Manager Chris Hughton is certain that seven Premier League matches is too soon to pass judgment on Norwich City, insisting: 'There is plenty of time to turn things round.'

The Canaries sit second from bottom of the table with just three points out of a possible 21, still searching for their first league victory of 2012-13.

But Saturday's 4-1 defeat at leaders Chelsea, following the 5-2 hammering at home to Liverpool, has not dented Hughton's belief that his squad can make up ground on their rivals and pull clear of trouble.

He said: 'For clubs like ours, the season is always about making sure we retain Premier League status. That was no different at the start of the season from where we are now.

'We are seven games into what was always going to be a tough season. We're always going to have good periods and bad periods and at the moment we're going through a difficult period. But so are other clubs. We're not out on a limb.'

Hughton takes some comfort from the fact that skipper Grant Holt is back among the goals after scoring against the Reds and Blues.

'Yes, it is a positive, Grant scoring again, he is up and running,' he said. 'At this moment if I looked at his general form he has perhaps scored more goals than at this stage last season.

'There are positives but at the moment the defeats are hurting us and we need to turn it round.'

He also believes he still has the backing of City supporters, who turned out in force once again at Chelsea.

He said after the game: 'We had something like almost three and a half thousand supporters here. They're wonderful supporters that get behind the team. They're very vocal, particularly away from home when you need that support behind the team and they'll continue supporting us.'