Keith Downing wary of chirpy Norwich City

Assistant boss Keith Downing today warned Albion to beware of Norwich's momentum as he challenged the Baggies to turn around their indifferent home form.

The newly-promoted Canaries will arrive at The Hawthorns tomorrow three points and six places better off than 15th-placed Albion.

And assistant head coach Downing says the Baggies cannot underestimate Paul Lambert's side, who were in League One two seasons ago.

"Paul's team have fantastic momentum," said Downing.

"They have gone through two leagues in succession and when you get to that level you don't believe you can get beaten.

"It's in your psyche because you're winning more than you lose.

"They've carried that on into the Premier League and they've got a fantastic work ethic. They work really hard for each other.

"They've got a way of playing where they get it into Steve Morison or Grant Holt, who are both handfuls in terms of physicality, then they've got the craft of Wes Hoolahan and George Pilkington.

"They were a little bit unfortunate not to get anything when we played at their place, but having said that it's turned out to be a good result for us because not many teams go there and win. I felt we defended very well throughout the game and we will have to do so again.

"We don't want to talk about six defeats in nine but if we have any aspirations of doing well in this league we've got to try to correct the home form if we can."

Albion have won just two league games at The Hawthorns so far this season and Downing admitted tomorrow's game marks the beginning of a crucial six-game spell that could determine the direction of their season.

After Norwich, they face Stoke, Fulham, Swansea, Wolves and Sunderland in their next five Premier League fixtures.

"You do target games and we all sit there like everyone else and think 'this is an opportunity to get three points'," said Downing.

"But look at the games we've had recently. We had Wigan at home where you'd expect three points and we didn't get it.

"Then it's about how you respond to that and we went to Newcastle, where nobody gave us a cat in hell's chance, and picked up three points.

"You have to be careful about setting too many targets because, if you don't achieve them, where do you go from there?"