NORWICH City can turn a negative into a positive when they take on Millwall this Saturday (3pm), according to manager Alex Neil.

Wednesday’s home defeat to Wigan brought their six-match winning run to an end in the Sky Bet Championship, leaving them three points off the top two in the table.

Neil believes, however, that the disappointment from midweek can drive his players to perform and get the right result at The Den this weekend.

“Sometimes getting a defeat can be a good thing in a way, and certainly at this stage of the season with 11 games to go we need to respond in a positive manner and I’m expecting that to be the case,” he told Norwich City.

“Ultimately what will happen is when you get a defeat, generally the best teams and the best players respond. We need a big response on Saturday and we need to make sure we go and pick up three points.

“I think the first goal is crucial. I think the fact that Wigan scored allowed them to sit in and make it difficult for us. Going to Millwall, first of all we’ve got to start well.

“We’ve just got to work harder, be more intelligent with our play and move the ball quicker.”

City will be without ex-Lions striker Lewis Grabban after the 27-year-old had an operation on his ankle on Thursday.

Neil couldn’t put a length on Grabban’s absence but revealed that the Club are considering the possibility of looking to the emergency loan market to bolster their attacking options for the final portion of the season.

“It’s an option we’re considering. I wouldn’t say we’re definitely going to go and get someone, but it’s not something we’re ruling out,” he said.

“Lewis had a problem with his ankle cartilage that needed fixing. It’s now done, the operation was a success but it means we’ll miss him for a bit of time.

“We can’t be completely accurate with a time frame, so it’s better not to bandy about any times in case people jump to conclusions.”

City’s boss picked up February’s Manager of the Month award on Friday but is looking ahead, not back, adding: “It’s recognition of how the players did over those six matches, but it’s done and we need to move on and make sure we win on Saturday.

“One thing about Millwall is that they go for the win, they generally go to beat you. They’ll be at home as well, which is a bit different. Hopefully we can go there, start the game really well, get on the front foot, and play as well as we can.”

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