Norwich boss Alex Neil wants to lay down a marker against Aston Villa
Norwich boss Alex Neil admits Monday's crunch basement battle against Aston Villa could set the tone for the second half of the season.
The Canaries were thrashed 3-0 at Tottenham on Boxing Day but remain outside the relegation zone on goal difference.
Victory over Villa would move Neil's team 12 points above their opponents, who are rooted to the bottom of the league after winning just one game all season.
"There are games in and about you that you've got to win, so I would probably call it a must-win, even though I don't think anything's going to be determined by this particular game," Neil said.
"However, three points against them certainly makes things a lot better.
"It's a snowball effect between now and the end of the season. Every game becomes bigger if you don't win games."
Norwich, like Villa, had just 48 hours between fixtures, but Neil was confident his players would recover in time.
"It will be interesting to see how we respond but other teams will have to do it as well, it's not as if it's just us," Neil said.
"It's not as if they're called upon to do it all the time, it's a one-off and we need to get ourselves ready because it's an important game for us."
Midfielders Wes Hoolahan and Gary O'Neil were left out of the side at White Hart Lane but both could return for the clash at Carrow Road.
Andre Wisdom and Matt Jarvis, however, are unlikely to be fit.
"Wes was one where if I had played him against Tottenham, he wouldn't have made the next one. The next game suits him," Neil added.
"Gary O'Neil was a different situation, he couldn't make the (Spurs) game as he wasn't quite ready. We had to give him an extra day's rest."
Villa boss Remi Garde believes his side must beat City or Sunderland in the next week to breathe life into their survival bid.
Villa follow their trip to Carrow Road with a visit to Sunderland on Saturday, four points behind the Black Cats.
They are winless in 17 games, since the opening day of the season, following Boxing Day's 1-1 draw with West Ham and Garde knows their next two games are crucial.
"I think we definitely have to win one of these two," he said.
"It will be difficult because we are fighting against teams not in a good position too.
"I would like to add the spirit within the dressing room, it is much better now. The energy in the group is much better than a few weeks earlier.
"It will probably help us to have this kind of performance more regularly."
Jordan Ayew's penalty rescued a point in Saturday's draw with the Hammers but Rudy Gestede, who started ahead of Scott Sinclair, wasted two fine chances and faces a battle to keep his place in Norfolk.
"Football is about creating chances and converting chances," said Garde.
"Rudy is not lucky at the moment but he worked very hard for the team.
"Sometimes he had chances but I won't blame him - I won't blame anyone. We gave everything in terms of individuals - and the collective."
Carlos Sanchez limped off against West Ham, being replaced by Carles Gil, and will be assessed ahead of the trip to Sunderland, but will not make the trip to Norfolk.
Micah Richards is close to a return from a knee injury and the skipper could feature, while Jordan Amavi (knee) is a long-term absentee.
Gabby Agbonlahor, Charles N'Zogbia and Libor Kozak are available, but are struggling to break into boss Remi Garde's plans.
Source: PAR
