CITY skipper Gary Doherty reflected on the Canaries' slender hopes of staying in the Championship following defeat at home to Reading in the final league game at Carrow Road this season.

The Norwich captain called on his team-mates to battle with everything they have to ensure the race goes right to the wire - by beating Charlton at The Valley and piling pressure on Barnsley, who need to lose at Plymouth if City are to have any hope of avoiding the drop to League One.

Doherty commented: "It's a terrible night for us. The first half we played OK and we created some chances - the second half came, there were two terrific headers from their lad and we've lost the game. Obviously we're all down in the dumps now, but it's not inconceivable for Barnsley to lose to Plymouth and us to win at Charlton. That's what we need to keeping thinking now over these next few days.

"They put in two terrific crosses for the lad and they played really well - they've got terrific strength and depth when they're bringing on players like Stephen Hunt, and Kevin Doyle on the bench. They've got a great squad of players and that was evident tonight.

"We did OK in the first half, I felt we were on top but we needed to score. Then we got punished by two great crosses and two headers later on by Shane Long. It's not over yet, we have to go to Charlton and look after our own result, get a victory and hope Plymouth can do us a favour. They'll be playing at home so they'll be going flat out in front of their home fans and we have to hope Barnsley can go there and slip up.

"The fans were terrific, many of them stayed to the end - to come out for the lap, it was a terrific pick-me-up for the team."