Cut out the half measures warns Norwich City boss Neil Adams

Neil Adams is demanding a killer instinct at home to send a clear message to Norwich City's promotion rivals.

The Canaries went into the international break top of the Championship after the likes of Ipswich, Nottingham Forest, Watford and Derby all failed to cash in on a fourth winless league game at Carrow Road following a 1-1 draw against Rotherham.

City were again frustrated by a visiting outfit, despite carving out numerous chances to increase their early-season lead over the chasing pack.

'That is what has happened with us not nailing teams and finishing them off when they are on the ropes,' said Adams. 'We should have a nice gap at the top, whereas there are two or three points separating so many and that is what we have missed out on with these last two home games. We've taken one point and should have taken six points. It has allowed others to get closer to us when I feel we should be sitting at the top with more points than we have got; maybe three, four or five more.

'We have to punish teams and create a cushion at the top of the table, instead of missing our opportunity and letting things tighten up.'

City's struggles at home are the dominant theme at present but Adams is more concerned by a lack of first half goals, with the relative drought stretching back seven matches to the 1-1 Championship draw against Bournemouth on August 30.

'My concern now is the first half because there are too many games when we haven't scored a goal,' said Adams. 'It's nice to know we can rely on a comeback and we have goals in us but I don't want that. I want to go in at the break one or two up and it's a different dynamic then. Maybe we need to be ruthless and that is the word we used at half-time (against Rotherham). We stick one of those chances in before the break and we're pretty confident we go on and win the game comfortably'