Young guns are firing for Lambert

Paul Lambert may have to put his faith in youth again after surveying the wreckage from City's dramatic draw at Gillingham on Saturday. The Canaries put up the fight of their lives to grab a point in injury-time, but it came at a cost.

Paul Lambert may have to put his faith in youth again after surveying the wreckage from City's dramatic draw at Gillingham on Saturday.

The Canaries put up the fight of their lives to grab a point in injury-time, but it came at a cost.

Goalkeeper Fraser Forster was red-carded for the first-half foul which gave Gillingham the lead and moments later right back Jon Otsemobor hobbled off with a hamstring injury.

If Lambert decides not to appeal against Forster's card, then he misses the home game against Leyton Orient tomorrow, and if Otsemobor fails to shake off his injury, it could mean reshuffling his pack again - and that's where City's young guns come in.

Declan Rudd played his first hour of senior football and is the man most likely to step in tomorrow, while Korey Smith went to right back on Saturday - and his departure from midfield could leave an opening for Tom Adeyemi.

Four Academy products - Rudd, Smith, Luke Daley and Michael Spillane - featured at Priestfield on Saturday, with another two - Adeyemi and Chris Martin - on the bench, but Lambert kept Rudd away from the waiting media as he tried to deflect any pressure from the 18-year-old.

"His saves were terrific, but there's no point in being over the top about him because I know what it's like when you're young," said Lambert. "He did what he had to do, that's his job."

Darel Russell's injury-time equaliser sparked wild celebrations among the 1,434 travelling fans and on City's bench.

"It's great," said Lambert. "What a following we've got. Honestly, the support we have got is second to none. They come a long way to watch games, but in the numbers that come they deserve better than what they are getting."