Lambert gives Swans his respect

Published Oct. 14, 2011 3:16 p.m. ET

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The Canaries come into the match on the back of an impressive performance at reigning champions Manchester United, although they eventually lost 2-0 at Old Trafford. After a two-week break, Norwich face fellow promoted side Swansea at Carrow Road, and Lambert believes the Swans will provide as stern a test as any of the top flight's elite. "I think every game is hard," he said. "I don't just look at the Swansea game and think it is going to be easier than Manchester United were. "That was really, really hard and I don't think tomorrow will be any different. "Every match in the Premier League is tough and we have to earn the right to beat them and vice versa. "I don't think it will be a defining moment on what is going to happen. "I think throughout the course of the season a lot of things happen and you pick up points where people don't think you will. "Then you lose when people expect you to win so I am not one to think what could happen. "It is another game that we will try to win." Norwich carved out a series of excellent chances against United. Anthony Pilkington hit a post and rolled an effort wide when he was clean through as the visitors pushed for a goal, before Anderson and Danny Welbeck sealed an unconvincing win for the champions. Lambert was delighted with the level of his side's performance in the north west, but believes the match highlighted the importance of taking their chances. "I think we are one of a million teams going there and probably saying the same things," he said. "You just can't keep Manchester United out for 90 minutes. Somewhere along the line they are going to score. "We had to score when we had the opportunities and I was absolutely delighted with how we played. "We couldn't have done any more and when we had the chance to score, we should have taken them. But we didn't take them and, sod's law, then they went up the park and scored. "But the way we played, I thought we were excellent." He added: "I think at any level if you don't take your chances, the other team is going to get a chance to punish you. "With the calibre of their squad and the players they've got, I'd like to know when Manchester United last failed to score a goal. "They keep scoring and we had to score when we had the opportunities. "We had some great chances and the performance was extremely high."