Sunderland 3-1 Norwich City: David Wagner says Canaries 'mentally affected' by form
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Jack Clarke hit the post in the early stages but eventually picked up his ninth goal of the Championship campaign.
Norwich boss David Wagner says his players are being "mentally affected" by their struggles but believes he is the man to reverse their fortunes.
Sunderland came from behind to beat City and end a three-match losing streak, while Norwich have now lost six of their last eight - taking one point from their past five Championship games.
Wagner told BBC Radio Norfolk: "It looks like the guys are getting mentally affected by the situation which we face.
"I absolutely think I can change that. It's my job to change it and it's my job to find solutions."
Hwang Ui-jo put the visitors ahead with his first Canaries goal but Trai Hume and Dan Neil turned the game around with two goals in quick succession before half-time.
Jack Clarke's late penalty after some calamitous defending sealed the win.
Wagner added: "Obviously it hurts. I love my team, I love this club, I love the city and the community but we don't deliver the results.
"The goals we conceded were because of individual mistakes. It's my job to get this sorted. I know exactly how this game goes because I've been [in football] for long enough."
Tony Mowbray's only change saw Ukrainian striker Nazariy Rusyn make his first start ahead of Chelsea loanee Mason Burstow.
Wagner made four changes to the side beaten at home by Middlesbrough on Tuesday with Kellen Fisher, Christian Fassnacht, Adam Forshaw, and Hwang starting.
Pierre Ekwah's low strike from distance was parried by Norwich keeper George Long early on before Clarke got past Kellen Fisher but thumped the post with an angled effort on 20 minutes.
The deadlock was broken in controversial fashion three minutes later when the ball was played into the right channel and, despite Gabriel Sara being offside, Fisher raced to beat Ekwah to the ball as Sara stopped and then cut back from the byeline for Hwang to sweep into the bottom corner.
Wagner has overseen seven defeats in nine games in all competitions.
The hosts levelled on 37 minutes when Forshaw was caught in possession allowing Patrick Roberts to tee-up Hume, whose curling shot from the edge of the box deflected in off Shane Duffy.
In first-half stoppage time, Clarke beat two men on the left before cutting inside and slotting Neil through to control and dink delightfully past Long to turn the game around.
After the break, Fassnacht headed a Dimitris Giannoulis cross against the woodwork on a rare Norwich foray forward as they suffered their first defeat on Wearside since February 2012.
At the other end, Long denied Ekwah before last-man Duffy was caught in possession by Clarke who raced clear before being fouled by Kenny McLean in the box, allowing Clarke to beat Long from the spot for his ninth goal of the season - meaning none of Sunderland's 24 league goals have been scored by a striker.
Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray told BBC Radio Newcastle:
"I think it was the right result for the game. It felt a bit 'here we go again' when they scored - I don't think they'd been over the halfway line before that, but we showed great character to get ourselves infront before half-time and we had some really good play, some posiitive play.
"It was important for us. I think losing three games in a row was harsh on us but we had to take it on the chin. What was important was to try and keep the confidence and the belief going - we did that. We suffocated for long spells. I am happy with the points."