CHRIS WISE Norwich City manager Nigel Worthington made it clear that he has no intention of resigning after fans called for his head in the wake of a truly depressing derby defeat.

CHRIS WISE

Norwich City manager Nigel Worthington made it clear that he had no intention of resigning yesterday after fans called for his head in the wake of a truly depressing derby defeat.

The sight of arch-rivals Ipswich emerging from Carrow Road with all three points was too much for some supporters, and around 150 gathered outside the City Stand afterwards to make their feelings known.

Chants of 'Let's be sacking you', 'You're not Worthy any more' and 'We've had enough of this' summed up the angry mood of the protestors, who were quick to vent their fury after Danny Haynes' scrappy 88th minute goal had given the visitors a thoroughly deserved victory.

Worthington admitted he could understand the frustration of the fans after the poor performance, which condemned his side to a fourth defeat in five league games - but there's no way he will be giving his detractors what they want.

“It takes strong people, strong minds to come through and I will stand tall,” he said. “I believe in what we are trying to do here.

“The players have to transfer what they do on the training ground on to the pitch, it's as simple as that.

“Everyone is entitled to their opinion, that's what the game is all about. Do I like losing? No, I don't. Do supporters like it? No, they don't.

“Everyone has a goal in life and I know what mine is - it's to win games of football for Norwich and to be here for a long time.”

Worthington's short-term goal remains a place in this season's Championship play-offs, but his side will have to go some if they are to finish in the top six now.

As a result of yesterday's defeat they are now in the bottom half of the table and 12 points off the pace, with sixth-placed Preston having a game in hand, so it would take an incredible run over the final 14 games to take the campaign into over-time.

Nevertheless, Worthington is refusing to throw in the towel just yet and is hoping a frank heart to heart with his players will get them moving in the right direction again, starting with Saturday's trip to an unheralded Hull side who are now just three points behind them.

“You have got to have an aim and you have got to keeping working towards it,” he said. “Reaching the play-offs is our target. It's becoming ever more difficult but we can still turn this around.

“We had a good chat in the dressing room after the game - that's the time to do it, in a controlled manner.

“A lot of benefit came out of it. There was lot of truth spoken by the players themselves which is good. But it's all very well talking about it - they have got to perform, they have got to put it into action.”