Interim boss gives frank assessment after midweek loss

ALAN Irvine rued familiar failings from his Norwich City team in their 3-0 defeat at Huddersfield Town on Wednesday.

City were holding their own in the contest until three Terriers goals in seven second half minutes gave the promotion-chasing hosts an emphatic Sky Bet Championship win.

Elias Kachunga broke the deadlock for David Wagner's side and while Irvine reflected on the disappointing nature of that concession, he highlighted the team's lack of response thereafter as a chronic issue.

"For the first goal we lost possession - it may have been a free-kick - and from there it was a simple long ball, which we talked about before the game," he told Norwich City TV.

"There wasn't any space, Ryan Bennett should have covered it, and that cost us a goal.



"Then, probably what sums up a lot of performances this season, we went from being in a decent position in the game to caving in.

"That is something that whoever comes in is going to have to remedy because it's obviously a characteristic in the team at this time that has to change."

City are now nine points off the top six in the division following their 12th away league defeat of the campaign, with Reading the visitors to Carrow Road on Saturday.

Irvine added: "As far as I'm aware I'll be in charge at the Reading game and I'll get the team prepared as best as I possibly can," he added.

"Hopefully we will show a lot more resilience then we did tonight when things suddenly went against us."