Follow the leader is Alex Neil’s message to his Norwich City troops

Bullish Alex Neil insists Norwich City can prove the doubters wrong and pull off a Premier League great escape.

The Canaries' face title-challenging Manchester City this weekend in the bottom three and looking for a first top flight win in 10 games.

Neil knows the headline figures make sorry reading but the Scot still believes in himself and his players they can survive over a tense run-in.

'Everyone wants to do well, everyone is frustrated at times but I think it is important my mood and the way I respond and react bleeds into my players,' he said. 'They have to believe that we can do what is required over the remaining games. Don't worry about picking up points, just calm yourself down and focus on winning games. Listen the bottom line is when you are managing a team you are there to be criticised. You go into the job with your eyes open. If it goes well you take the plaudits, if it doesn't you take the stick. I am big enough and man enough to take whatever comes my way.

'People can question things all they like. I just have to make sure I get my set of players believing in what we are doing and working as hard as they can and hoping they can make enough the difference in the remaining games.'

Norwich face a daunting task trying to halt a Manchester City squad who have already won at Carrow Road this season, in a 3-0 FA Cup third round tie, but Neil admits the onus is still on the Canaries to try and force the pace.

'Away from home at the teams in the top end you tend to look at it slightly different,' said Neil. 'There are other ones we really need to try and target and play on the front foot and be really aggressive. It is about adapting to the opposition but also trying to play to our strengths and get our best players in the line up.'