Manager says loss puts extra importance on West Brom game
CHRIS HUGHTON admits next weekendâs final home match of the season against West Bromwich Albion is a âmust-winâ game following Saturdayâs 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa.The Canaries slipped to just three points above the relegation zone after Gabriel Agbonlahorâs second-half brace at Carrow Road, and Cityâs manager is under no illusions about the situation the Club now finds themselves in.
âIt is a must-win and itâs become so because of the result today,â said Hughton when speaking to Canaries Player after yesterdayâs loss.
âWe knew we had the benefit of the last home games â we need to capitalise on this next one.
âWe are where we are for the obvious reasons. We had a great run before Christmas, and weâve found it very difficult since then.â
The manager said he couldnât fault the efforts of the players but emphasised that they need to show plenty of âcharacterâ over the final stage of the run-in.
âWe spoke before the game about a performance and everyone giving their all, and certainly you couldnât fault the effort that the players put in,â he explained.
âIâm bitterly disappointed because I donât think itâs a game that we deserved to lose. Once weâd got back in the game, what we then had to do was make sure we didnât lose it.
âWe need to try take the good things but itâs a real battle that weâre in at the moment and the players are going to have to show plenty of character this week.â
He added: âWe went with two wingers to try and get as many crosses into the box as we can.
âI thought we certainly endeavored to do that for periods of the game. Weâre finding it difficult to get the goals that we need.
âWeâve conceded two poor goals â from somebody who you know when given space and time is a wonderful finisher.â