those things that got stuck in his feet. Maybe there was a bit of a bobble.

"From where we are on the pitch those chances always look easier than they are. But you know as a defender he will always cause you problems.

"We created some good opportunities to score. We knew what to expect from Stoke. We were well aware of their danger from set pieces with very direct balls and long throws. I felt for the majority of the game we dealt with them but the one we don't deal with has cost us in the end."