Ivo Pinto is well aware that much has changed for Norwich City since they thrashed Brentford 5-0 at Carrow Road at the start of this month.

That comfortable victory brought a welcome end to a run of five successive defeats and was a potential launchpad to better times for Alex Neil's squad.

However, losing 3-1 at high-flying Reading on Boxing Day took City's record to three losses in the four games since that high point and Pinto expects the Bees to be fired up for today's rematch.

'It will be a different game for sure,' the Portuguese right-back said. 'We beat them 5-0, (now) we are not in a good phase, we are not in a happy phase.

'But we will work hard and try to give the club, the supporters – and it is important to us as well – a good result.'

Brentford have won two and drawn one of their four matches since that embarrassing performance in Norfolk and are now just four points behind City in mid-table.

Pinto is clear on what is needed if the Canaries are to start pushing back up the Championship table though: hard work.

'My career was all about working, no one gave anything to me,' the former Rio Ave trainee continued. 'When I was in my first year as a professional footballer I just played one or two games.

'I had to go down one division to the second division of Portugal, so no-one gave anything to me, I just had to work hard, hard, hard.

'I can't say to the supporters that I will play well every single game, but I can promise that I will work hard every game.'