Alex Neil hopes some stinging home truths can pull Norwich City out of a Premier League tailspin.

Eastern Daily Press: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his sides 2nd goal from the penalty spot during the Barclays Premier League match at Carrow Road, Norwich. Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images LtdHarry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his sides 2nd goal from the penalty spot during the Barclays Premier League match at Carrow Road, Norwich. Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd (Image: ©Focus Images Limitedwww.focus-images.co.uk+447814 482222)

Neil aims to stop the rot at rock-bottom Aston Villa on Saturday after making it clear to his players they are heading the same way as the Villans.

The Canaries slumped to a fourth consecutive top flight defeat in a 3-0 home loss to Tottenham that exposed more defensive frailty.

'There is no sugar-coating it, we need to start winning games,' he said.

'As a squad if we don't quickly realise we need to get our finger out and win more games it is going to be tough. It has been a big job from the start. There have been no qualms about that and this little run of four games we have lost has been extremely disappointing.

'If we are going to have any ambitions of competing and staying in this league we are going to have to play better than we did in the first half (against Tottenham). It is simple as that.'

Fragile confidence is not an issue worrying Neil after a desperate run of results.

'They won't take picking up. They are professional football players,' he said.

'Whenever you are involved in football, see, all you do then is look forward to the next one because it is a chance to put it right.

'That determination, that work ethic and pride you should have when you get beat comes to the fore. That is when the best players stand up and prove how good they are.

'We have brought in some new players and I am happy with what I have done with the squad, but we don't have time to let them settle in.

'They have to hit the ground now and perform and do what they were brought here to do, and that goes for the players who were already here as well.'

Norwich stayed out of the relegation zone ahead of this weekend's trip to Villa Park courtesy of Newcastle United's 3-0 Premier League defeat at Everton on Wednesday.

What must Neil do to pull the Canaries out of this slump? Let us know what you think at norfolksport@archant.co.uk