Barnsley 0 Norwich City 2: Bad day at the office as Barnsley fail to build on Elland Road showing

“It was a bad day at the office. We didn’t perform and we made it easy for Norwich,” he admitted.

“We didn’t start the afternoon off brightly enough and we didn’t cope with the conditions as well as they did. We conceded two goals that were poor from our point of view.

“Comparing that performance to how we played against Leeds in midweek was like chalk and cheese.

“We lost two players during the game and had to make one or two more shuffles, putting players in unfamiliar positions.”

Norwich manager Paul Lambert hailed two-goal hero Andrew Crofts, who took his season’s tally to eight with a first-half double as the Canaries maintained their push for an automatic promotion spot.

Lambert insisted that his side never looked in trouble against a Barnsley side enduring a five-game winless run.

“I thought we were on top from start to finish. It was a very good performance from us,” he said.

“Andrew Crofts took his goals very well. He’s shown all season that he can score goals from midfield. It was a piece of brilliance for his second goal.

“I thought the two centre-halves were colossal. They were excellent and hardly gave their strikers a look in. I know exactly what the players have done for me and how far we’ve come since I came to the club. I’ve got a target in my own mind for the rest of the season.”

The Scot also praised John Ruddy after the former Everton goalkeeper made a crucial save to keep out Goran Lovre’s header with the scores still level. “It was a top-class save at a big moment.”

Barnsley: Steele, Hassell (Harewood 25), McShane, Shackell (O’Brien 43), Hill, Trippier, Arismendi, Butterfield, Lovre, O’Connor (Gray 77), Haynes. Unused substitutes: Preece, Nouble, Branson, Fearnehough.

Norwich City: Ruddy, Russell Martin, Whitbread, Ward, Tierney, Crofts, Lansbury, Fox, Surman, Hoolahan, Holt. Unused substitutes: Rudd, Drury, Gill, Edwards, Jackson, Smith, Wilbraham.

Referee: E Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).

Man of the match: Andrew Crofts.