Neil hoping DVD nasty spurs Canaries

Matthew Briggs

Norwich boss Alex Neil hopes a DVD rerun of his side’s horror show at Newcastle will help them get back to winning ways against West Brom on Saturday.

The Canaries were stuffed 6-2 at St James’ Park last Sunday as the Magpies recorded their first Barclays Premier League victory to move off the foot of the table.

Following a promising start to life back in the top flight after coming up via the play-offs, Neil’s side have not won in four league matches and are just three points clear of the drop zone.

Neil, the former Hamilton player-manager, accepts he got his own share of things wrong against Newcastle, where the decision to replace defensive midfielder Alexander Tettey with playmaker Wes Hoolahan when chasing the game at 3-2 backfired as the hosts soon netted twice on the break in as many minutes.

However, the 34-year-old sees no reason why Norwich cannot put that disappointment behind them and produce the required performance against the Baggies, who were beaten 3-0 in a Capital One Cup tie at Carrow Road last month.

“We focused on the negatives when we looked back at the game,” Neil said.

“We know what we are good at, that is keeping the ball – we create chances, we go forward well and we have scored a lot of goals this season, so that doesn’t need attention.

“I think the other side is what needed attention and that is what we have focused on more this week.

“I don’t think anybody enjoys that.

“It is the heaviest defeat I have experienced as a manager, so you have to stick your chest out and make sure in the next game you go and perform a lot better and hopefully go and win.”

Neil added on Norwich City TV: “However, it is not important what happens here during the week, it is important what happens during the game, that is when the proof is in the pudding.

“It is just going to be about getting the balance right, because our attacking play (at Newcastle) was good, but defensively we did not do well enough and have to make sure we address that as we best as we can.

“At this level, you have to make sure you have that attacking threat, but also keep the back door shut, but that is much more easily said than done.”

Neil revealed while midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu had shown no ill effects from his run-out with the academy side at Leicester in midweek after recovery from a fractured metatarsal, the 28-year-old would not be rushed back to face his old club, having signed in the summer on a free transfer.

“He is still a bit rusty in terms of game time, but it is good he has come through it with no reaction,” Neil said.

“Saturday maybe a bit soon for him, it is a big game so to take that chance would probably be unfair to him.”