CITY boss Bryan Gunn and striker Grant Holt both offered apologies to the stunned Norwich faithful after the Canaries slumped to an embarrassing 7-1 home defeat to Colchester United in their League One curtain-raiser.
Goals from Platt (2), Lisbie (2), Fox, Perkins and Vernon against a solitary reply by Cody McDonald ensured City suffered what is thought to be the heaviest home defeat in their history.
City fell behind in shocking fashion after only ten minutes when Jon Otsemobor totally mishit a looping back pass into the box and Michael Theoklitos was caught in no man's land, the ball bouncing over his head and allowing former Canary Kevin Lisbie to roll it into the empty net.
And within two minutes the Canaries were in disarray as Theoklitos spilled a weak shot from Lisbie invitingly into the path of Clive Platt and he fired a low shot home.
A terrible first half for the Norwich defence got worse on 19 minutes when they conceded a third. Simon Hackney's cross from the left eluded everyone in the six-yard box before falling to Platt. arriving at the far post to slam home United's third.
David Fox compounded an embarrassing start to League One life for City when he swept home a superb 25-yard free kick past a helpless Theoklitos to make it 4-0 three minutes later.
There was still time for the first half to get worse as in the 38th minute a long throw from Marc Tierney was flicked on by Platt and Lisbie made it five with a simple loopong header over Theoklitos from close range.
Substitute Cody McDonald reduced the arrears when he latched on to Holt's nod-down and blasted a low shot in through the 'keeper's legs in the 71st minute.
But it took Colchester just five minutes to restore their advantage when sub David Perkins powered in a stunning 22-yard half-volley.
And they completed what is thought to be City's worst home defeat ever when Scott Vernon slotted home the seventh in the dying seconds after Izzet cut the ball back from the right.
City Boss Bryan Gunn told First News: "It's very disappointing and embarrassing that we're starting here with a 7-1 defeat, you sit in the changing room and wonder why it got to that stage. We just didn't apply ourselves correctly in the first 20 minutes, Colchester got on top of us and competed very well.
"I'm big enough to know how unhappy the fans are and it's up to me, the coaching staff and the players to apologise and most importantly, make sure it never happens again this season. We've got 45 games now and we must make sure this never happens again. The build-up to the game was good, pre-season was excellent and fitness levels were right - now we have to start again.
"Tomorrow we'll sit down and have a look at the DVD of the game, and that will bring back some bad memories for the players. Hopefully we'll get a reaction from that on Tuesday night.
Speaking to canaries.co.uk after the match, Norwich striker Grant Holt said: "If you give goals away like that, there's no chance of you getting back in the game. We feel disappointed but more so for the fans who came and saw us put on a performance like that.
"Of course we owe the supporters an apology, we gave cheap goals away and we were sloppy all over the park. I don't think it's complacency, I just think it's one of those days - we have to bounce back now and look ahead to Tuesday night and it's up to us now. I can understand that people were frustrated today, you come and watch a match and then you get that.
"We have to apologise for what happened today, that's fair enough, but I'm sure over the next few weeks you'll see a different sort of team and hopefully there'll be different scenes".
