David Wagner has had better weeks in in his coaching career but insists he is ‘looking forward’ to Norwich City’s Carrow Road tussle against Blackburn on Sunday.

Wagner exited Sunderland with cat calls from those travelling supporters who had stayed to the final whistle, and admitted afterwards his future is now in the hands of others.

But the intervening days have provided time for reflection, and renewed determination to halt the Canaries’ Championship nosedive.

Norwich remain 17th after Saturday's Championship results, with Millwall, Plymouth, Coventry and Huddersfield all failing to pick up three points, but will go 12th with a win against Rovers.

“We had a very disappointing week, points wise and performance wise as well. It makes no sense to hide away from it,” said Wagner, after a 3-1 Sunderland setback made it three defeats on the spin since October’s international break. “You have to stay strong, and you have to name what went wrong and make sure that everybody knows that we expect more.

"Our standards are a different level and we have to come back to it. This means a lot of training, a lot of video meetings, which we had, and meetings with the players as well.

"It's very important that we make clear, and I said this to the guys as well, you are only focused on the things which you can control. That is the same for me as a manager. Don't get driven away by anything else.”

The Pink Un: David Wagner gets his point across in the first half of Norwich City's Championship tussle against

Wagner has been in the business long enough to know an expectant Carrow Road crowd will not tolerate a repeat of recent home struggles against inconsistent Rovers.

“Every game seems to be bigger than the one before,” he said. “Our task is to prepare the players as good as we can do, and make them aware of what they can expect from Blackburn; which spaces we have to attack in, which areas they are vulnerable, and to give them the information to set up the right patterns.

“Luckily, we had a lot of training this week to give them the right picture, but then there's a moment where the players cross the white line and the execution is on them, with all our support, with all our energy which we try to give them.

"I’m really looking forward to Sunday because every game is another opportunity, and we have a big task. Don't get me wrong. We are all aware about this, but this is a very interesting challenge and if you work in football you have to embrace it as well.

“They are a super footballing team, a super brave team who likes to keep the ball on the floor and likes to play football and they create opportunities. A very interesting side who have an interesting approach. It will be a top test for us. I can imagine there will be some good chances in this game on Sunday.”

Wagner admitted immediately after another error-strewn defeat on Wearside he needed his experienced players to step up and cut out the damaging mistakes.

“We should not put too much pressure on the senior pros. In a situation like this, whether you have the shirt from the start or from the bench, everyone is expected to perform on his highest level,” he said. “Try to focus on what you can affect, and don’t try to over-think too many situations, or what the situation is in general. It doesn't help in this moment.

“Obviously, the senior players are more used to situations like this, because we all together know we can turn it from the current mood to a good mood. You have to be clear, focused, strong in your mind and mentally strong as well.

“We have so much trust and belief in them and I know what they are capable of doing. But we have not done it in the recent past, so we ask ourselves to be better than what we have shown in these last weeks.”