Pardew: The Pressure's On Norwich

Last updated : 05 March 2003 By Rob Cooper
Fifth-placed Reading play the off-colour Canaries, currently seventh, in a Play-Off showdown at Carrow Road tonight.

Royals boss Alan Pardew believes the pressure is on Norwich to perform in front of their home fans after a string of awful results, culminating in a 2-0 defeat at home to Ipswich in their local derby.

Furthermore, last season's Play-Off finalists have a whole host of injury worries to contend with.

Pardew believes that Nigel Worthington's side, who are nine points behind Reading going into tonight's game, cannot afford to lose if they want to make the Play-Offs this season.

Commenting on his side's chances in tonights fixture, Pardew told the Reading Evening Post: "Their defeat against Ipswich could make them more nervous. If we go in front they might get very jittery as they can't really afford to lose another three points. I would say there is more pressure on them than on us.

"They are at home and are expected to win and it's on telly so it's a tough call for them."

"A draw would be a good result (for Reading) because it would maintain that gap we have over them. But I never play for a draw and we will go after them as we have done every game this year.

"We've got one of the best away records in our division this year and we don’t hold back.

"People say we play on the break but I think that's a bit of an injustice as we have dominated the opposition in away games at the likes of Walsall, Grimsby and Sheffield United for 70 minutes."