Alex Neil can take a leaf out of Paul Lambert’s book to save Norwich City

After watching Norwich City’s disappointing surrender against Sunderland on Saturday, it would appear the side have a lot to learn if they are to stay in the Premier League.

The optimism was there pre-match and it felt like it was very much “in our hands,” yet fifty minutes into the game, you could feel it being sucked away from the pitch and also the stands.

The team has lacked belief at times this season and it is clear to see why we have not managed to come from behind to win a game.

Canaries manager Neil looks distraught after watching his Norwich side crumble to a 3-0 home defeat against Sunderland on Saturday – Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.

It is not going to be easy to turn it around at this stage of the season, but we have seen Norwich sides display spirit and determination in years gone by which this side should learn from.

Most of our success in the past ten years has come from having the mental belief that we can rescue a game, even in the most dark and desperate situations. Paul Lambert was the master at this.

Every game you went to, you always knew that the players on the pitch would give you their all from the first whistle until the very last.

That is not to say that the current players do not give their all because they do, but Lambert always seemed to get that extra little bit out of his side and they believed him.

It is a predominantly different squad now and manager Alex Neil has his own way of doing things, but he needs to look back at what has helped the club so well in the past and try to recapture it.

Neil is capable of his own Lambert-style magic too, as we witnessed on several occasions last season. Late wins at Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers, as well as gritty displays at Huddersfield Town and Rotherham United, show we can do it.

The only difference is the league we are playing in and the opposition we are against. We have several of the players from last season, so they have the fighting spirit needed and have shown it.

Playing with confidence and no fear will surely reward us with the valuable points that we need to stay up as long as we keep doing our bit, then we shall see what the others do.

You would think that Watford is a very winnable game, then Carrow Road has not always been the happiest of places to visit for Manchester United in years gone by.

Add into the mix a trip to Arsenal, who have looked shaky at home in a few games – Swansea City and Crystal Palace two examples – and you just never know what could happen.

I think I would not be alone in saying that, if we were to go down, then at least fight until the end. Those who were at Fulham over a decade ago will not want to be reminded of that!

There will always be those fans who take the “glass half-empty” approach and will write us off already, but they are the same fans that probably thought we would never go up around January last year.

Obviously there needs to be that fight and belief on the pitch, but it is time to really get behind the boys for one last push and who knows what could happen!