ALEX Neil believes Norwich City have everything to play for in the Sky Bet Championship after Saturday's 4-1 win at Millwall placed them to within a point of the summit.

Following Wednesday's setback against Wigan, Neil's men responded in emphatic style at the New Den thanks to goals from Jonny Howson (2), Gary Hooper and Wes Hoolahan.

Results elsewhere mean that although the Canaries are still fifth in the table, they are now in with a chance of climbing into the automatic promotion spots with a positive result against Derby County next weekend.

"It's going to make for a really exciting run-in to the end of the season. Everyone is going to be fighting tooth and nail to get there and I'm just hoping it's going to be us," Neil said to Norwich City TV.

"There's no reason why with the group we've got and the way they're playing, we can't put a real strong run in.

"I think those top five or six teams have got everything to play for. The results when for us again today, but to be fair we're doing our part. That's seven wins out of eight.

"We need to continue that, so Saturday against Derby is going to be a huge game."

Neil thinks City rediscovered some of their best qualities against Millwall as clinical spells before and after the half-time break earned them a vital three points.

"I thought the intensity was back in our game," he added.

"It was a disappointing performance in the week but you've got to respond strongly and show how much it hurt you, and the boys did that today.

"At the start of the second half, for a 25 minute spell, it was as good as we've played since I've been here.

"The first goal was crucial. All credit has got to go to the players. They didn't do themselves justice the other night, but certainly today the reaction we got was really good."

Sebastien Bassong was missing from the matchday squad on Saturday and Neil revealed that the defender had picked up a knee injury against Wigan.

"Seb would have played if he was fit, but he got a knee knock in the game in the second half. To be fair to him, he played with it but he couldn't make the game today," he told reporters.

"We've done well considering we've got three major members of our squad out. If you look at the game today, the other lads stepped up to the plate."

ALEX NEIL: IT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING

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