Norwich City must learn the lessons from their frustrating defeat at St Mary’s and be more aggressive when Sheffield United roll into town on Sunday.

Norwich City must learn the lessons from their frustrating defeat at St Mary's and be more aggressive when Sheffield United roll into town on Sunday.

That's the verdict of skipper Christoph Zimmermann after the Canaries' tepid first half display allowed Southampton to take victory on Wednesday evening.

City were undone by two set-pieces as both Danny Ings and Ryan Bertrand profited from their inability to defend effectively from dead ball situations.

Zimmermann and Co. rallied in the second period with Teemu Pukki pulling a goal back and they could have gained a share of the spoils but for Sam Byram slicing wide late on when well placed.

But Zimmermann hopes the Canaries' second half display demonstrates how important it is that Daniel Farke's side play on the front foot from the first whistle, especially when Chris Wilder's Blades side arrive at Carrow Road on Sunday afternoon.

"(James) Ward-Prowse has got a very, very good delivery and it's difficult to defend all of them," he said. "But to concede two goals from two set pieces in one-half is just way too much at this level.

"It was too hard to come back. Normally, we should be able to build up the game better and we did that in the second-half. We were on the front foot and played with a bit more aggressiveness. We were a bit more reactive rather than inactive in the second-half but everything we did in the first-half, especially in the build-up, was just too slow."

Daniel Farke made two half-time substitutions, with Alex Tettey and Marco Stiepermann brought on in an attempt to inject some fresh impetus into City's game. Tettey in particular had an impact on proceedings as he set-up Pukki for City's consolation. For Zimmermann however, the damage was done in the first-half.

"It would have been better for the feeling and the confidence if we would have equalised in the game. It would have given us a boost," Zimmermann told the club's YouTube channel.

"But the reaction in the second-half shows there is not much we need to change in comparison to the first-half, we just need to not give away set-plays so cheaply."