Five league defeats in a row have left City one place and one point above the drop zone ahead of this weekend’s trip to Charlton.

The City head coach has stuck rigidly to a four-man  defensive line, but Canaries legend Iwan Roberts says change is necessary.

“I think it would be negligent of any head coach not to think, right, how am I going to turn this round? What do I need to do? You've got to look down every avenue. You can leave no stone unturned to bring this shocking run to an end," said Roberts.

“He hasn't changed it – and I think it's crying out for a change. He's relying on pretty much the same characters. He has got to stop losing games.”

Roberts believes there is a very recent precedent for change in the shape of former Canaries skipper Russell Martin, who, after much criticism, has steadied the ship at Leicester with a more pragmatic approach which has brought successive wins and clean sheets.

“There's no more stubborn man than Russ,” said Roberts. “He loves his philosophy. He loves his process. He loves his possession.

“They've all of a sudden gone with three centre-halves and they are getting results.”

Roberts insists three at the back doesn’t equate to a more defensive approach.

He said: “This is the daft thing. People think it's a defensive formation. It's not really. It just gives you that bit more security at the back, but it enables you to have more bodies in forward areas.

“There's nothing wrong with changing. You're not giving in. In fact, it's a brave move to say, I've got a plan B.

“I think it's a really brave move. You haven't failed, not at all. You've proven that you can be pragmatic, and you're not daft enough to keep trying the same old thing without any success.

“I don't think changing is a sign of failure, it's just another string to your bow.

“There's no right or wrong way. There's no right formation or wrong formation. At the end of the day, football managers, head coaches, they're paid to win games. It's that simple, really. And he's got to find a way. Not to prove points, to win them.”