Norwich City boss Chris Hughton admits he knows there's big expectations from fans after last season's success under Paul Lambert.

With Lambert having now moved on to try to rebuild Aston Villa's fortunes, Hughton has been charged with safe-guarding the future of the Norfolk club.

The manager, 53, accepts it is not all likely to be plain sailing, but is ready to meet the challenges head on.

"It is about dampening expectations at times, because we will start this season no different than how we started last season because we are playing in such a tough division," he said.

"What the likes of Wigan, West Brom and Stoke have been able to do over a few years is sustain things, but I am quite sure at the beginning of every season they will have realised how tough it is going to be.

"You have to be on top of your game, playing well enough, and that is why managers and staff work as hard as they do - you have to be on top of everything.

"We have to try to do everything we can to sustain where we are.

"We will keep people's feet on the ground, try not to get too carried away with good results and not get too down with difficult and poor results."