Alex Neil is targeting a festive Premier League scalp to bolster Norwich City's survival bid.

The Canaries' rivals, Bournemouth, have beaten Chelsea and Manchester United in recent weeks and Neil feels a similar result against one of the traditional elite is long overdue.

'We have been really close on a few occasions,' he said. 'There have been some individual mistakes that have cost us in games, like Manchester City, but even at Liverpool I remember Matt Jarvis had a great chance late on and the goalkeeper saves it between his legs. When you go to the big clubs you need to perform well and have a little bit of fortune, this year in particular has shown that.

'Two wins ago Bournemouth would have been fearing where they are, Newcastle and Sunderland the same, so it shows you the value of back-to-back wins. It gives you something to build on.

'There are probably two or three games where we haven't performed and deserved nothing this season. The rest of the time the margins between success and failure is so slight.

'Against Arsenal, we arguably had the best chance towards the end, exactly the same against Everton in the second half. Manchester City we had a point and dropped the ball. It doesn't come down to luck, it is about doing the right things at the right times and taking chances, when they are required, and making good decisions in the critical moments and that will bring rewards.'

Neil is urging his squad to continue in the same positive vein they finished against the Toffees.

'First half wasn't good enough. I didn't think we applied ourselves well enough, the use of the ball was poor and we didn't press as well as we should have done,' he said. 'Our approach and intensity in the second half was far better. It was a complete role reversal.'