Dean Smith believes Norwich are continuing to prove the critics wrong after their battling and well deserved FA Cup fourth round win away at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Kenny McLean’s header in first half injury time proved sufficient to claim a 1-0 win in a drab contest away at Molineux.

The Canaries were bottom of the Premier League over Christmas and fully written off in some sections of the media but have now won four of their last five games in all competitions, with the victory yesterday being the theird consecutive win.

That impressive upturn in form has seen Norwich move out of the relegation zone and into the fifth round of the FA Cup for just the second time in a decade.

Smith praised the response of his players to what he felt was unfair criticism, which came at a time when the Norwich squad was ripped to shreds by a combination of both injuries and coronavirus.

“I always said I thought we were harshly judged in the Christmas period and now we are starting to get a better squad together,” he said.

“The players were hurt by it and wanted to prove people wrong and they are doing that at the moment.

“I think it is hard enough for any team that are newly-promoted to win football games in the league.

“When we had nine players missing, it makes it nigh-on impossible but we have come through that period now and got some players back.

“We got a lot of negativity from outside and spoke ourselves about creating a siege mentality and being strong.”

McLean’s looping header from a Billy Gilmour free-kick on the stroke of half-time proved to be the difference between the two top-flight outfits, with Smith once again pleased with the display.

“It was a hard-fought win,” he added.

“We had to weather a storm in the second-half. I thought we defended in good numbers, showed good discipline and were a threat ourselves on the ball.

“I just feel that there is a sturdiness to the team, they look like they are enjoying their football, enjoying defending and counter-attacking when you have to.”