Norwich City: David Wagner delivers message to players

It’s up to Norwich City to win back support after last weekend’s pummelling to Plymouth, and David Wagner is fully aware of the need to perform against Birmingham.

Norwich are hoping to produce a Championship response to their humiliating 6-2 defeat in Devon last weekend as they welcome John Eustace’s side to Norfolk.

After the manner of last weekend’s loss, Wagner is under no illusions that it falls to his group of players to earn the support of the Carrow Road crowd and prove that defeat was no more than a blip.

City are out to halt a run of three defeats in their last four matches and Wagner knows it will be their performance that dictates the mood around NR1.

“I can’t ask that we get support if we don’t perform,” Wagner said. “Our supporters are great and they are able to really see if a performance deserves applause because the players have performed – like against Fulham and Leicester where we lost – or not – like against Plymouth away.

“(Last weekend) they have done exactly what I would have done if I was in the stand. Look at the performance, everyone wants to win and we are desperate for wins, but there has to be a point as a supporter where you accept it if we have been beaten by quality.

“If they don’t do what we expect them to do, if they perform below par, if they don’t do what they should do tactically, if they don’t invest everything then it is totally normal that the supporters show a negative response.

“This is what has happened to us during this season. This is how it should be. Everything depends on what happens on the grass. We will try everything to perform at a level that we can all be happy with the result and three points.”

In a boost to City, Wagner confirmed that Borja Sainz will make the matchday squad on Saturday – but remains cautious over the approach of the Spanish winger and his fitness.

“We have to be very sensible with him in his situation. But if a player makes an impact like he has done on Wednesday where he scored his goal then you deserve to be in the matchday squad – which he will be.

“But we have to be sensible and focused on the long-term plan and this is that needs some extended minutes. Maybe then there is on Sunday the opportunity for him to get this,” Wagner said.

“We will make the decision about this after the game tomorrow.”