Crystal Palace's Matt Lawrence played a successful part in Saturday's victory at Norwich City, starring in a new midfield role for the Eagles.

The 32-year-old is most widely recognised as a defender and Palace boss Peter Taylor admitted that when he signed the player from Millwall in the summer, he couldn't particularly envisage him playing anywhere else.

However, Lawrence played the holding midfielder role with aplomb at Carrow Road and was one of the main factors in Palace keeping a clean sheet against one of the Championship's top scorers.

"We knew Norwich would be a hard place to go because they had won eight of their last nine home games, so we set out to be solid at the back initially and take it from there," Matt told Palace World.

"At half time, the Gaffer said 'if you keep a clean sheet you will win 1-0' and he proved to be right."

Matt also admitted that he enjoyed the challenge of taking on the midfield job against the Canaries, despite having not played in that position since his college days in the USA before he entered the professional ranks.

"I don't mind where I play, that's up to the Gaffer," he explained. "He spoke to me briefly before the game and asked me if I minded and I said, 'of course not'.

"I haven't played there regularly since I was in college when I was 21 or 22, but I think I did okay and hopefully I'll keep my place in the team for Saturday."

Coventry City are the visitors to Selhurst Park at the weekend and the Sky Blues arrive in SE25 level on points with Palace and just one place above the Eagles, courtesy of one goal at the moment.

"We need to win those home games and we need to start on Saturday," added Matt.

"I know the Coventry management, people like Micky Adams from my time at Fulham and they'll have the team really well marshalled.

"It will be a hard game, but one we want to win."

The full interview with Matt will be available to view on Palace World on Wednesday, so make sure you view that to hear all of his thoughts on his return to the team and the game with Coventry City.