CONFIDENCE and passion are needed in order for the Canaries to win points says City's Darel Russell.

Speaking to media after the team's exit at the first round of the Carling Cup, the midfielder said the City squad must continue to work hard, both for themselves and the Canary faithful.

Russell, who came closest to breaking City's scoring duck with a second-half effort which cannoned back off the post, told First News: "I had a strike similar to the Colchester one and it was just unlucky that it didn't go the right side of the post. If it had then it would have got us back into the game. We knocked the ball around well and made plenty of passes, we're just not getting them in the back of the net.

"We have to show that conviction that we really want to do that and from that side of things it's disappointing. It must be disappointing for the centre backs because they work hard to keep goals out of that end."

As the team get set for their first home game of the season, the 27-year-old said a positive attitude is crucial if improvements are to be made. "We need the passion to score and if you continually miss chances then it becomes a habit and you need to break that habit and get the good one of getting the ball into the back of the net. We want to get used to scoring goals and winning games."

"I think we're playing good football and creating the chances, it's just that confidence that we need to put the ball in the back of the net."

With over 2,000 Canaries fans making the journey to Milton Keynes, support for the Club was as strong as ever. Russell added he was sorry to disappoint the fans who had travelled to watch them: "It's fantastic that we get such good away support - it's a Tuesday night and I feel sorry for them because we need to get a result and put a performance on for our supporters. We need to do that on Saturday and support ourselves so that our away performances continue to get them to come and support us.

"Practise makes perfect and we have to keep working out on the training field. If we continue to work hard, we'll keep getting the chances. Now we just have to put the icing on the cake and start scoring goals."