Many thought at the start of the season that it would be Norwich City and not Brighton & Hove Albion that would be vying alongside Newcastle for the automatic promotion slots judging by the quality in Alex Neil's ranks.The Canaries managed to hold on to the likes of Steven Naismith, Robbie Brady and Cameron Jerome despite going down a division and one would have expected a genuine challenge to return to the top division at the first time of asking this term.But that has not been the case, as Norwich are currently five points behind Sheffield Wednesday, who are currently occupying the last play-offs spot. Although all hope isn't lost yet, it is a situation they shouldn't be in the first place.With automatic promotion seemingly out of reach, even though we have just entered the second phase of the campaign, the play-offs looks the most realistic achievement. So, which areas need addressing if they are to make it?

Tighten up defensively

The Championship, as we have come to know, is a league that delivers a lot of goals for football lovers. This is mostly down to the similar philosophies adopted by most of the teams in the division. Unlike in the Premier League, where we see teams trying to play out from the back or trying to pass their way through, the playing style in the lower division is more direct, which so often results in goals and also increases the chances of upsets.

Alex Neil's men have no problem scoring, they are currently the third highest scorers in the league with 45 goals, but it is at the other end there are issues. The Canaries have so far shipped 40 which the 5th highest in the league and, even more embarrassingly, more than the three newly promoted sides in the division this term.

The whole team have to start doing the job defensively, just like they do in attack.

Take home form away with them

While the Canaries have been nearly impeccable in front of their home fans, claiming 28 points out of 39 available, they have been disappointing away from home, with just three wins and three draws from 14 games. Those victories came during early stages of the season when Norwich were steaming along in 2nd place, a point behind then leaders Newcastle after 13 games.

Since then, the East Anglian club have managed to collect just one point from their last seven away games and the latest 2-1 loss away to struggling Rotherham was a slap in the face.

Neil needs to find a way to motivate his side to perform and, more importantly, win on their travels.

Beat the teams around them

One can assume that Neil must have gazed through his team's match records and seen how shocking his players have performed against their rivals. The Canaries have picked up just five points from the ten games they have played with the current top ten in the league so far.

The Carrow Road side won 3-0 win at home against Derby earlier this month and bagged two draws (Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 and Fulham 2-2) during the early stages of the season. Neil has to address this, as Norwich still have to play those teams in the second half of the season, and they will be games that will have a say as to where they finish come the end of the season.

To get positive results in those games, they will need to bring their A-game to avoid future embarrassing and disappointing scorelines.