Anis Ben Slimane said that Norwich City need to perform for 90 minutes, after falling two goals behind by half-time on Friday night at Burnley.
The Canaries rallied in the second half as Jack Stacey reduced the deficit, but City could not find an equaliser against the meanest defence in the league, losing 2-1 as Burnley regained top spot.
"They were just better than us first half." said Tunisian international Slimane.
"I think the reaction in the second half was really good, but it's not enough to play 45 minutes in a football game. We need to be ready from the first minute to the last and unfortunately we were not there today.
"I think Burnley are a great example of how to manage the games and how to get the three points.
"I think the second half was exciting, especially at the end it could have gone back both ways - we could have scored the second goal but they could also score the third goal."
With four games remaining, City's play-off chances are all but gone, but Slimane insisted that a strong finish to the season would help City's preparation for 2025/26.
"Hopefully, we can learn and be ready for the next games.
"Four wins, if that’s possible - it gives us the confidence to come back and be ready for next season really, because that's definitely our ambition to be in the top six and unfortunately that was not the the case this season.
"But we have to take the next four games as a learning and to be ready for the next season."