Former City striker Sutton delivers candid assessment of Canaries’ 3-0 defeat to Southampton

Former Norwich City striker Chris Sutton has delivered a candid assessment of the Canaries’ performance against Southampton on Friday evening.

City were less than impressive in a fixture highlighted as being pivotal to any potential great escape attempt.

Sutton was covering City’s first fixture following the resumption of the Premier League season at Carrow Road for BBC Radio Five Live - and was surprised at the nature of their performance in the defeat.

“It was absolutely desperate. I think Daniel Farke and Norwich City are down. I don’t think there’s any way back. The nature of the defeat as well – Southampton were in a different class, really.

“They were first to every ball, stronger, quicker, sharper, they showed greater energy. Where do Norwich go from here? They’ve got to somehow pick themselves up for the game against Everton next Wednesday.

“But it certainly doesn’t look good for Norwich City. It’s very difficult after this result to even contemplate staying in the Premier League.

“Going into this I thought they had to win this game and hopefully build up a head of steam and some momentum but the nature of the defeat, it wouldn’t have flattered Southampton to have won this by six or seven.

“Norwich were fortunate this was a 3-0 defeat and they’ll be absolutely shattered after the game. No confidence. I thought there were some baffling decisions from Daniel Farke. I thought it was pin the tail on the donkey stuff, I really did.

“I can understand the gamble in some respects, but Norwich were all over the place. They lost the battle in the middle of the park, and credit to James Ward-Prowse and (Pierre-Emile) Hojbjerg for their displays and their dominance, but I think Norwich will be feeling very flat after this defeat.”

Goals from Danny Ings, Stuart Armstrong and ex-City winger Nathan Redmond saw Farke’s side on the receiving side of their 19th defeat this season.

The Canaries have been labelled in some quarters as the ‘best bottom placed side’ in Premier League history, a notion that Sutton can understand.

“What has been remarkable about them this season, and this is what has made this defeat more disappointing, is they’ve shown courage and have played some fantastic football.

“I go back to the first game of the season where I thought they were naïve against Liverpool, but a lot of people were impressed with them and the way they came and tried to play with their style of play and were very courageous.

“At times, it goes against belief that these players can come out and have the confidence to perform and pass the ball. They have been pretty on the eye but you don’t want this tag, and I think it’s one that people will give them in football, that Norwich City have got a softness about them.

“They aren’t ruthless enough in both boxes, but they’ve got a lovely kit and some good players – but all joking aside, we speak about the likes of Cantwell, who was disappointing tonight, the likes of Aarons and Lewis, Norwich City are a development club and these players have shone at times this season,” Sutton told BBC Radio Five.

“These players a lack a bit of consistency and maybe if Norwich do go down then they need another year in the Championship to carry on their development.”