Norwich City manager Alex Neil has admitted that his side deserved to be beaten by Tottenham Hotspur during their Boxing Day clash at White Hart Lane.

The hosts took the lead through a Harry Kane penalty in the 26th minute before another from Kane and a late Tom Carroll strike saw Mauricio Pochettino's side run out comfortable victors in North London.

Neil does not believe that there was much in it for the majority of the encounter, but conceded that Spurs were the better side overall on the day.

"In the first half there was nothing in it until they got a penalty and scored and after that they grew in confidence and were the better side," he told reporters.

"We had some decent opportunities to score before they took the lead, but we didn't take them. In the second half there was not a great deal in it, but I thought they played well and had better quality than us.

"It was a disappointing afternoon, I don't think we played to the standards we are capable of, but I do think Spurs played very well at times."

The defeat leaves Norwich languishing just a place above the relegation zone, only outside the bottom three on goal difference.