'That has been a problem. We have to learn to overcome that' - Smith striving to change the mood music

Another Premier League failure enters the end game, with Wolves this weekend and Tottenham to come before the Championship crowds back in.

The Canaries’ midweek 3-0 defeat at Leicester City showcased all the elements that collectively have sucked them to the bottom again; a brief period of competitiveness giving way to capitulation. Porous at one end, profligate at the other.

Smith has talked openly about improving the culture, and his desire to find a residual resilience in the face of adversity.

“I look at the team in general, and how we've played in games when we've got a little bit more freedom,” said the City chief. “At half-time against Chelsea, we've come in 2-0 down and it looks like the game is lost because ‘this is Chelsea’. We came out fighting and showed a really good version of ourselves.

"We did exactly the same thing as Manchester United at 2-0 down and came and showed a really good version of ourselves. It's the ones where sometimes you may be expected to come back that we mentally find a little bit harder.

"That has been a problem. We have to learn to overcome that. The players will. It's a young group.

“If you go into a game with a game plan, and it is okay for 54 minutes but then Jamie Vardy’s exceptional movement changes things, stick to your game plan. Don't try and do something different. It's one man's bit of brilliance that has actually got Leicester a goal, so don't change your mentality.

Angus Gunn made a string of fine stops in Norwich City's 3-0 Premier League defeat at Leicester City (Image: Focus Images Limited)

"We changed it a little bit too quickly, tried to chase a game, made mistakes and found ourselves on the back foot. Whereas I thought we were really brave before that, trying to play out when we had the ball and play through their press.”

Angus Gunn was in defiant form but City had chances to cash in with Dimi Giannoulis, Tony Springett and Teemu Pukki all foiled before the interval in a fourth scoreless game from Smith’s squad.

“I'd rather be creating chances than not creating chances and that's the positive part,” he said. “Against good teams we have created chances. At Manchester United we had some unbelievable chances.

"There are big moments in games. We've had some really big moments in games that we haven't quite taken, and that's frustrating because as we all know, goals change games.

“Confidence is a big part. You can see from the body language of both sets of players the other night when they scored that goal Leicester we're ready to go and press and try and score more.

"For our players it was a feeling of deflation to have performed so well up until that period.

"We have to hold out better, and if we take our chances it is a different game.”

Tony Springett made his full Premier League debut against the Foxes (Image: Focus Images Limited)

Goals have also been hard for Wolves to come by, with Bruno Lage’s side failing to fire in both previous league and cup meetings this season.

“It's something that we can cling on to and take into this game,” said Smith. “We played very well at home, should have beaten them, and then we went and beat them in the FA Cup as well. It's a team that we know a lot about. We've got some good memories of playing against them.

“They are a good team with a very good coach and until they fell away a bit of late were pushing at points for the top four, top six this season. They've not been the biggest scorers in that top half.

"They may feel they need to score more goals if they want to compete for the top four, top six. But tactically, they're spot on.”

Join Canaries legend, and Pink Un+ columnist, Chris Sutton, Paddy and Connor to discuss all the hot topics around Norwich City at Epic Studios, in Norwich, on May 24.

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