David Wagner is directly appealing to Norwich City fans to whip up a Carrow Road cauldron for Sunderland’s Championship visit.

The resurgent Canaries moved into the top six with a 3-2 comeback at Millwall in front of 3,000 noisy travelling fans.

But Wagner has already turned the page as he plots a warm reception on and off the pitch for the Black Cats on Sunday, who were hammered 5-1 by Stoke last weekend.

“If we want to push for the playoffs and for promotion, we only do it together,” he said. “I think the players deserve every credit and every support for the next home game on Sunday.

"That is a very important game for us, this should be the loudest Carrow Road in ages, before the kick-off the atmosphere should be electric, because it's very, very important that we create something where we can have the chance to be successful and win again.

“Yes, we are in the top six but if the table was irrelevant for the last eight weeks why should it now be important? The only important thing is Sunday and Sunderland. I'm pretty sure a top energy from the stands will help us. And this is what we need.

"The energy which they've gave us (at Millwall) was important. We took this energy and used it on the pitch as well.”

Wagner is not wary of a Sunderland backlash, after a humiliating home defeat to former boss Alex Neil’s Potters.

“When you get beaten you have the hunger to correct it. Whether Sunderland had won, lost or drawn I can't influence it,” he said. “This means I don't care, I'm focused on us and we have to make sure whatever their recent result was that we play to our best and that we have the greatest support possible on Sunday to be successful again.

“I’m just happy we have another full week to prepare, like we did for Millwall, and then obviously there are two further games after Sunderland before the international break.

"It is good to be able to be on the grass and work on certain things, like set pieces, for example, in more detail.”

Gabby Sara was the architect of two short corner routines that brought goals, before capping a stunning Millwall display with an acrobatic half-volley.

"Gabby's finish was world class, this was top quality. And we said this, we need goals from all areas," said Wagner. "It was a great assist from Onel (Hernandez). He took on his opponent and one against one showed great pace.

"I think for 70, 75 minutes, as long as he had the energy and the power, Gabby was the best player on the pitch defensively, he played like a real proper British player.

"And with the ball he made more or less everything right in his passing, and was always a threat. He worked very hard and scored very good goal as well."