NORWICH City didn't keep the ball effectively enough and that proved decisive in their 2-1 defeat to Leicester City, says manager Alex Neil.

The Canaries have had success this season with their possession-based approach, but their opponents' counter-attacking style helped them to three points at Carrow Road on Saturday.

Dieumerci Mbokani scored his first goal for the Club, but the damage had already been done after Jeff Schlupp added to Jamie Vardy's penalty for the visitors.

"In the first half we set up to try to move the ball and keep the ball and dominate the game, but unfortunately for us our use of the ball and how quickly we moved it wasn't quite there," Neil told Norwich City TV.

"The way Leicester are set up to counter-attack that, if you don't move the ball well enough then that's going to play into their hands because you keep conceding possession.

"These games are difficult to get to the bottom of because Leicester didn't control the game at any point, but we know what their strengths are."

Neil says his side's performance wasn't down to a lack of preparation, affirming that his team had worked on counteracting Leicester's threat.

"It was something we worked on all week. If our game isn't at its maximum though, then they're set-up to punish that," he added.

"We went to West Ham, who are a great counter-attacking side, and our use of the ball was excellent. We were slick, we were quick and played at the top of their level.

"I felt sorry for the players, they didn't do themselves justice in that first 45 minutes today. Things were a bit predictable and too slow. They're better than that."

ALEX NEIL: WE WEREN'T ON OUR GAME

More Community

#NCFC

Principal Partners

Primary Partners