Anthony Pilkington insists Norwich's only aim this season remains Premier League survival despite rising to ninth after their win over Bolton.

Norwich were favourites to finish this season - their first in the top flight for six years - as the league's bottom club, but they have defied all expectations and sit in the top half of the division following Saturday's win.

The victory, which came courtesy of goals from Andrew Surman and Pilkington, means Paul Lambert's men are now just eight points off a Europa League spot.

Should they maintain their excellent home form and pick up a few more points on the road - starting away at Swansea next week - a late assault on a European place may not be beyond the Norfolk outfit.

However, no-one at Carrow Road is starting to think that way, according to Pilkington.

"Our plan at the start of the season was to survive and we are not looking away from that because if you take your eye off it then you start doing things you are not supposed to do," the winger said.

"This season has always been about survival and then next season building on that. We're 13 points from the bottom three. It's a lovely gap but we are not going to get carried away.

"This is the best league in the world and anything can happen.

"You can never take your foot off the gas in this league and we are not going to."

The cornerstone of Norwich's successful campaign this season has been their form at Carrow Road, where they have lost just three times.

At home they play with the confidence of a team who look like they have been cemented in the Premier League for the last decade and that was clear for all to see yesterday as they peppered the Bolton goal until they finally found a breakthrough in the 70th minute.

Surman drilled home a sweet volley at the second time of asking after his original shot was blocked by David Wheater, and Pilkington then pounced after Adam Bogdan spilled Russell Martin's shot to seal the win five minutes from time.

Pilkington was proud of his team's display, which came three days after their six-match unbeaten run came to an end with a 3-0 trouncing at Sunderland.

"We were all really hurt after Wednesday," said Pilkington, a 23-year-old summer signing from Huddersfield.

"We are an honest bunch of lads and we all realise we got turned over, but we have shown how we can bounce back."

Bolton looked a completely different side to the one that earned a goalless draw against Arsenal on Wednesday.

Norwich stopper John Ruddy barely had a save to make throughout and David Ngog failed to create much up front despite facing two full-backs in Kyle Naughton and Martin who had been shifted to the centre of defence following injuries to Zak Whitbread and Daniel Ayala.

Trotters left-back Sam Ricketts admitted his team's performance was disappointing, but highlighted one positive in a late cameo from new striker Marvin Sordell - a £3million deadline-day signing from Watford.

"We know we are a better team than we showed," Ricketts said.

"Marvin did well when he came on today in difficult circumstances. You could see he had pace, a bit of skill and he looks like he will be a threat for us."

Another plus point for Ricketts was the performance of Tyrone Mears, who finally made his Bolton debut seven months after breaking his leg just after signing from Burnley last summer.

"Tyrone played really well," Ricketts said.

"It wasn't an easy match to make your comeback with the way they play at home and the players they have.

"Physically he stood up to it well and you can see what a good player he is."