Norwich City now have three home games in their next four before the World Cup break.

Even if they do manage to get a good run going, a rest would then be the last thing Dean Smith wanted. If he can get them firing again, he will want to keep that momentum going – but that’s a big ‘if’.

The crowd can play their part in backing the players, but let’s be honest, it is down to the players, not the fans, to make Carrow Road what it should be – a fortress.

Making Carrow Road a horrible place for visiting teams to come and play at is absolutely vital. It’s the same for any team. But if you have aspirations of going up, then you cannot afford to lose home games.

I know that Carrow Road is a great place to be when it’s buzzing. The right atmosphere, with the fans behind you, can help lift you. But if it is quiet, and the fans are on your backs, then you tend to hear every bad thing that is said against you.

In my playing days there was always one fan who sat a couple of rows back who would always moan at me. And if things weren’t going well, that is all I would hear. It gets to you, I can’t lie.

But when the crowd gets going, it drowned him out!

So, is it up to the fans to get the players going and playing better? ? Or is it up to the players to set the crowd off?

In my view, it is the players’ job. No doubt. They have to go out there and put on a show and ensure the fans respond. The fans are always pretty noisy for the first 15 minutes but then it can tail off if the team aren’t performing. It is up to the players to ensure they keep on singing and keep on backing them. It’s hard for fans at the minute to force themselves to back their team when it is obvious the team isn’t playing well.

The next four games are crucial.

I watched the Burnley game midweek and there was a big gulf between the two teams in possession.

Even though Burnley didn’t create too many chances and Angus Gunn didn’t really have too much to do in the game, some of Burnley’s build up play was a joy to watch - unlike Norwich’s!

Vincent Kompany’s men looked sharper, more comfortable on the ball. They zipped the ball about much quicker and had far better movement all over the pitch than City.

City have now taken just two points from six games - the last time this happened in the Championship was exactly five years ago when Norwich drew 1-1 at home to Preston after losing four of their previous five games.

This run needs to be bought to an end and sharpish, otherwise automatic promotion can be kissed goodbye and if this carries on there will be a big question mark on making the play-offs come the end of the season.

Standing in their way tomorrow is a familiar face in Alex Neil, who surprised me when he left Sunderland for Stoke. He took Sunderland up and it all looked like it was going well – and to be honest, Sunderland are probably one of the biggest clubs in the Championship.

The managers are two very different characters – but I would like to see more from Dean Smith. What I don’t want is to hear him saying he will spend the day after a defeat playing golf. I want to hear that the defeat is hurting him. If I am a fan I want him to feel the same pain as I am going through. I’m sure defeat hurts – but I think sometimes Smith doesn’t do himself any favours by not showing the pain.