REFLECTING on City's 2-0 defeat to Reading last night, David Marshall says he was devastated to let down the thousands of loyal Canary fans at Carrow Road.

Despite a bright first half, two killer blows came for Bryan Gunn's side in the second half  as carbon copy headers from Shane Long secured the visiting Royals all three points, keeping their hopes of automatic promotion alive and condemning the Canaries to an uphill task in the final weekend of the season.

Speaking to canaries.co.uk, Marshall said: "It was disappointing, we never really looked like scoring and it was a big game. The fans obviously deserve a lot better and you just hope to win the game.

"I think the first goal flattened us - to be fair to Reading they're a good team, one of the best in the division. We expected to at least have chances, and that's the disappointing thing about it. It's been the story of our season, one goal's killed us. The fans were brilliant, but it's human nature how a goal for the other side deflates the crowd."

"We expected to at least have chances but I don't think we made (Marcus) Hahnemann work at all so that's probably the most disappointing thing about the night. It's not through lack of effort by the boys. It's not as if we chucked in the towel tonight. We kept going but it's hard."

After the final whistle blew, Norwich players and their management team took part in a lap of recognition around the pitch, thanking fans for their fantastic support all season. "It's the first time I've done something like that in the position we're in," the City 'keeper said. "The support's been great. Obviously you can understand why the people who left did - the fans have been brilliant all season and they deserve a lot better."

As thoughts now turn to the final game of the Canaries' 2008-09 campaign against Charlton this Sunday, all are hoping Norwich can obtain three vital points at the Valley. Looking ahead to the clash, Marshall told First News: "It's not going to be a problem lifting ourselves back up, we just need to win at Charlton now and hope Barnsley get beaten. It's not over, stranger things have happened.

"There won't be a problem of getting ourselves up for it, we just need to win to give ourselves the best chance. All we can do is win, and just hope."