Norwich boss Liam Manning vows to fight on following defeat at Derby

Norwich head coach Liam Manning vowed to “keep fighting” after his team’s 1-0 defeat at Derby left them in the Sky Bet Championship’s relegation zone.

The Canaries totally dominated the first half but wasted several excellent chances, with Jacob Widell Zetterstrom keeping Derby afloat.

The Swedish goalkeeper made a double save in the third minute and Oscar Schwartau and Jack Stacey fired wide when they should have hit the target.

Derby took advantage when Patrick Agyemang set up David Ozho to curl in his first goal of the season in the 55th minute and the visitors’ night was summed up when Ante Crnac hit the inside of a post 12 minutes from time.

Norwich have won only two games from 11 and Manning knows the poor run cannot go on.

“Of course it needs to change, we are in a results business and we need to win games,” he said.

“I get that every time we lose a game I’m going to be asked similar questions, I’m not stupid on that front but my answer will always be the same. I’ll keep my head down and keep fighting, I’ll keep working until I’m told different.

“I have to live it 24-seven, I don’t escape where we are at the minute so it hurts me like it hurts the fans.

“It’s something I’m deeply passionate about and obsessed about, I work harder than anybody and I’ll continue to do that, like I said, until told differently.

“We lost a game I thought we performed really well in. In the first half I thought we were excellent but you have to score.”

For Derby head coach John Eustace, it was a victory that displayed the togetherness of his squad.

He explained: “I’m very proud of the group. Obviously first half we suffered, more than what I thought we would.

“We said before the game we were going to suffer at times because Norwich are an excellent footballing team and are going to have a lot of possession.

“I thought the way we defended the box in the first half was excellent and then at half-time the changes we made and the slight change to the shape and personnel was great and we were much more on the front foot.

“I’m really pleased for the group. That second half was much more like us, we could have gone under (in the) first half so it just shows this group is one that is together and is still building and learning.

“I said we are going to grow throughout the season and it’s important that this group keeps building and getting fitter, we get more people back and available and just keep going.”