Dean Smith wants the real Norwich City to stand up now after a spirited second half showing in Thursday night’s 3-1 Premier League defeat to Chelsea.

Teemu Pukki’s penalty threatened a surprise comeback against the World and European club champions, after two soft early goals at Carrow Road finished by Trevor Chalobah and Mason Mount.

Kai Havertz sealed the points for the Blues, but Smith saw enough to relish Sunday’s mammoth top flight relegation duel at fellow strugglers Leeds United.

Norwich go into that game six points behind the Whites, who lost again 3-0 at home to Aston Villa.

“What a contrast,” he said. “I asked the players the question after the game. Was it attitude or was it the system? I think it was a little bit of both but when you give a team like Chelsea a goal start, from two minutes or so at a set piece, all that enthusiasm and confidence you have, and maybe the excitement the supporters had going into the game, it is like sticking a pin in a balloon.

"We were too passive then against a very good team. Second half, we played how we wanted to play. We played how I am sure our supporters want to see us. How I want us to play.

"Being hard to beat, but being more on the front foot. I want us to get in people’s faces, make tackles and sometimes stick them on their backsides. First half, we didn’t do that.

"I am really pleased that second half performance was not reversed and we go into the Leeds game on the back of what we showed in that first half. That would have felt different.

"The lads have set their standards again in that second half. That is what we need to show. We need to be harder to beat but also aggressive.”

Smith was seething at another goal leaked from a corner, when Chalobah rose in front of Josh Sargent to head past Tim Krul from close range.

“Sarge is marking Chalobah the wrong side, then Tim has to get involved and has no time to react and our zonal players, who are there to go and attack it, don’t attack it. Really soft,” said the City chief. “If I am honest they won the first contact on the first four corners. That is not good enough at this level.

“I made a couple of changes and we changed the system and we looked a lot better. I wanted to get to half-time without conceding another, because I knew we would have to change the system.”

Defender Sam Byram was a notable absentee from the squad, but Smith confirmed it was due to fatigue after his lengthy injury layoff.

Byram will be back in contention to face his old club on Sunday.